Site on the RR-exe and the RR-Pennine

[johnbr]

Old Machine Press Blog | New Memories of Old Machines

Rolls-Royce Exe 24-cylinder, air-cooled, X-block, sleeve-valve engine 'B' Series outside the Ramp Hangar at Hucknall.

 

[johnbr]

The Pennine engine had a 5.4 in (137.2 mm) bore and 5.08 in (129 mm) stroke, giving a total displacement of 2,792 cu in (45.8 L); this was over twice the displacement of the Exe. With a dry weight of 2,850 lb (1,293 kg), the Pennine was 106 in (2.69 m) long, 37.5 in (.95 m) tall, and 39 in (.99 m) wide. The engine was equipped with a single stage, two speed supercharger that provided 12 psi (.83 bar) of boost at takeoff and combat power settings. The Pennine developed 2,750 hp (2,051 kW) at 3,500 rpm at sea-level and up to 2,800 hp (2,088 kW) under combat settings. A reliable 3,000 hp (2,237 kW) was thought to be easily obtainable with further development.

 

[Wurger]

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

The Exe engine had four banks of six cylinders in an X configuration. Each bank was 90 degrees from the next. The cylinders had a 4.225 in (107.3 mm) bore and 4.0 in (101.6 mm) stroke, for a total displacement of 1,346 cu in (22.1 L). The Exe had a two-speed, single-stage supercharger, and the compression ratio was 8 to 1. The engine weighed 1,530 lb (694 kg). The two spark plugs for each cylinder were fired by coil ignition rather than standard magnetos. A 0.358 gear reduction to the propeller was achieved through spur gears; their arrangement elevated the propeller shaft centerline above the crankshaft.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Source?

 

[vikingBerserker]

Excellent thread!

 

[johnbr]

net
Equally interesting in its way was the Fairey Battle
powered with the Rolls-Royce " Exe " engine. This power
unit, rated at 1,200 b.h.p at 4,000ft, was of 22-litres capa-
city and comprised 24 cylinders arranged in banks of six
in the form of an X. The really interesting aspect of this
engine, in the light of traditional Rolls-Royce practice, is
that it was pressure air-cooled and ported with sleeve
valves (the latter providing experience for the 3,500 h.p.
Eagle of to-day). The "Exe " was a quite successful engine
but it was not taken beyond the prototype stage
because at that time—September, 1938
it was realized
that the Merlin was going to absorb the whole of Rolls-
Royce production potential in the near future.

 

[johnbr]

 

[Gnomey]

Good stuff!

 

[johnbr]