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).
Investigation into the failure of an ignition coil on chassis 3-PP.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\3\ Scan184 | |
| Date | 16th March 1920 | |
| X.3445 Ck.{Mr Clark} from BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c.c. Mr Brook. c.c. PP. BYS-P16.3.20. CHASSIS - IGNITION COIL. X.3445. RE FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL ON CHASSIS 3-PP. Referring to your memo Ck{Mr Clark}1/T15.3.20. I have examined the ignition coil which has been cut open after having stood all night with full voltage on the primary and quite agree that the result of the test shows the coil to be quite satisfactory. It is rather difficult to determine what has happened in this case: (1) It might have happened that the nut which fastens the end of the spindle passing through the ignition coil has dropped off, which would cut out the ballast resistance. (2) When the above happened and the coil was switched on all night then unquestionably the coil would burn out. I notice that we have actually got a spring washer to lock the nut referred to, but it is just possible that in one instance this grover washer may have been forgotten or the nut not quite tightened up. This is the only explanation I can give which is likely to be accurate. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} By | ||