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).
Effectiveness and drawbacks of split aluminium pistons from the Aerolite Piston Co.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 77\3\ scan0078 | |
| Date | 1st November 1919 | |
| X.3757 chassis To GE. from Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} Copy to-Mr. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} CR.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} BnS/WS.11.19. RE SPLIT ALUMINIUM PISTONS. With reference to your note CJ17/E31119, we have known of the type of piston to which you refer, and some days ago the Aerolite Piston Co., who are responsible, I believe, for this piston, wrote to us asking us if we were interested, and I asked them to forward a sample piston. We do not think that a piston split in the manner they suggest is so effective in overcoming piston knocks as that suggested by Mr. Hives although it may perhaps have some advantage regarding the distribution of heat. The claims regarding oil working past the piston are perhaps well founded as one would expect that the expanded skirt would effectively prevent this, but it is a disadvantage that the pressure surfaces of the piston are likely to be starved of lubricant. We think it is important that if a collapsible piston is attempted at all, it should be collapsible at the top of the split skirt as well as at the bottom. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} | ||