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).
Sixteenth report of the design committee regarding an 'H' type engine test and lubricating oil investigation.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\3\ Scan231 | |
| Date | 26th March 1930 | |
| x7772 R.{Sir Henry Royce} (Held up). Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} BV. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rg.{Mr Rowledge} 2/LW.26.3.30. DICTATED 25.3.30. y2924 v3196 n665 r3933 x7772 SIXTEENTH REPORT OF DESIGN COMMITTEE. "H" Type Test. The present position with regard to the "H" type test is that the engine is all built up ready to run its two hour test, it having been reassembled since its previous failure. The question of lubricating oil is still under investigation and it at present stands as follows:- We know that our gears will stand up to the loads as long as we use Castor Oil as a lubricant. We know that Castor Oil is a better lubricant for the gears than any Mineral Oil. In the Summer we did a 100 hr. development run on an "F" engine and were quite pleased with the results (on mineral oil). Since then the results on our gears have gradually got less pleasing. We are now making quite sure whether, if we stick to P.4. Oil supplied by the Silvertown Company, we should have reasonable chance of getting through the H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} type test. We are also making arrangements for running in gears before they are put on engines, and also we propose to follow up lapping these gears on a lapping machine of the type brought to our notice some time ago by Oy. We consider that some preliminary running in of the gears and/or lapping is an improvement which we want badly whatever oil we use, we do not want to tell the customer we cannot supply engines running on Mineral Oil. We have asked the National Physical Laboratory if they can tell us what percentage difference in loading we ought reasonably to be able to expect in changing over from P.3 to P.4 Oil, and whether they have made any tests. When we have completed the proposed tests we shall then be in a position where we shall be able to say to the Ministry:- "Here are the results; the engine will run perfectly on Castor oil," and if we cannot run on Mineral Oil we shall have to say to them:- "If you require to run on Mineral Oil we shall have to design a new gear with lower loading which will weigh more" - and I think we should be reasonably able to ask them if that is what they need to allow us to type test the engine using Castor Oil, as an intermediate type. We hope, of course, that we shall be able to run the present gears with Mineral Oil. If the Ministry persist in what we should feel, with all due respect, to be rather a mean attitude, it might mean | ||