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).
Viability of Bohnalite steel strut pistons and duralumin connecting rods.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\R\January1928-March1928\ 72 | |
| Date | 21th February 1928 | |
| HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} FROM E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C.c. to BJ, OY, BY [Text is struck through] ORIGINAL E1/M21.2.28. re. PISTON & CON. ROD. X4588 X1506 Referring to your memo. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/LG6228., we have no information about the Bohnalite Steel Strut piston mentioned in OY3/R1.25.28., beyond the inadequate descriptions occasionally seen in the American journals. We should in fact like to see some samples of this piston, and suggest that you obtain some from OY., of the nearest size to ours available. Owing to the difference in expansion between the aluminium and the cast in steel struts, we fear the latter will not remain tight under all conditions, and that this would eventually lead to trouble developing. With regard to duralumin rods R.{Sir Henry Royce} has never favoured these, and when we were told that the section has to be so increased that the duralumin rods weighed practically as much as a light steel rod, this put the matter out of court entirely, as in such cases one would naturally prefer the latter for its superior reliability. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||