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).
Cooling tests carried out on the S.B.V. (B.III) car at Brooklands.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\4\ scan0045 | |
Date | 13th October 1938 | |
To Ry. from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. c. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. De/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} S. By/CS. Handwritten: 400b. also 1320 REPORT ON COOLING TESTS CARRIED OUT ON S.B.V. (B.III) CAR AT BROOKLANDS. The above car was taken to Brooklands track on Sept. 30th. and tests were made to determine the adequacy or otherwise of its cooling system. The car is fitted with the latest B.III radiator with the exception of the contour of the top of the shell, and therefore represents the standard of cooling with which we are proposing to go into production. Comparisons were made between the standard Wraith fan and the Bentley II fan as regards effect on cooling and effect on car speed. All tests, of course, were made with the thermostat main valve full open and the bypass valve closed. Conclusions. (1) The B.III car with its latest radiator is more than adequately cooled at high speeds provided the Wraith five blade fan is used and a steam valve is fitted - under these conditions its full speed critical air temperature is approx. 45°C. Even without a steam valve, providing the Wraith fan is used the maximum speed critical air temperature of 39°C obtained is superior to the minimum cooling standard laid down in Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.10/MH.{M. Huckerby}29.3.38 (35°C or 95°F). It is of interest to note that in Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.10/MH.{M. Huckerby}29.3.38 a C.A. of 35°C was forecast with a frontal area of 383 sq.in. and a matrix depth of 58 mm. - on latest B.III radiator as per above tests, we have a C.A. of 39°C with a frontal area of 400 sq.in. and a matrix depth of 58 mm. These figures are in agreement within 1°C. | ||