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).
Letter to H.R. Ricardo discussing cylinder head designs from Crossley's, their similarity to Ricardo's own, and planned single-cylinder tests.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 133\2\ scan0056 | |
| Date | 11th July 1934 | |
| X4706 Exptl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}12/KW. 11th July, 1934. H.R. Ricardo, Esq., Messrs. Ricardo & Co., Engineers (1927) Ltd., Bridge Works, Old Shoreham, Sussex. Dear Ricardo, Thank you very much for returning Janeway's paper. I note that you do not think very much of it, we ourselves have not succeeded in getting any very useful meat out of it. We went over to Crossley's yesterday and found that on their 10 HP. they were using a head very similar to your own, but for some obscure reason they call it the "Whatmough" head. The two heads are so similar that it is rather difficult to understand how either can have independently patented features. They have not got the close clearance between the piston and the inlet valve which you state is so essential and they certainly are getting a certain amount of detonation, which may indicate that they are wrong in this particular. At any rate I believe we have got sufficient enthusiasm to carry out some single cylinder tests on the design. Thank you very much for the drawings of the air bell etc. We are busy making this. Yours sincerely, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED. | ||