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).
The investigation into engine failures on the 'Miss England III' boat.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\2\ img001 | |
| Date | 1st October 1932 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to HBr. c. to Rg.{Mr Rowledge} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Lr.{Mr Ellor} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/MJ.1.10.32. X4578 FAILURE OF ENGINES ON "MISS ENGLAND III". After these engines were taken out of the boat we did take the bottom cover off the both engines to see what could be found out as regards failures of the engines apart from the controls. It will be remembered that the port engine in which there were no failures on the control had broken down. Originally this was attributed to running full throttle at low speeds. The removal of the bottom cover revealed that the failure was actually due to shortage of oil. All of the six wrist pins on the articulated rods had seized and in one case the end of the rod had broken, which allowed the pistons to go up to the top. Two or three of the big end bearings had also run. Other parts such as the camshafts on the engine also shewed shortage of oil. When this engine failed, Garner the mechanic was in the rear end of the boat and therefore he cannot give any particulars as regards oil pressure. All the connections were satisfactory and from rough examination of the oil pump this also appears to be satisfactory. One possible solution for the failure is that the oil was too cold. The arrangement on the boat was that the oil system was filled up with oil at 50 or 60°C. During the preliminary work this would cool down and the oil outlet was usually at 30°C when the throttle was opened. The oil coolers consisted of honeycomb radiators with water from a scoop passing from the outside of the honeycomb. There was an oil cooler for each engine which delivered into a common tank. When the first engine failed soon after the start it still continued to tick over and circulate the oil which would mean that the cooling was twice what was required. Also because of the other engine running at much below normal revs the heat of the oil on the engine would be considerably reduced. | ||