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).
Agreed features for production aero engines and items for experimental trial.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179\1\ img044 | |
| Date | 23th October 1931 | |
| FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} AERO WORK. It was agreed during the visit of RG.{Mr Rowledge} and HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} on Friday the 16th. inst., that the following features should be included as soon as ever possible in production engines: (1) Nitro hardened crankshaft. (2) Partly balanced crankshaft. (3) Nitro hardened liners preferably in Austenitic steel for the higher co-efficient of expansion. (4) Salt cooled valves. (5) Supercharger with double eye and more robust rotor. (6) Articulated connecting rods. (7) Pistons with scraper ring above and below the piston pin. It was further agreed that the following should be tried experimentally: (8) Design of a 2 speed gear for the supercharger to increase the performance and reduce the number of types. (9) Hand starter gear avoiding the throwing out of the worm as in the case of the old 'Eagle'. (10) We also understand that a process has been devised at the R.{Sir Henry Royce} A.{Mr Adams} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} that promises to facilitate the casting on of Kelmit or other anti-friction bearing metal. (11) A production design for prevention of overheating of water. We quite agree that all aeroplanes with our watercooled engines should be fitted with some means of calling the pilot's attention to the water temperature. Personally I do not know what has been done towards radiator shutters operating automatically, and whether anything can be devised for making this a combination of atmospheric pressure (altitude) and temperature. We think there is little doubt that this could be arranged. It would have the double advantage of keeping the temperature up automatically. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||