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).
Failure of an experimental Bentley fan on test, comparing it with a standardised production fan.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 86\5\ scan0014 | |
| Date | 12th January 1934 | |
| To By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. to Sft.{Mr Swift} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} 8224 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/MJ.12.1.34. Bentley Fan. Referring to the Bentley fan which failed on test. When we examined this fan we found that in many ways it differed from the fan which we ran on the 10,000 miles test and which was Standardised. The history of this fan is that we purchased a fan from the Chrysler Co, we tested it out, and found that it gave satisfactory results as regards taking much less power to drive but we found very little advantage in staggered blades. It was therefore decided that we should make a similar fan with symmetrical blades. The chief points where the experimental fan departs from the production fan are - (1) On the experimental fan the rivets were .187". On the Production fan they are .125". (2) The fixing of the blade to the hub on the experimental fan was carried out in a different manner to that on the Production fan. We have no experience of the fan as built on Production. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||