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).
Letter to the Air Ministry requesting clarification on sparking plug electrode erosion.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 58\2\ Scan060 | |
| Date | 24th October 1933 | |
| 61812.a. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst.1/MA. 24th October, 1933. The Secretary, Air Ministry, Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. For the attention of Mr.E.M.Emtage R.D.E/EME. Dear Sir, In a letter you have sent to our Mr.Bailey reference 240375/33/R.D.E/EME. dated the 20th instant, copy of which I have received, I note in the second paragraph that you say in reference to sparking plugs:- "The question of electrode erosion, which is necessarily rapid with low voltage gaps and particularly so with the use of leaded fuels, has to be met." I should be very much interested to know why the electrode erosion should be more necessarily rapid with the use of low voltage gaps than with other types of gaps. Personally I cannot see why there should be any difference between one gap and another where the gap dimensions are the same, i.e. I do not believe that the form or shape of the electrodes has anything to do with the amount of erosion except in cases where a larger number of electrodes are used to spread the sparking wear over a larger area. Perhaps you would like to enlarge upon your statement in your letter as I am particularly interested in the question of electrode erosion. Yours sincerely, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED. | ||