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).
Distributor bench tests investigating condenser capacity and its effect on screw point oxidation.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 165\5\ img031 | |
| Date | 4th October 1930 | |
| EFC3/ADL4.10.30 contd. -3- condenser to a distributor unit in which the screw point was badly oxidised during previous standard tests. In the words of my assistant's report WE.51 :- "The distributor was then run on the bench rig for 180 hours at the conclusion of which it was observed that 75% of the screw point surface had cleared of oxide and showed the characteristic grey surface associated with properly working tungsten points. As this result was remarkable, a condenser of increased capacity .43 mf. was fitted to ascertain if the points returned to their original condition. At the end of a further 80 hours running this was found to be the case, oxidation all over the screw point surface being apparent. A very small capacity condenser .16 mf. was then fitted but after 20 hours running the points were still badly oxidised, this capacity being evidently too low to avoid undue arcing. A condenser of .23 mf. capacity was then again fitted. At the end of a further 40 hours running it was observed that all oxidation had disappeared. A standard condenser of .29 mf. was then fitted with the contact points in this well bedded, unoxidised condition, and the distributor run a further 75 hours, but the points did not remain unoxidized and the screw point at the end of the run became again blue oxidized. Similar evidence has also been observed on | ||