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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).
Newspaper clipping from 'The Autocar' describing an auxiliary petrol tank device for easy engine starting.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 31\3\  Scan001
Date  3rd August 1912
  
R.{Sir Henry Royce} R.{Sir Henry Royce} 235A (150 H) (S.A. 301. 19-2-15) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 0950.
1449

The Autocar
An Aid to Easy Starting. 3rd August, 1912.

IN the correspondence columns of The Autocar recently Mr. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Stephens, Colerne Rectory, Chippenham, Wilts., mentioned that he had fitted to the engine of his car a device of his own invention which had converted the engine from being very difficult to start to one which could be started at the first or second pull up of the starting handle. Mr. Stephens has now protected the idea, and we are able to reproduce a sketch showing the principle of it.

[Image of the device]

A small auxiliary petrol tank for rendering starting easy.

The small petrol tank is fitted in the induction pipe or near at hand, and may contain a pint or even less of petrol. It is fitted with an air inlet tap at the top and a petrol exit tap, where it is coupled up to a copper pipe, of small bore, leading to a small cup secured in any convenient manner to the underside of the induction pipe, a small hole being made in the latter to correspond with the size of the cup. When it is desired to start the engine, which is assumed to be normally supplied with a mixture which really requires enriching as to the amount of petrol vapour, the tap at the top of the tank is momentarily opened and closed; if then the lower tap be opened a small quantity of petrol will pass into the cup on the induction pipe, but only a small quantity by reason of the lack of air entering the tank to take the place of the petrol withdrawn.

The cup full of spirit then acts as a surface carburetter until, the engine having been started meanwhile, the petrol is used up and the supply continues to emanate from the usual source—the jet of the carburetter proper.

Of course, while the engine is running it is advisable to turn off the lower tap to prevent waste which might occur if there should be a leak of air into the tank by way of the upper tap.

Although in the sketch only one cup is shown in a branched induction pipe, so that the richer mixture would only be drawn in to the left-hand pair of cylinders, there is no reason why two cups should not be used, one on each side of the branched induction pipe, the petrol pipe being also branched.

MADE AT CROXLEY
  
  


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