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).
Engine development discussions, including glycol leaks, cylinder heads, and valve sizes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\2\ img280 | |
| Date | 20th March 1934 | |
| -2- I attach a letter from Carlton Kemper at Langley Field, in which he also expresses some views on cylinder heads. (4) In discussing Glycol with Hutt, he repeatedly emphasised the danger of leaks. He does not consider that the screwed shrunk-on cylinder head, as used on the air-cooled, would necessarily be proof against glycol leaks. They have found it necessary to use blind stud holes in all cases where the stud passes through a joint in order to avoid leaks. (5) I have sent Lovesey all the dope I could obtain on oil-coolers. I shall try to bring one back with me. (6) As indicative of the amount of development work they are doing at Wright's (which work has enabled them to type test 170 M.E.P. on the Cyclone), they are at present using 32,000 American gallons of gasoline per month on development work. (7) Wright have had success running a nitro-gear against the ordinary case-hardened gear. They have given up grinding entirely and now use nothing but lapping. This is from the point of view of efficiency, but it incidentally lowers the cost. (8) Hutt emphasised that we must take no notice of the Conqueror valve size. He says the engine has grown from 4 1/2" bore to 5 1/4" bore without alteration to the cylinder centres, and is therefore under-valved to a very considerable degree. | ||