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).
Unreliability of current pistons and the prospects of a modified aluminium split piston design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 77\3\ scan0092 | |
| Date | 27th January 1920 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} X 3751 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}10/F27.1.20. X.3751 - MODIFIED TYPE OF ALUMINIUM SPLIT PISTONS. With reference to your Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AT27.1.20, I think the position of this job should be more fully explained to CJ. Personally, I feel that the position at present is that with the pistons we are using now, our tests have rather shown that these are likely to be unreliable as far as absence of knocks is concerned, after running about 2,000 miles, whereas with the proposed split pistons the prospects so far are better, and there is certainly no reason why they should be worse. It should also be pointed out that even the present standardised piston has not run 10,000 miles. We are not, therefore, altering the approved standard. My last recollection of this matter being discussed with CJ was that as the standardisation of aluminium pistons had been done out of the strict routine, we must make the best of it, and I for one certainly think that we are doing the best for the job by producing this type of piston instead of the present type. I do not feel that I can allow this matter to pass without bring this point forward, as I feel there is a possibility at present that after the cars have been in the hands of customers for some time, we shall receive unsatisfactory complaints with reference to piston knocks, etc. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||