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).
Performance and selection of different valve steels, such as austenitic and silchrome, for engines.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 54\3\ Scan219 | |
| Date | 18th May 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X434 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}7/LG18.5.28. VALVE STEELS. X4587 X1474 We have some valves made in austenitic steel fitted to a F.{Mr Friese} engine. We have been so very free from valve troubles when running engines that these tests have not received priority. On the F.{Mr Friese} engines we have completed 3 type tests with absolutely no valve trouble. The valves were just as good at the end of the test as the beginning. On the car engine we have not had a single case of valve failure since we adopted silchrome. As regards valves not giving trouble in engines, we were never in a better position. The question of changing the valve steels is being pressed forward by BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} solely because of the difficulty experienced in producing valves. When we carried out our exhaustive tests on a number of valve steels as a result of which we chose silchrome, we then tested austenitic steel. At that time it was known as special steel which was submitted by Sir Robert Hadfield. The fact that we knew the steel was non-magnetic, was our reason for saying it was an austenitic steel. These valves were second on the list, and it is possible since then this steel has improved so that we believe we shall find that the austenitic steel is quite satisfactory. We suggest however as the chief reason for the change contd :- | ||