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).
Merits of a heavier disc crankshaft for an aero engine, proposing it could reduce flywheel weight and allow for a shorter, higher-speed engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\3\ scan0289 | |
| Date | 8th May 1924 | |
| To HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. RG.{Mr Rowledge} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} 4221 S E C R E T. R5/M8.5.24. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} A.{Mr Adams} C. & GOSHAWK. DISC CRANKSHAFT. X.4221 X.9010 It has occurred to me that owing to the increased weight of the disc crankshaft which looks like prohibiting its use, we might test a considerable reduction in the weight of the flywheel. The reason for this is that the increased weight of the shaft is of such a nature as to materially add to its momentum. We should therefore not require so heavy a flywheel. The weight in this position and opposite the crankpins is such an enormous advantage that one might consider that the engine should considerably gain in life, that it would enable us to put up its speed or save the increased weight by making the engine shorter. I think the merits of this crankshaft are such that they should be thoroughly examined in connection with the aero engine because although the shaft is heavy, the engine possibly could be shorter, and also might permit of running at higher speeds, because of the reduced crank chamber stresses. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||