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).
Letter regarding modifications required for a Lucas electric starter motor to be fitted to an aero engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 37\2\ scan 034 | |
| Date | 10th July 1918 | |
| H.R. 235A (500 T) (S.D. 408. 26-4-17.) Bm. 2/156/13. To HY{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to CJ. X.3328 X. 3161. X. 3328. 10th July, 1918. R9/G11C718. RE ELECTRIC STARTER MOTOR I have written a letter to the Technical Dept. of the Air Board stating that we have, after many trials managed to fit in a small Lucas motor direct on to the worm shaft already used for the hand starting gear. This desigg has now been completed, and we hope the experimental ones will soon be in hand. It will be necessary for us to have the Lucas motor delivered with a plain shaft, and such parts as they care to make to comply with our designs. We think they should make the first cover, and supply the ball bearings, leaving the shaft so that we can bore it and ream the taper hole which, as they state, would be better finished with a grinding wheel. The operation, however, is nothing more than what is the usual process in the construction of aero engines, as we are often grinding holes as small as 3/8", and this one is a taper hole of 1/2". The taper should not involve any difficulty, as the standard mahcines are arranged to be set for any such taper. I am sorry that their standard arrangement could not be fitted into the space without some considerable modifications. If they wish, however, to make the attempt, we shall raise no objection on account of the difference in the style of the gear, but we fear it is impossible to use their motor gear as suggested by them, owing to the presence of the heavy timber engine supports on the seaplanes. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||