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).
Modifications to radiator shutters to prevent the collection of grit and stones.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\4\ Scan249 | |
| Date | 5th September 1931 | |
| X3499. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey}3/MJ.5.9.31. RADIATOR SHUTTERS (Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}18/E1.9.31). The trouble experienced on your car of pieces of grit and small stones collecting in the bottom of the radiator shutters has always existed in a minor degree. Up to the time of fitting horizontal front aprons it has not been sufficiently serious to warrant modification; since front aprons have come in however we have experienced cases of shutters being jammed in the open position whilst on test on local roads (recently tarred). The front apron collects quite a lot of small stones and these are blown into the bottom of the shutters. There are two possible ways of counteracting this, the simplest of which is to provide a definite clearance of at least half an inch between the rear of the apron and the radiator so as to allow the stones collected on the apron to drop through on to the road, this has the disadvantage of detracting from the good appearance of the apron. The second method entails modifying the bottom shutter bearing plate so that it does not form a continuous ledge for stones to collect on. On 25-EX. before it left for France the former modification was embodied, we have not seen any reports of stones jamming the shutters on this car. We have not as yet tried out the alternative modification. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/A.J.Lidsey. | ||