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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).
Design suggestions and material choices for a valve cover.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 17\6\  Scan086
Date  16th February 1929
  
X. 7060

E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}
BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} R1/M16.2.29.
Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}

c. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}

SS.{S. Smith} COVER FOR VALVES.
-------------------

I fear my suggestions about the above were
not of much help. I was alarmed when Derby suggested 4 studs
instead of 2 and an awkward felt groove in something we thought
need not have an oil-tight joint.

I like E's suggestion of curved surfaces of the
cover for silence - i.e. such curved sheets of metal do not
transmit sound so freely or have an audible period of XXXXX
their own.
I should have thought however that we should
not be able to detect the difference (it is worth making one to
find out) and ought not the cover to have its own core when
casting, and if so the curved sides would not be possible.

It occurred to me that since we ventilate the
thumb nuts holding on the cover we ought not to need a joint
round the edge if the inside lip was deep enough.

If the cover makes a noise by touching inter-
mittently in the joint it could be cleared away or the studs
altered to 3 as in Phantom. It would not matter if the centre
one were not quite in the centre of the length, or in line with
the other two. The cover is not interchangeable in length one
imagines, so that a similar stud could be used to the other
two - i.e. one near each end and one nearly in the centre,
but for appearance sake your (E's) 3rd. central stud might be
preferred.

This cover could be light alloy (magnesium or
Hall's). I am hoping that Hall's alloy with its 10% saving in
weight can be used on all chassis work.

The felt may soak up the oil and weep if not
really tight, and if only put in for silence we might use cork
which need not be continuous and this would be considerably
easier and less costly. This was suggested in my last memo. on
this subject.


R.{Sir Henry Royce}
  
  


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