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).
Letter to Wellworthy Piston Rings Ltd. regarding AC.9 bearing failures and a request for a test set of pistons for a tank engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\4\ scan0125 | |
| Date | 28th May 1941 | |
| Bearings (Wellworthy) 1029(a) 28th May, 1941. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/ET. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} HOWLETT, Esq., Wellworthy Piston Rings Ltd., L Y M I N G T O N, Hants. Dear Howlett, Thank you for your letters re pistons and bearings. It is unfortunate about the interference fit on the Bristol job, but I am a bit puzzled because I thought this was a fully floating bearing. As you know, we had no success at all with AC.9 on steel. We have had a couple of very curious failures here recently. Two brand new sets of AC.9 big end bearings were fitted to a B.II and a B.V by my experimental staff, and in each case one bearing in the set failed by partial seizure. The others were all perfect and the two bearings that have given trouble were replaced on the cars and are now running satisfactorily. The bearings were actually taken from production. This is the first trouble we have had in the last four years on any car to which AC.9 bearings have been fitted, and is somewhat disconcerting. With regard to pressed pistons for the tank engine, as you seem so enthusiastic about these, I suggest that you supply a set for test. I enclose a drawing of the piston. The railways surpassed themselves in the delivery of that piece of salmon you so kindly sent me. It arrived in a completely decomposed condition. Thank you very much for bothering all the same. Yours sincerely, Encl. Drawings L.M. 319 D.10952/3 | ||