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 from The Aerolite Piston Co. Ltd. regarding the design challenges of a split skirt piston.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 77\1\ scan0030 | |
| Date | 19th January 1920 | |
| COPY. THE AEROLITE PISTON CO. LTD:, Hanover Court Yard, Hanover Street, London W.1. 19th. Jan. 1920. X/KL Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., Derby. Dear Sirs, AEROLITE SPLIT SKIRT PISTONS. In further reply to your letter of the 1st. inst., signed by Mr. Hives, we have gone very carefully into the question of a design of split skirt, and fear that this cannot be satisfactorily accomplished. Our difficulty is that the bosses are so low down and leave so little skirt, that it is impossible to get sufficient "spring", or to lengthen the skirt sufficiently for our purpose. Apparently, your piston has been considerably altered in the last year or so, as we had previously designed a piston which has been fitted to one of your Cars, and, we understand has given satisfactory results. We enclose our print, A.P.B. 217 to show you the type of piston then designed. In conclusion, we regret very much that we are not able to put forward a design, which, as you know, we are very anxious to do, and must apologise for troubling you in the matter. If at any time you are reducing your piston, and consider that we could embody a satisfactory modification, we shall be very glad to hear from you. The "split skirt piston" is giving most excellent results in other engines, entirely eliminating slap, and cutting down oil consumption. Yours faithfully, FOR THE AEROLITE PISTON CO. LTD:, P.P. A.H.M. Ward - Director. | ||