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).
Investigation into defects in an Exide battery, specifically electrolyte overflow, stopper tightness, and separator design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\4\ Scan028 | |
| Date | 3rd July 1924 | |
| To EY. from RFC. c. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} EFC3/T3.7.24. X4418 X.4414E - EXIDE BATTERY EX CHASSIS 56.S.3. AND G.A.72. -HEYWOOD- Reference EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}/HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}11/09.5.24 and EY12/H9.5.24. we have now made the necessary investigation of this battery from the point of view of the overflow of electrolyte from the stoppers on charge, and the supposed necessity of frequent topping up. Attached please find copy of my assistant's report JB.49 in this connection. We do not find this battery any different from other batteries of this type, except in one minor respect, re the tightness of the stoppers, as mentioned below, but it is our opinion that the trouble with the battery has been due primarily to two defects in the battery, one of which is common to all batteries of this type, and secondarily to the owner not appreciating the somewhat modified treatment of the battery, necessitated by the existence of these two defects. The first of these two defects is, as mentioned in the report, that the separators themselves project about 1/4" above the plates, and this, besides taking up useful acid room, gives a misleading impression as to just how far the battery should be topped up. As pointed out in the report, the necessity of the separators being so high is in order that they can be held down in position, but there appears no reason why the separators should not be cut away, as suggested in the report, which would give advantages in one or two directions. Contd. | ||