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).
Ignition system tests, focusing on pivot reaction and the performance of platinum and tungsten points over 10,000 miles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61b\1\ scan0036 | |
| Date | 25th April 1927 | |
| Contd. -2- EFC3/T25.4.27. In the U.S.A. Bosch and the Remy ignitions reaction of the pivot is reduced to a minimum. We consider the pivot should act mainly as a guide and not be called upon to exert a big reaction. Personally we feel that amongst other possible improvements which we have in hand for experiment, we definitely require to experiment upon a lever and spring designed for rather greater pressure on points and at the same time with lever and spring as nearly as possible in equilibrium (unstable) without pivot reaction. In regard to the behaviour of platinum and tungsten points on this test which was carried through for the usual 10,000 miles by replacement of springs and easing the pivot, the results on both the platinum and tungsten shew a slight improvement - particularly in the case of the platinum - which did not require any touching during the whole of the 10,000 miles, but just began to miss at the very end, the pip formed on the lever point having grown to such dimensions as to come into contact with the iron at the bottom of the hollow on the screw point. It should be mentioned that these were run under previous standard conditions, i.e. with the old coil (not finer primary) and single ballast resistance. Present standard conditions are somewhat easier. EFC. | ||