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).
Meeting with the Piston Ring Co. about using nickel chrome cast iron liners in cylinder castings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 55\1\ Scan024 | |
| Date | 6th October 1930 | |
| R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} W. ref 684 BY6/G.6.10.30. (RS{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary}) YJB Mr. Owbridge of the Piston Ring Co. came over to Derby in order to put before us the possibility of using liners in our cylinder castings. He informed ROY.{Sir Henry Royce} and myself that Leyland, Thornycrofts and Albion were using these liners regularly. The liner is of nickel chrome cast iron, which is austenitic. He heat treats the liners, quenching in oil by means of a special patented scheme, where he slides the heated liner into a barrel, which itself is cooled by oil or water on its outside diameter. It needs a press to push the liner in, but it lifts out quite readily after cooling. This material appears to be moving in the direction of the material you mentioned which was discussed in the September issue of the S.A.E. Journal. Mr. Owbridge has promised to give me the analysis of the material, but at the time when he called he had not brought it with him. The liners are used in the dry condition in cast iron cylinder blocks, and he remarked that the Leyland Co. were taking 200 a week regularly, Thornycrofts were taking over 100, and Albions were taking a large quantity as well, but the Thornycrofts were the only liners which were hardened as described above. The other two Companies use them in the "as cast" condition. In casting the liners, Mr. Owbridge uses centrifugal casting machines, and obtains very consistent results. He tells us definitely that for commercial work this has long passed the experimental stage and that two Companies, making passenger cars, were considering its adoption at the present moment. The same material is being produced by him for valve guides. In regard to valve tappets, he informed us that he was producing large numbers of these in cast iron, chilled on the faces against which the cams rub. I am inclined to think that he does not use the | ||