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).
Conversation with Mr. Heron regarding engine valve technology, problems, and potential solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\2\ img077 | |
| Date | 4th March 1940 | |
| Serial No 4 OR S/D/Mar 4 40 March 4 1940 Rolls Royce Ltd. Derby, England EH Had a talk to Mr Heron who came to see me to-day in connection with the Jonly presentation on March 19 and covered a wide range of subjects in a very interesting conversation. 1) He is sending me quite a lot of literature and has offered to co-operate in any way in which we can mutually assist R.R. Ltd. 2) Valves Wilcox Rich here in Detroit are now a solving valves for: Armstrong-Iddeley Hispono Gnome-LeRhone ...and, strangely enough, A.I. Co., who have just decided to fit salt-cooled valves on the rear engine buses. These get 6 miles per U.S. gallon on ordinary road running at 40 M.P.H., which means running close to max torque and plays havoc with the exhaust valves. (Why do you not break down and talk a little about your valve problem. There must be some. Thru T.A.Dinisby and V.O.Young of Wilcox Rich, I could certainly get you some intelligent suggestions, and probably some valves which may or may not be better than your present valves.) As far as Mr. Heron knows, no 4-valve cylinder successfully uses hollow-head valves and some two-valve cylinders are bad enough. Reason being because the seating walks out of line with the guide when hot. He has a design for a flexible valve seat, which he claims is less costly to make, does a better job and will overcome a lot of this trouble. Supply of oil to the guide in sufficient quantity to carry off the heat thru the system is essential both to valve life and valve-spring life. We do some of the earliest test on salt-cooled valves by means of rescuing some war time American-built Hispano engine, by just boring the heads out and welding in a sleeve. | ||