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Correct material and heat treatment specifications for semi-floating axle shafts.


Identifier  ExFiles\Box 111\4\  scan0033
Date  29th April 1938
  
HFS.
Cgh {W Clough} /LM.
c. Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
c. Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /Grys.
c. Ds/Hay.
c. BY {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} //Cal. {Mr Calvert}
c. Mr. Pendlebury.

B.50. SEMI-FLOATING AXLE. RE: AXLE SHAFT MATERIAL.

Referring to the two axle shafts GB.3604/5 for the semi-floating axle for the above car, the correct material for these shafts is the fully heat treated steel and not a case hardening variety.

The Order Office happened to refer the forging for these pieces back to me, and I at once pointed out that the materials ordered were not the right type for the duty they had to undertake, and replaced the instructions for S/ZNX and S/ZNCR with S.65 nickel chrome steel, which is a 3 1/2% nickel with approximately 1% chromium, and S.28, which is a 4 1/4% nickel, 1.3 chromium steel, and I propose to make shafts in both steels as follows :-

S.65, to be given the following heat treatment.-

Harden in oil from 850°C.
Temper between 500 to 550°C., and quench in oil.
Brinell hardness - Mean figure 332.
Brinell range - 321/341.

S.28, to be given the following heat treatment.-

Harden in air from 820°C.
Temper 275°C for an hour.
Mean brinell figure 386.
Brinell range 376/418.

BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}
  
  
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).


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