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 development and mechanical testing of Vandervell thin shell tri-metal main bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\4\ scan0112 | |
| Date | 10th September 1940 | |
| Lov{Mr Lovesey}/AT.16/GR.{George Ratcliffe} 10.9.40. Report No. MR.80. MECHANICAL TESTING. Main Bearing Development. Vandervell Bearings. Further to report ref: Lov{Mr Lovesey}/AT.2/GR.{George Ratcliffe}4.9.40. dealing with rig tests of alternative main bearing alloys our experience in carrying out several tests on Vandervell thin shell tri-metal bearings on the Single Panel Rig is dealt with more fully below. Reason for Test. Experience has shown that while running time extending over several hundreds of hours is necessary to differentiate between two good bearings on the engine these can be placed in their order of merit by considering the results of two series of tests. (a) seizure tests on the Merlin crankcase rig. (b) fatigue tests on the single panel rig. Tests on Vandervell bearings have so far been confirmed to this second series. Brief History. For some time we have been aware of the production possibilities of the Vandervell thin shell bearing but have felt that the chances of a white metal bearing being satisfactory under the high and complex loading conditions of the modern aero engine seemed very remote. On the other hand it seemed obvious that if a white metal bearing was to stand any chance of success the right way to apply it was by means of a thin coating as in the Vandervell bearing. Bearings consisting of an RR alloy cast on a very thin steel shell and inserted in a steel housing (see attached photograph No.1.) which is arranged to fit directly in a standard Merlin crankcase have given very good results on seizure tests on the crankcase rig and later have shown up well on main engine tests. As a consequence it was suggested that Vandervell tri-metal bearings be tried as an alternative to the RR. strip, since if satisfactory they could by this means be directly applied to production or repair engines. (Use of strip bearings direct in the crankcase would of course necessitate the introduction of a new crankcase with undersize bores). Accordingly as a preliminary stage a Vandervell bearing was supplied for fatigue test on the single panel rig. | ||