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).
Material, manufacturing, and testing of valve springs to improve reliability.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 56\2\ Scan039 | |
| Date | 20th October 1927 | |
| Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hl. from R. {Sir Henry Royce} c. to BJ. Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} HY. {Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} R1/M20.10.27. VALVE SPRINGS. X.2993 X.290 I cannot understand why we are worrying with steel containing copper. I think it is quite time we obtained some springs in ready tempered piano wire which I understand we are getting coiled or uncoiled from the Musselberg Co. (known as Bristol springs). I have the impression however that finally we shall prefer a spring hardened after winding, but these must be hardened and tempered with the very best plant, (baths etc. and temperature indicating apparatus) that it is possible to obtain, either in our own Works, or at a firm like Salters' or Terry's. We are sure that the change to less stress in the springs and less pressure requirements by the improve-ment in cam form ought to make all the difference in the reliability of the springs if they are consistently manu-factured. Naturally we must continue to observe the motion of these springs by oscillagraph methods, both on the rig, and on the engine. I am very disappointed that we are not making more rapid progress towards greater reliability. Could Hy. {Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} help in finding the very best plant. R. {Sir Henry Royce} | ||