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).
Secret memo discussing design schemes for the front-end suspension of the 'Japan 3' engine.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\October1930-February1931\ Scan398 | |
| Date | 28th February 1931 | |
| FROM E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} [WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} is struck through] C. to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RV [RV is struck through] SECRET. E3/M28.2.31. x5005 x5770 JAPAN 3. SUSPENSION OF ENGINE AT FRONT END. In your memo. referring to the above you proposed that the slipper flywheel casing should have a nose passing through a monocle plate, also acting as the torsion reaction damper, and that the fan pulley would be on the slipper flywheel. Dealing with the latter point first it would be easy constructionally to drive the fan pulley through the slipper flywheel if the starting handle jaw is also included as then the pieces unite to form a complete oil tight cover for the end of the crankshaft. There are however we think objections to driving either from the slipper friction. The fan takes a lot of power at high speed and would be liable to slip the drive continuously. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} confirms this. Dealing with the former point the use of the slipper flywheel casing for holding up the engine appears to render the removal of the bottom part of the crankchamber, and also inspection of the slipper flywheel, difficult unless special means are provided to support the engine while the nose casing is removed. Our competitors always arrange for easy removal of the lower half or oil pan for dismantling rods and pistons, and as a rule they use external slipper wheels. We therefore wondered if you would consider a scheme in which the fan pulley is within the monocle plate, this latter being carried by means of two short brackets from the front face of the crankcase. We have schemes of both types roughed out but they are not in a sufficiently developed state to send to you for criticism at the moment. We attach a print from a rough scheme illustrating these remarks in which the fan pulley and starter jaw have been mounted direct on the crank. This print does not shew the best that can be made of the scheme as the slipper wheel boss should be extended forward to bear direct on the crankshaft to give a longer base, but it illustrates the construction generally. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||