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).
Urgent improvements for 'F' & 'H' aero engines, specifically regarding cylinder construction and supercharging.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\3\ img003 | |
| Date | 24th January 1932 | |
| FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} (at Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) AERO ENGINES (BOTH 'F' & 'H'.) My impression is that we have some very serious work to do to these to improve performance, reliability and practicability, which naturally reduces cost, otherwise we shall be out of the running in a year or two. We must not be content only to patch up, but be prepared to make clean sweeps of defects and troubles if we can find a definitely straighter road. The following strike me as being in order of urgency: ITEM 1. CYLINDER CONSTRUCTION. We have forcible evidence that it is possible to improve this: (a) Jackets combined with crankchamber may not be immediately possible but jackets as alternate construction are, and I feel sure schemes can be made equally light with equal reliability - i.e. thinning down and testing to destruction. AN IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT THE LINERS SHOULD BE SPIGOTTED IN THE JACKET AND NOT IN THE CRANKCHAMBER. (b) The tests showing better oil consumptions indicate greater reliability from seizure. (c) One also remembers that this design was better for detonations. If in such an improvement we can increase the C. R.{Sir Henry Royce} ever so little we could gain in power and consumption. ITEM 2. SUPERCHARGING. Several times we have discussed the great advantage of carburetters after the blower if this is practically possible. In freezing, distribution, and high altitude work, it should shew to enormous benefit. I think someone should work definitely on this scheme: (there are fairly easy ways of trying this with a blower and carburetters in the Vee.) R.{Sir Henry Royce} Handwritten Note: x4657. Stamp: RECEIVED 28 JAN 1932 | ||