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).
Objections to louvered bonnets and a proposed asbestos mat solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66\3\ scan0197 | |
| Date | 28th September 1928 | |
| S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X8260 CWB1/GM/28.9.28. LOUVRED BONNETS. Objections have been raised to our present type of louvred bonnet, both from the point of view of noise and the point of view that it cannot be closed up in cold weather and so help to keep up the engine temperature. It is undoubtedly true that much more engine noise escapes from underneath a louvred bonnet than from one which is not louvred and there is no question that an engine will cool down much more rapidly with a louvred bonnet than with an unlouvred one. It has occurred to me, however, that this objection could be overcome by providing a mat or covering of some sort of asbestos cloth which could be fitted on the inside of the bonnet, either by means of patent fasteners or by means of metal loops over which the mat could be passed and then secured by a long wire, something like the old skewer fastening of some forms of baskets. Do you think it would be readily possible to obtain some suitable cloth in the right shape and also to neatly fix the necessary fastenings to a bonnet? CWB. (Cus) | ||