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).
Valve design of a 2-3 litre Alfa Romeo engine and suggesting a similar experiment.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\5\ scan0111 | |
| Date | 11th November 1932 | |
| 8448r. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} E.8/HP.11.11.32. c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} Pn.{Mr Northey} re 2-3 litre Alfa Romeo. It is very interesting to read Bn{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}'s impressions of the above car, and to reflect that our first designs for the Bensport were largely along the same lines as the Alfa. It is astonishing to find that they are able to operate the valves direct seated in the aluminium cylinder head, and one can only assume that the great difference between the materials of the seat, and the valve, allows the combination to work well as bearing surface, without failing, due to wear of the valve face. Also that the movement keeps the valve seats sufficiently free from oxide to avoid interference with the cooling. We think it would be worth while, purely as an experiment, to run some valves direct in an aluminium head ourselves. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} [Signature] | ||