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).
Radiator freezing issues in cold weather and the proposed development of an automatic shutter system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\4\ Scan043 | |
| Date | 3rd March 1921 | |
| contd. -3- (It is to be noted that in zero weather most American drivers who had to have their car out for say three or four hours, would run the water off, unless they were sure they had plenty of alcohol in the water.) This is one argument for putting the shutter outside. The other is that we are sure that in zero weather the radiator would sometimes freeze while the car was running, if the shutters were on the inside. On the demonstration car, fitted with hand-operated shutters, which at the time were about half open, the radiator froze in the middle one day when the temperature was 10 or 15 below zero, while the car was running, and steam came from the escape pipes at the same time and the engine showed signs of being too hot. We have had numerous other cases of partially frozen radiators causing a car to boil, but in these cases the radiator has been frozen while the car was standing. The case mentioned is exceptional, but it seems to prove that some sensitive automatic means of operating the shutters is necessary, and that these should be in front of the radiator. Mr. Nadin has suggested as a possible device, that a sylphon could operate the shutters by oil pressure from the engine, the oil being admitted by means of a valve operated by another sylphon which was connected to a thermometer bulb, like the Cambridge thermometer bulb in the top water pipe. We think this might be worth developing either by our-selves or in the hands of the "alli-ator" people, or others. If successful, it would be a great step towards solving our winter running troubles. We think it important to bring to Mr. Royce's attention that a large proportion of Rolls-Royce owners complain of poor running in winter, and most of these would demand automatic shutters for their own cars, as soon as we standardised them. A few of them might have to be fitted free of charge to satisfy customers, as a matter of policy. The thermostat shutter device should therefore be capable of attachment to the present cars with a minimum of alteration to existing parts. Yours truly, ROLLS ROYCE OF AMERICA INC., Per---------- M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley. MO/G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} | ||