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 teardown and analysis of a 6-cylinder high-power engine after 190 hours of testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 123\5\ scan0340 | |
| Date | 25th February 1939 | |
| IOHH Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} Rml/R.25.2.39. 6-cyl. High Power Unit. We have now stripped this unit after 190 hours' running. The first 140 hours consisted of develop-ment work in which the engine was subjected to a great deal of abuse whilst we carried out investigations on detonation. It was run on Shell-Mex fuel and over-advanced ignition. At the end of this period it was fitted with a new cylinder head and new exhaust valves, and a 50 hour endurance run was carried out at speeds of 3,500 to 4,250 r.p.m. At the end of this run, the parts of the engine which are novel, and which gave us appre-hension, were in exceedingly good condition, particularly the sodium-cooled valves and their seats; the cylinder head was also satisfactory. The bearings were not in good condition, but we attribute this to the abuse during development. We had failures of the timing gears, and, for this reason, are putting back a spring drive. On the whole we are very satisfied with these preliminary tests. x The latest power curve of this engine, which we attach, shows that for its compression ratio it gives a better output than any engine of which we have knowledge. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} x This curve (6) was attached to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Swd.2/MH.{M. Huckerby}1.2.39 - "High Power Engines". | ||