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).
The examination of high-pressure petrol pumps from a Phantom III, detailing issues with brass and steel rollers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\2\ scan0296 | |
| Date | 22th August 1937 | |
| By C to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Hx R.H.C. To. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} CHATEAUROUX. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JBD{John B. Dixon - Fuel Systems}/3/JAB.22.8.37. 32-EX. PHANTOM III. High Pressure Petrol Pumps In Frame. The front unit was fitted with brass rollers locating the armature and the rear unit with Cyanide hardened steel rollers. These pumps have run for 12,842 miles in France and been subjected to as high temperatures as are likely to be encountered in Europe - 37°c. After 1,635 miles the unit with steel rollers stuck. The unit was taken down, cleaned and running continued, the failure being attributed to rust and dirt in the rollers. Below is a detailed report of the examination after 12,842 miles. A, or rear unit of the Pump. The steel rollers were covered with a red deposit, but the armature was quite free to move. No flats had worn on the spherical faces and there was no pitting due to corrosion. The contact setting was maintained at 4 holes. The armature had not fouled the pole piece or pot. The outer race on the pot locating the rollers was indented where the rollers had worked, but there are no facilities here to measure this wear and this will have to be done at Works. The rollers had not apparently changed their position during the running and all the wear had accordingly taken place directly under the rollers and was not distributed round the circumference of the pot. B, or Front unit of the Pump. Three of the brass rollers had flats on the spherical faces reducing the diameter .003", all the wear having taken place on the roller and none on the outer race of the steel pot. The armature had not fouled either the pole piece or pot. There was a considerable quantity of brass filings and greenish dust behind the diaphragm. The contact setting was maintained at 4 holes. | ||