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).
Examination report on the condition of batteries and recommendations for improvements.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\G\October1921\ Scan13 | |
| Date | 8th October 1921 | |
| R.R. 235A (100 T) (S.H. 798. 10-12-20) G 2947 October 8th 1921. -2- Contd. considerably more than there ought to have been unless the battery had been grossly overcharged. The battery certainly looked as if it had been a bit overcharged. The paste used in these plates was rather softer than what we are using now which would also account for the accumulation of sludge present. The battery was getting to the point where it required washing out and new positive plates fitted, though if it had not been disturbed it would most probably have continued to work satisfactorily for perhaps six months or possibly even a year. No.2. H.D.E.13 (thin plate type) first filled with acid and charged in July 1920. General appearance, condition of cell to cell connections and interior of rubber lined box equally as good as No.1 Three of these cells were opened and the sections withdrawn. The acid had been emptied out when despatched by you ten days previously. Had the battery been filled with acid till the moment of opening up the appearance would probably have been even better. However, there was no sign of sulphation and the condition of all three sections was excellent in every way. All plates were in perfect condition as also the wooden (ribbed on one side) separators. Separating the plates showed the positives to have shed practically no active material (there was no sludge to speak of in any of the cells) but a few pellets were loose. It was thought that roughly tearing the plates apart had caused these few pellets to loosen and more careful examination of the other positive plates certainly did not disclose any more loose pellets. Altogether the condition of the battery was most satisfactory and it looked almost like new. The condition of the ebonite cells in each battery was excellent. On this examination we recommend the H.D.E. type for your purpose more especially when we outline the following improvements that we have introduced during the last twelve months which tend to make this battery still better. 1. The thickness of the positive plate has been increased from 1/8" to 5/32" adding mechanical strength and increased capacity. 2. We have now produced a basket grid withthe ribs tapering inside thus locking the material and preventing the possibility of pellets falling out. | ||