Rolls-Royce Archives
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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).
Bearing seizure tests comparing Hiduminium RR.56 and Aluminium Tin alloys, and the subsequent acquisition of manufacturing rights.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 115\5\  scan0221
Date  6th December 1938 guessed
  
10.

the oil supply to the bearings was to be gradually
reduced until seizure of a bearing occurred.

It was found that the oil pressure had to be reduced to
zero before one of the big-end bearings seized. On
subsequent examination it was discovered that one of the
Hiduminium RR.56 bearings had seized. The remaining five
bearings consisting of two Hiduminium RR.56 and three
Aluminium Tin were found to be in quite good condition.
From the results of this test it was concluded that with
either Hiduminium RR.56 (specially treated) or Aluminium
tin bearings fitted at a minimum running clearance of
0.001" diameter for connecting rod bearings and 0.0012"
diameter for Main Bearings, exceedingly severe treatment
has to be given to the engine before anything serious
happens to the bearings.

Another manufacturer has tried this new bearing alloy
in high performance racing car engines and reported that
the tests showed quite conclusively that this material is
far superior to anything he had previously tried, from a
load-carrying point of view.

We have acquired the sole manufacturing rights and welcome
enquiries from manufacturers who run in to bearing difficulties
which we feel sure this material will solve. We might add
that we have laid down extensive plant for the manufacture
of these and are in a position to give competitive prices
  
  


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