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).
Faults of the Skinner Slide Valve Engine and requesting information on Packard's experience with it.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\4\ img076 | |
| Date | 28th November 1935 | |
| S.H. Grylls, Esq. Hotel Book-Cadillac, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. We have had a man here trying to interest us in the Skinner Slide Valve Engine. It is an American invention in which two semi-cylindrical slides reciprocate in an annular space between a fixed cylinder barrel and the outer casting, covering and uncovering inlet and exhaust ports as they do so. The faults we find with the scheme are - (1) Seizure of the valves and outer casting at the moment of maximum cylinder pressure. (2) Blow-by of cylinder gases. (3) Cooling bad due to large number of concentric cylinder pieces. (4) Overoiling at high speeds and high induction vacua. (5) Large valve stroke necessary to get good valving. We understand that this engine has been tried by Packards (about 1932). Will you please find out from Griswold what they thought of it. Enclosed are drawings for the Bentley main and big end bearings in Accordance with Rn{Mr Robinson}'s note. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Smth. Enc: E.B.791, 614, 612, 613, 625, 626, 627. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} 55612/55613. | ||