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).
Summarizing a conference on engine bearing tests and future material decisions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161a\3\ scan0029 | |
| Date | 20th January 1939 | |
| 1381 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} _Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}_ _RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/JWW._ _LA.{L. A. Archer}_ _Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Swdl.{Len H. Swindell}_ RE: CONFERENCE ON BEARINGS. Present : Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/JWW. LA.{L. A. Archer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Swdl.{Len H. Swindell} I wish to summarise the position discussed at the Conference held in my Office on Wednesday, 18th inst. on the above subject. LA.{L. A. Archer} informed the Conference that he had had three engines handed to him with AC.9 bearings fitted, in accordance with the requirements put forward by Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} that half a dozen engines should be tested before we started on production. LA{L. A. Archer}'s report was :- (a). The first engine picked up badly, the bearings were submitted to Hl/Mr.Talbot, who informed us that two of the bearings were right down to a brinell figure of 45, showing that they had been very hot indeed. (b). The second engine bearings were reasonably good, and were just touched up and refitted. (c). The third engine bearings were excellent. CONNECTING RODS. The A.C.9 bearings which have been used for a long time in this connection have proved to be quite dependable, not the slightest trouble has been experienced in this connection, and for the purpose of big end bearings we propose to continue to use A.C.9 bearings. As in Wraith and all future cars we have decided to use white metal, and to further this purpose we have increased the diameter and the length of the bearings to such an extent as to give the necessary durability, it appears to be a mistake to turn out 100 engines with main bearings differing from the material used both before and after the 100 engines are produced, particularly as one out of three seized up, the bearings on the second engine were good but required some touching up, and it | ||