From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Troubleshooting efforts for battery ignition issues, specifically with condensers and contact breaker points.
| Identifier | Morton\M16\ img043 | |
| Date | 6th July 1921 | |
| To R & E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from EFC c. CJ. c. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. Ds. c. Ey. c. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} ORIGINAL EFC2/T116.21 Handwritten notes: Top left: 15.nd. Reps HoS 39 Top right: H 67-98-21 973 Under left header: x3129 Under right header: x4054 BATTERY IGNITION TROUBLE. With reference to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG7.6.21 and your telegram, faults Nos. 7 & 8 itemised in Mr. Hives' report, viz:- (7) Battery ignition condensers have given trouble. (8) Battery ignition contact breaker points have given trouble. do not refer to inherent faults in the condensers or contact breaker points, as such inherent faults are rare; the number of condensers which have broken down on test cars or in service has been practically nil, except in the very early stages. The trouble referred to under item (7) is the faulty earthing connection on the condenser which existed in the first instance, but faults of this nature have been minimised since we pointed out this point, e.g. under the small nuts on the outside of the condenser casing which secure the earthed side of the condenser. From time to time we have enquired of the Test. Dept. as to the running qualities of the battery ignition and we have invariably had a good report. The only complaints made by the Test Dept. have been on the score of faulty earthing connection of the condenser, and this was still the position in the matter when yesterday we again enquired. The trouble given by the contact breaker points has been due to this cause. The contact breaker points do not fail prematurely when the condenser connection is good. From the moment we realised that the earthing connection of the condenser on the chassis was not as sound as it ought to be, we have done all in our power to urge the flexible earthing connection. We attach to your and CJ's copy of this note a concise history of the progress of this modification. One of the delays in the matter, as explained during my visit to you, has been due to the fact that the Expl. Shop suggested a further modification in the nature of a definite improvement over the modified scheme, and the job went back to the D.O. Contd. | ||