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).
Copy of a telephone message discussing an aero engine problem, specifically concerning bearings and connecting rods.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\1\ img297 | |
| Date | 6th February 1933 | |
| Copy of telephone message received from W.W. 12 noon 6.2.33. 3. X2924 X3992 AERO ENGINE PROBLEM. Fr I was disappointed with Rg{Mr Rowledge}'s message yesterday. I do not see any advantage in going to WW. at present. The result of experiments most important. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} appears to agree with me that the big ends are unreliable and independent of aerobatics. Failure of articulated rod in the high power test has not proven that this type is not superior to the fork and blade, because latter may not have lasted so long. It does appear that the normal lubrication in the crankpin bearing is insufficient. Having done all we know, as we certainly must, to the connecting rods, it appears to be lead bronze in all cases and articulated rods where possible. Our great faith for this delicate situation is in the supply of oil to the inside of the crankpins. The only oil grooves in the main bearings that I have any faith in are exactly like those on the car engine. There would be great satisfaction if the results of the experiments I suggested on Monday show that we could by means of these oil grooves considerably increase the pressure in the crankpin at a given pump pressure, which generally appears to be in the neighbourhood of 60 lbs. The Kestrel engine No. 27 appears from the report of Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Fms to be doing exceedingly well considering that the horse power is practically the same as I suggested for getting through the 50 hour test. The paragraph dealing with the bearing which failed states it has already run for a period of 42 hours, which includes 4 hours in excess of 750 HP. and 30 minutes above the 1,000 HP. I am very pleased with the Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Fms explanation. | ||