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).
Potential improvements to piston design, referencing American practice and the experience of the Aerolite Piston Co.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 86\2\ scan0300 | |
| Date | 22th November 1934 | |
| X236 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} E.7/HP.22.11.34. re Pistons. Referring to the attached memo E/PSN.1/MN.22.11.34, we understand it is American practice on air cooled radials to extend the bedding on the thrust faces of the piston all the way up to the crown, and it may be that this is found advantageous for piston cooling, as well as increasing the effective length of the piston. I am of the opinion that we ought to try two compression rings only, with larger lands between the rings. The stronger lands would then not only be able to carry the piston bedding but would have the advantage according to the experience of the Aerolite Co. in maintaining an improved ring control and seal. The Aerolite Piston Co. find that thin lands have a distinct tendency to buckle, and their practice is to make the land width some 50% more than we normally use. We shall, therefore, instruct some pistons for the Single Cylinder Test Units as a preliminary move on these lines. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} (Signature) | ||