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).
Technical review and critique of the Smith Electric Petrol Gauge.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 167\4\ img096 | |
| Date | 13th September 1935 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. c. BY/RD. v6/12. E.7/HP.13.9.35. Smith Electric Petrol Gauge. (1) The location of the vertical shaft takes place on both top and bottom bearings, and if fitted without much slack might tighten up with increase in pressure due to the aluminium bracket expanding more than the shaft. -.015 clear (2) The rigidity of the bracket could be increased without additional weight by the addition of two webs making each leg 'T' shaped, and this will conveniently pass through the round hole in the tank. It should be understood with this suggestion that the main legs are made thinner. .OK (3) It is found in servicing repair cars that the wire arm carrying the float is often found bent and causing the gauge to operate incorrectly. A stiffer arm would be desirable. Escpe (4) The assembly of the float arm spindle appears to be somewhat complicated, and the nut securing it is locked by a spring washer. We should prefer not to rely on a spring washer for internal work. It will almost certainly rust, and is not a positive lock. We should prefer a brass split pin but at the same time we should like to know why a simple pin passing through the jaw of the bracket should not be used locked by a split pin and washer in place of the assembly shown, with an adjusting washer on each side of the arm hub so as to adjust the depth of engagement of the gear. (5) We should suggest since the spindle is turned that the diameter could be reduced to leave a proper shoulder for the pin collar at the top so that when the nut retaining the rotor is tightened up it will not be tending to shear a small pin. | ||