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).
Research at American stations on topics including knock rating, spark plug materials, and aerodynamics.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179\3\ img151 | |
| Date | 1st April 1932 | |
| He/Em.1/A.W.4.32 contd. -10- at Wright Field, measures knock rating by a thermo-couple in the cylinder, in preference to the bouncing pin. It is found that running the engine at 900 R.P.M. with the cooling medium at 370°F.{Mr Friese} gives a more reliable knock rating than the old standard. Spark Plug Erosion with Ethyl. The Durion Co. of Dayton, have evolved a material called "Durimet" which is said to be resistant to corrosion. Its analysis is Ni 19.5-23 Cr.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} 18.8 - 21.5 Si. 2.75 - 3.75 Mn. .5 -.75 Mo. 1 - 1.5 High Carbon C.20 Cu. 1.25 Low Carbon 0.09 Cu. .25 - .45 WORK AT THE RESEARCH STATIONS. Wright Field. As previously mentioned, direct petrol injection and propeller research occupy a prominent position in the Wright Field Programme. They are also working to silence the aircraft. Retractable landing gear seems to have become a practical proposition. They have all the new army aircraft here. Langley Field. Here they are carrying out comprehensive wing loading tests in flight with various sensitive manometers they have developed. They also have an ingenious torsion meter which is used in flight between the propeller and the engine. They have carried out some interesting tests on spinning since finding that when ice built up on the leading edge of the wing, spinning tendencies were reduced. They have reproduced the result by fitting an artificial sharp ridge to the leading edge. Their single cylinder work on compression ignition and petrol injection is comprehensive. They have a number of wind tunnels besides the full scale one previously mentioned. | ||