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).
Reproduction of Bentley piston failures on a test bed and proposed solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 86\2\ scan0064 | |
| Date | 8th September 1933 | |
| To WSP, C.C. O.S, Dy{F R Danby}, F.H. From He/Ha, R, Do, Em. He/Ha.15/KT; 8.9.33. BENTLEY PISTONS. Further to He/Ha.5/MA; 22.8.33. We have been able to reproduce several of the 10,000 miles piston skirt failures on the test bed. We find that we can cause the pistons to fail in 6 hours, full throttle, full speed running. By altering the bedding and decreasing the running clearance slightly, we have been able to improve these pistons made in the original alloy, so that they will run 15 hours without signs of failure. We anticipate further improvement from the new heat treatment recommended by H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} We think that these results are sufficiently encouraging to indicate that we need have no fear of failure if the modified type of piston is fitted to the first fifteen cars. He/Ha. | ||