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).
Report page discussing Eclipse supercharger proposals, drag reduction through new cowling shapes, and powerplant interchangeability.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27\3\ Scan225 | |
| Date | 15th May 1939 guessed | |
| 19. 1.2 cu. ft/min/passenger. Eclipse propose to deliver 10cu.ft/min passenger, using two supercharger units, so that if one fails there will still be 5 cu.ft/min., which they say will be adequate. They have put silence of operation and cleanness of air as the first requirements, and the units consist of two-stage centrifugal blowers, driven by a single worm gear at 2400 RPM. The impellors are back to back to balance out end thrust. The drive is very efficient, they claim, and the air is absolutely clean. Each unit absorbs from 15 to 20 HP. and operates up to 25,000 feet, giving pressure equivalent to 6,000 feet. Drive may be directly from the engine or from the electric motor. Checking the above figures, and assuming 40 passengers, the overall efficiency is 28% There was little time available for discussion of the scheme, which as already stated is not yet released, and we got no information on the method of control. Drag. A great deal of interest is shown in compressibility effect, and this has led to the evolution of new cowling shapes which are claimed to have given an appreciable increase in performance with radial engines. It is felt that thin wings have definitely got to come, and in this connection, attention is drawn to the photographs of the Consolidated '31' Flying Boat- "Aeroplane" June 7. This boat is, incidentally, the first machine to be fitted with Cyclone Duplex engines. Much work is also being done by N.A.C.A. on reversed flow cooling, and important developments are anticipated. Power Plant Interchangeability This was discussed with Mr Nutt and Mr.Hobbs. At first they both felt that it was impracticable for an engine firm to take over this work, but after the scheme had been dealt with in more detail they expressed interest, and requested details of the bulkhead layout and pick-up points. Though they were both adverse to having any dealings with the sheet metal work of the cowling, they felt that to come into line with a common standard | ||