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).
The running experience of Vandervell strip main bearings fitted in aluminium crankcases.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\2\ scan0605 | |
| Date | 16th October 1940 | |
| To E, from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} 1020 STRIP MAIN BEARINGS. We have recently been compiling records of our running experience on Vandervell strip bearings on chassis engines. A considerable amount of running has been done with the main bearings fitted directly in aluminium crankcases and, in case this is of interest to you, we give particulars below and attach photographs where these are available. In no case has there been any sign of failure other than that of the bearing surfaces. Our experience is that aluminium or iron cases have no effect on bearing surface failures. RUNNING EXPERIENCE WITH STRIP MAIN BEARINGS IN ALUMINIUM CRANKCASES. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Engine No. Running Time and Results. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B.III No. 5 11 hours Test Bed Development. 1st Set Bearings 20 " " Endurance. Standard Whitemetal. Result as Photo No. 1. Bearings removed. 2nd Set Bearings. 43 hours Test Bed Development. Standard whitemetal. 18,000 miles running in France (with overdrive gearbox). Result as photo No. 2. No. 2 Intermediates renewed. All Intermediate bearings replaced with Hoytos metal bearings at 50,300 miles. Original Nos. 1, 4 & 7 of 2nd Set still running at 63,124 miles. W.R. No. 2. 28 hours Test Bed Development. Tri-metal. 20 " " Endurance. (3½ litre engin). 648 miles in England. Result photo No. 3. Bearings replaced and still running at 25,840 miles. B.II No. 18 28 hours Test Bed Endurance Standard Whitemetal. Result photo No. 4. W.III No. 10 6785 miles in France. Standard whitemetal Engine damaged in accident. No photo available. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} | ||