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).
Bearing finishes, engine component seizing, and the potential use of aluminium and chromium plating.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\4\ scan0126 | |
| Date | 1st December 1942 | |
| 1020 To Hl. from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}12/BT.{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}1.12.42. Many thanks for your report, No. G.122 on bearing finishes, in which I was extremely interested. I am interested in any figures you have to show the improvement in finish occasioned by actually running engines on two hour acceptance tests. I am interested in the observations on seizing, since they are directly contrary to our experience in cylinder bores where, if we get an exceedingly good finish to the bore, we get pistons scuffing, the extreme case being that of chromium plate. Have you any explanation of these apparently contrary results? In view of the enormous reduction in the cost of aluminium, its admirable qualities for cuttings made in permanent moulds, and the high cutting speed which can be employed in machining the material, we are satisfied that it will largely displace cast iron in the higher quality post war automobile. One definite drawback to the use of aluminium at present is that cylinder liners have to be fitted. Any process which can be devised to enable cylinder block castings to be produced in aluminium without liners, and a thin coating of chromium plate to be applied to the bores, will be a major contribution towards better transportation and, incidentally, a big money maker, if a sound pattern can be established. Will you please say if you can envisage any progress along these lines and, if so, I will take the matter up with Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, with a view to getting some intensive research approved. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||