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).
Progress report on aero engines, SS engine mounting, and other development work.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\5\ Scan097 | |
| Date | 1st March 1929 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RG.{Mr Rowledge} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X7005 R1/M1.3.29. PROGRESS - AERO AND OTHER WORK. X.2917 X.2465 X.7005 X.3933 There is some anxiety that we are not getting along with the work we are obliged to finish at an early date. Naturally if we run up against repeated failures we shall be in serious trouble, but we must always take such risks or we shall get nowhere. We have been seriously delayed by the severe winter making it difficult to work, causing much ill health (everywhere in Europe), and also finding certain difficulties of carburation and lubrication, adding to the work to be done. We hope that now the weather has improved the progress will be more rapid. There are a few things I am definitely anxious about the others look less serious at the moment. SS.{S. Smith} ENGINE MOUNTING. With this I believe we shall have forego some of the engine smoothness so as to use the engine to help keep the frame from twisting - probably rather thinner (.2 or .150) rubbers of increased area. I have rather maintained that it is an unfortunate periodicity that we have struck. The natural period of the front end being the same as the natural period of the axle with the tyres we are now using. I am waiting to hear from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} what is this period in different specimens of bare chassis underframe mounting and ordinary mounted coachwork. Here our car 15-EX was not very satisfactory until the semi-isolation of dash and scuttle was tightened up by Dodd. It is now quite alright except at some speed between 60/70 m.p.h. above which it is again much better. (We have great confidence in this car and have on several occasions touched 80 m.p.h. in the dark). This rather confirms my impressions given above. The other two points of starter and exhaust are now settling down. They are much nearer being passable in our specimen. AERO ENGINES. I have much anxiety about the induction system, especially on H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} R.{Sir Henry Royce} I fear the big size of the induction pipe will burst with backfires. I am inclined to think we ought to be making the medium sized one which we had settled should be our standard. I am in favour of not being too ambitious for power in all these engines. Suppose half were made safe and half ultra powerful. We should then not entirely fail to give them something. Also some could have water heating of carbs. Contd:- | ||