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).
Piston technology, referencing Cadillac's use of alumilite treatment and proposing tests on aerolite pistons.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 86\2\ scan0183 | |
| Date | 19th April 1934 | |
| -2- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/KW.19.4.34. While I was in America I was in close contact with the Cadillac Motor Car Co., who adopted aluminium pistons for the first time last year and they have done an enormous amount of intensive running covering a third of a million miles in 4 months, and they are enthusiastic about the alumilite treatment to prevent cold scuffing. Since presumably if the piston does not scuff when starting, the amount of wear is reduced, it strikes us as being a valuable development for the aerolite type of product. We anticipate that you are fully aware of this process but should like to discuss it with you. The Americans also have somewhat fixed ideas on fully floating gudgeon pins without interference fits, and here again you will probably be interested in their conclusions. We want to obtain a further two sets of aerolite pistons for test purposes and should like these to be in R.R. 53 alloy since this does not seem to have shown up any undesirable characteristics, and furthermore, we should like them to have this alumilite heat treatment. Possibly you could put the castings in hand and defer final machining and treatment until we have been able to discuss the matter. We could also review the cylinder limits to see whether we have in any way prejudiced the pistons that are at present cold knocking by the bores being slightly oversize. As a matter of fact, if you could get here early in the day we could dismantle the unit which has done 22,000 miles and measure up while you are here. We have confirmed that the aerolites give a slight increase in Horse Power over the split skirt type we are at present using. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED. | ||