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).
Visit to G.M. Research concerning the development and testing of slipper type connecting rods.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\2\ img068 | |
| Date | 6th March 1940 | |
| Serial No. 8 OY 8/D/Mar 7 40 Rolls-Royce, Ltd. Derby, England March 6, 1940 Visit to G.M. Research Connecting Rods Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} In a visit to G.M. research yesterday with Lessels and Peterson of Westinghouse Company, Ripingille really broke down and discoursed on subject of connecting rods, and particularly the slipper type rods, which they have been developing for a couple of years. I have already sent you pictures of the slipper rod on the locomotive Diesel, and sketches of the G.M. con-rod testing machine. (See OY1/Ds/Feb 6 40). The original single acting test machine referred to on page 4 of this report, was made for accurate testing of slipper rods, Underwood's machine with the whirling weights (of which I have also sent you a picture in reprint of his paper), being obviously unsuitable. It was thought that the justification of the slipper rod lay in the two-cycle engine, which theoretically requires no bearing cap at full throttle, but Ripingille sees no reason to confine oneself to 2-cycle. The rods are running in cars in engines which run up to 2500 r.p.m. full throttle and then may have the throttle slammed shut. Also, numerous accidents in the way of seized pistons, etc., have occurred in the last two years in which the wristpin and skirt have been pulled off the head. But in no case has the back bearing of the rod shown the slightest trouble. Ripingille would consider that this is just the right way to make a con.rod, without any known restrictions as to two-cycle or top speed. 1) It is found that on the conventional con.rod the bearing shell on the cap side shows a pretty uniform bedding, possibly due to the pinching in of the side walls when rod is under tension. But the rod side shows restricted bearing area confined to about A figure 1. The ends B are wasted as far as providing a working bearing or contributing to stiffness. | ||