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).
Summary of experimental work and complaints regarding 'Kestrel' aero engine cylinders.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179\3\ img102 | |
| Date | 30th March 1932 | |
| ORIGINAL To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Rg.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to Mr. Mr.Jaques. AERO ENGINE CYLINDERS.- KESTREL. A considerable amount of experimental work has been carried out on 'Kestrel' cylinders over a long period, but it is only recently that we have been in a position to summarise the results. The complaints on cylinders in service and at the Works are as follows:- (1) Leaking Top Joint. (2) Leaky Rubber Joint. (3) Cracking of the cylinder casting at the bottom between the bores. (4) Seized Pistons owing to Liner Distortion. (5) Cracking of Cylinder Heads Between the Valve Seats. The experimental information up to date on these points is as follows :- Leaky Top Joints. - This has recently become a very serious epidemic on production. We know from our original tests on this joint and from the running of development engines and from the absolute freedom of joint troubles on ten Type Tests, and the number of engines which have run over 400 hours without this joint giving any trouble, that it is possible for this joint to be satisfactory. The tests which have been carried out at the Works recently prove that the reason for the recent epidemic of top cylinder joint leaks has been due to the nuts holding the cylinders down not being sufficiently tight. It has been realised by us for some time the importance of the correct tightening of the cylinder holding down nuts, and we have developed a friction loaded spanner which has been on experimental test for some time and does give consistent results. As a part of the equipment there is a rig which enables the load to be checked at any time. The tightening of the cylinders is such a vital operation on the Kestrel that we think the only way of getting consistent results is to have a spanner which has a definite load. One of the most encouraging results in connection with the top joint ring are our tests with thermo couples, these show definitely that as long as we get no steam pockets forming the temperature at the cylinder head joint is even all the way round, and is only 10 to 20ºC. above the water temp. | ||