Four big truck maker now offer Rolls-Royec Eagle Diesel
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ATKINSON • FODEN • E.R.F. • SCAMMELI
ONLY TEN MONTHS since Rolls-Royce entered the automotil arena with a blaze of publicity centred on their "Eagle" range I diesel engines, four of the most important big-truck builders a] offering the engine alongside their existing power units. The MI companies are Atkinson, Foden, E.R.F. and Scammell, and rumour h: it that there may well be other names to add to the list in the near futur
The Eagle range—which, to many transport men's surprise, is in the same price bracket as competitive engines—brings to operators what they have so long pressed the truck makers for: a wider choice of power unit. The choice has, in fact, been increased by three, because there is the Eagle 205, the 220, and the modestly turbocharged 260. The company has developed the range specifically for the trucking industry, and in particular for the industry's future needs as they relate to h.p.iton ratios.
Because of their conventional inline cylinder arrangement, the new engines are immediately suitable for use in existing chassis with the minimum of structural modification, which means that they can be specified as original equipment or as replacement units. In like manner, the retention of well-proven design and manufacturing techniques has ensured that the Eagle engines can be serviced anywhere in the world by mechanics who are familiar with basic diesel engine maintenance procedures.
The three engines which form the Eagle range are closely related to each other, sharing a large number of common components, including the crankcase, crankshaft, camshaft, liners, etc., and the principal external dimensions and weights are therefore very similar. This means that a vehicle manufacturer can offer any one of the three units in the same chassis without having to allow for different mounting arrangements.
Weight saving has received partic ular attention, and aluminium alloys are used extensively for ancillary components with the result that, although a fully counterweighted and dynamically balanced crankshaft is used in the Eagle engines, they weigh less than the original 'C' range units. It's worth noting that the bearing surfaces on these crankshafts are lapped to a finish of six micro inches. The normally aspirated units have an approximate net dry weight of 2,450 lb., and the turbocharged engine's weight is about 112 lb. more than this.
The Eagle designs have t evolved from the Rolls-Royce range of diesels which" were in duced with the formation of company's Oil Engine Divisio 1950 and which are now opera in over 100 countries in such fi of application as railways, mai industrial, oilfields, earthmo and specialized automotive. H ever, although related to original 'C' range units, var significant design innovations ] been introduced, resulting in Eagle being the ideal engine the vehicle market.