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).
Proposal for a new, lighter crankshaft design for the Phantom III engine to accommodate Hall's metal big ends.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 93\5\ scan0125 | |
| Date | 20th October 1936 | |
| X317 To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}6/KW.20.10.36. Phantom III Crankshaft. In order to run Hall's metal big ends on Phantom III it is necessary to reduce the crankpin diameter by 1/8". This necessitates a new crankshaft. By using the Packard balancing arrangement we have already saved about 10 lbs. We now suggest using crank webs like the aero engines. The wider webs on the car crankshafts gradually became their present shape in order to raise the critical speed of a 6-cylinder engine. On Phantom III this is entirely unnecessary. We attach to E's copy a pencil sketch on LeC.5230, showing approximately a reduction of a further 8 lbs. Will E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} please issue a design on these lines which we should like to test as soon as possible. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} | ||