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).
Development of radiator louvres to improve engine performance in cold weather.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\4\ Scan007 | |
| Date | 9th April 1919 | |
| To EH. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. Copy R6/G9.4.19. 9th. April 1919. X.3499 RE LOUVRES FOR RADIATORS, FUEL, ETC. X.53 With reference to louvres for radiators, I think the best thing will be to go the whole hog and as soon as ever possible, produce a set of louvres on a frame that can be bolted to the front of the radiator for winter use. They can be actuated either by rods from the dash, in conjunction with the thermometer, probably by a thermostat. I am preparing a sketch of how I think this can be made and fitted to existing radiators. It is assumed that the whole thing is taken off when the weather becomes warmer, and the louvres are not likely to be needed. You will remember that we have the impression that with poor quality of petrol it is imperative that the engine should be hot, that many of the faults put down to the carburetter, are really due to low temperatures and bad fuel, resulting in bad distribution etc. In my little experience, I find that with the worst fuel we ever touched, perfect carburation and distribution appeared to be obtained when the water was approaching boiling with the standard 7-CA arrangement of induction pipe, except perhaps this induction pipe was slightly more hot water jacket on the part leading over the tops of the cylinders. X.350 On our little Calcott car, distribution and carburation had been extremely poor for some time, suggesting defects of the Zenith system of carburetter, and also giving an impression that there was insufficient heat in the immediate vicinity of the Contd. [Upside down text at bottom right] R.R. 235A (500) (S.O.) 20.8.40B+Bm. L17-93 2/156/13. | ||