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).
Secret test report on Hypoid gears and propeller shaft joints for the 'SS' chassis.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\2January1929-June1929\ Scan128 | |
| Date | 1st February 1929 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LGS.2.29. ORIGINAL X2066 X7771 'SS{S. Smith}' - S E C R E T. We have carried out several tests on two 'SS{S. Smith}' chassis on the road wheel dynamometer. The chief object of this was to try out Hypoid gears under low gear full torque conditions. The result was that the gears themselves appeared to be in a better condition and stand up better than the present straight Hypoid gears. Under the full torque conditions we frequently have failures caused by the teeth digging in on the surface with the standard axles and because of this a temporary axle is always used on production cars for the full dynamometer test. We have not had a case yet of any trouble with the Hypoid gears. It is essential however to use special oil with Hypoid gears. One fault which has shewn up on the dynamometer test is that the New Departure bearing controlling the pinion is slightly discoloured due to heat. From the scheme one would say there is no adequate means of lubricating this bearing. It will be necessary to make modifications at once to ensure that oil is fed to it. Apart from this, all the other parts in the axle were in excellent condition. Propeller shaft joints. We had trouble on one car with propeller shaft joints seizing although when it was dismantled there was plenty contd :- | ||