Investigation into a customer complaint of fumes from a voltage regulator coil on a Bentley chassis and proposed solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 164\5\ img201 | |
| Date | 21th February 1934 | |
| X6017 By.From Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Wst. c. to Hd. {Mr Hayward / Mr Huddy} c. to JLE. {J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} c. to EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to ERX. c. to Bft/Mr.Brock. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Wst.1/MA. 21.2.34. BENTLEY CHASSIS No. B.65.AE - Mr. RICHARD SUMMERS. This customer complained of fumes in the driving compartment which he eventually traced to the voltage regulator unit on the engine side of the dash. The fumes apparently consisted of vapour from the varnish on the regulator resistance coil. Apparently for a short time a slight amount of vapour is given off from this coil due to the varnish finally oxidising and drying out. When the Car came into the Works however the fumes had almost entirely disappeared, the coil having by that time been thoroughly baked. We have suggested to Hd. {Mr Hayward / Mr Huddy} that to cure the trouble we should put a plug where the wires come through from the distribution board on the driving side of the dash. There is quite a large hole at this point and as it is in direct communication with the regulator chamber via the wiring conduits the fumes can escape at that point. The hole is left large enough apparently to allow the Coachbuilder to pass through extra wires for the purpose of wiring up accessories. We suggest therefore that a plate or plug be fitted in this hole on all production chassis to avoid any recurrence of this trouble, and Coachbuilders be instructed to alter the plate to suit their extra wiring. We should also ensure on production that coils are not too heavily varnished and that they are well baked out and the varnish completely oxidised, before the regulator units are fitted to chassis. We are carrying out a few simple tests to ascertain what extra treatment is necessary to effect this complete baking. Another improvement would be to drill small holes in the regulator unit cover to effectively ventilate this unit. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Wst. | ||
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).