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).
Visit to A.E.C. to inspect aluminium tin bearings and discuss commercial vehicle production.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 116\1\ scan0117 | |
| Date | 23th May 1938 | |
| Handwritten: 102Oa Copy for Policy file also Rms? By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} VISIT TO A.E.C. R.R. ALUMINIUM TIN BEARING. We paid a visit to the A.E.C. on Thursday to examine a set of R.R.A.C.9 aluminium tin bearings which had done 100 hours' running on one of their 6 1/2-litre oil engines. Mr. Blackith of Wellworth's was present. The interesting point about this test was that they were running this alloy as main bearings on a hardened shaft. The test was, of course, run on the bench and special precautions were taken to clean the oil centrifugally. We have never seen aluminium tin main bearings in better condition and A.E.C. are completely satisfied with the results. They have ordered 6 more sets of bearings from Wellworthy's, and are going to run four engines completely equipped with aluminium tin, and the other two with alternate aluminium tin and lead bronze, to try and get a direct comparative figure of merit. They are running lead bronze big-end bearings, and we pointed out that the aluminium tin would give equal results for less cost. They are going to try some in due course, but are not anxious to make a change at present as they have had a great deal of trouble, and have only just completed standardisation of a satisfactory lead bronze. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE COSTS. We were extremely interested in the general work carried out at A.E.C., because, in every respect, it is more like our own than is the average mass-produced car factory. The three points which their production has in common with our own are as follows:- (1) Small output - 30 to 40 chassis a week. (2) Main objective - durability and minimum servicing. (3) The chassis must be built down to a minimum weight specification, particularly if it is for the L.G.O.C., because the maximum weight of 10 tons has been specified for a fully-laden-40 passenger- double-decker bus. | ||