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).
The failure of a Goshawk I blower during a Civil Type Test on EXP.111.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\2\ img220 | |
| Date | 22th December 1932 | |
| ORIGINAL To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to W. c. to Rg.{Mr Rowledge} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to P. c. to Lp.{Mr Lappin} x.965. FAILURE OF GOSHAWK 1 BLOWER ON EXP.111 CIVIL TYPE TEST. Examination of the blower shows that the ball bearing carrying the supercharger rotor has failed. It is not clear what was the cause of the failure but we think it is probable that it is due to the failure of an oil thrower, which we know has been the cause of a similar failure on another engine. The bearing and the thrower is the same as used on all the standard Kestrels. The same bearing is also used on the Buzzard, so that there is no reason why it should not stand up. Previous to this failure a modification was already in hand for increasing the strength of the oil thrower. Apart from the failure of the supercharger, on several pistons the rings were gummed up badly. These are standard kestrel pistons. We have recently increased the gap between the ring and the groove because of piston ring gumming. This engine had the old clearance. The conditions of the bearings are normal. A detailed report on the examination will follow, but briefly the position is that the conditions of the engine gives us every confidence that we can satisfactorily complete a Type Test at this rating. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||