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).
Issues with cabin heat from gas leaks and scuttle ventilation, proposing solutions and requesting data from Derby.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\1\ img053 | |
| Date | 5th April 1934 | |
| (2) We think it is unfortunate that while thermometer readings were taken with the dashboard lagged and unlagged, there were none taken for the improvements made due to the stopping up of the gas leaks. We presume that a car has been tested with all these leaks stopped up around the gear stick, pedals, and floorboard cracks. We would be glad if Derby would furnish us with a report giving the drop in temperature due to effectively gastighting the floor. Recently a new undersheet has been fitted to the 20/25, and the writer may be mistaken, but in his opinion this undersheet does not permit of the free exit of the hot air as well as did the previous one. SCUTTLE VENTILATION. Ventilation of the scuttle by cold air has been a problem we have tried to solve from time to time. Nothing works so well as the Spinney ventilator but its drawbacks are (1) it spoils the appearance of the car, as although it may be flush fitting it cuts up the top panel, (2) it lets water in which has to be let out again, and so adds complication and cost to the body, (3) the operating handle is central, which symmetry demands it should be, and forces down our framed patch of instruments about 1.5". However operation underneath the instrument board does not seem out of the question. In the olden days, prior to the bonnet overlapping the dash, we allowed fresh air to enter the isolation gap. We have now lost this, and on all cars the longer the bonnet overlaps the scuttle the more of the scuttle is there that is jacketed by hot air. In the case of some Barker bodied cars the whole of the scuttle is so jacketed. The air scoop from the underside of the frame coming up through the sloping floorboards is cheaper and simpler than the Spinney ventilator. Several coachbuilders fit it. The drawback is that dust comes through it. We however do not think that should have condemned it quite as quickly as it did when it was tried last on a car, which we believe did a propaganda tour in France and Spain (Spanish roads are notoriously dusty.) SUMMARY. We suggest therefore the following moves: (1) Derby to fit up and give us a quantitive measure of the effect of gastighting the front compartment floor, the thermometer readings being taken in the neighbourhood of the greatest heat complained of, namely, the feet. | ||