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 a big end bush and proposing alternative materials or manufacturing methods.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\5\ scan0144 | |
| Date | 14th October 1938 | |
| JH/KES - 2 - 14th October, 1938. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} C. Hall, Esq., (contd). obtained, they are afraid it cannot be used as a suitable big end bush for their job due to the fact that there is a serious drawback due to the possibility of a small casting defect, or some other stress raiser, causing failure of the bush, with consequent complete wrecking of the engine, owing to the fact that disintegration of the bush would produce such excessive clearances that the rods would foul the sleeves and cylinders; which, of course, is not the case when the steel-backed bush is used, because the steel-back to some extent prevents this. Now then, my point is this. Would it be possible in your opinion to cash this bearing metal on, either centrifugally or otherwise, say a phosphor-bronze or steel-backed bush? I understand that, in some discussions, it has been talked about using this down to 80 thou thick, whereas the obvious thing, of course, might be to re-design the rod entirely. They would not, of course, be prepared to do this with so many in use, but if this A.C.9. material could be cast around a phosphor-bronze bearing or steel-back, we might get away with it. What are your views on this subject? Yours sincerely, Copy to H.D.A. Mr. Robotham. | ||