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).
Engine and chassis development, covering the Condor, Goshawk, Vulture, and Buzzard, and a discussion on 6 versus 12-cylinder engines.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\1\ scan0205 | |
| Date | 15th January 1920 | |
| X.3501 4247 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} -5- E3/G15.1.20. Contd. as measured by the A.M. officials. This when converted into foot pounds and doubled for the efficiency of the pump, only resulted in an equivalent of 1 H.P., the torque from which is not enough by far to bend the blades of the rotor. He is to make a further examination and report on what actual force is required to bend the blades. It is suggested that shorter blades could be used. X. 3782. Finally Mr. Royce said he thought that the Condor was so good that it would stand some increase in its figure for lbs. per H.P. and still be a good engine. Furthermore, no one else had a successful engine of this size. He thought therefore that we should not delay in any way in getting this engine installed in motor boats, and that the negotiations for installing them in planes should go forward. Further, he thought that the manufacture of Condor pieces in the Works should only be stopped on pistons and connecting rods, and that all else should proceed in full quantities. GOSHAWK CHASSIS. X.3481. X.3501. X.3546. X.3786. It was generally concluded that it was very desirable to finish the Goshawk chassis immediately, as much information can be obtained from it for use on the "Vulture" and "Buzzard" and it is very desirable to know now the particular system of transmission in which the change speed box is carried on the front end of the torque behaves, and there are many features on the engine which it would be useful to demonstrate, as some of these will probably be incorporated in any future 50 H.P. designs that we shall make. Altogether Mr. Royce thinks that it will do us some good to have this chassis on test, and that all possible information should be pushed into the Works to enable the experimental shop to go ahead with it. VULTURE AND BUZZARD CHASSIS - ENGINES. Regarding the question of a six or 12 cylinder engine, Messrs. Hives and Day were strongly of the opinion that we had investigated all of the possibilities of 6 cylinder engines, and should have to go to the 12 to get away from the inherent weaknesses of the former type, and to obtain any all-round improvements in the performance of the Car. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} remarked that the critics of our car asked for more power simultaneously with the demand for more sweetness, and that the move which will essentially satisfy both is the adoption of 12 cylinders. Mr. Royce said he did not fear that we could not make a better six cylinder car than other peoples six-cylinder cars, but that it would be a different matter if we had to complete Contd. | ||