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).
Typed report on the mechanical design and arrangement of a supercharger blower unit, page 2.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\5\ scan0086 | |
| Date | 9th July 1932 | |
| -2- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Aln.3/MA.9.7.32.Contd The blower rotors are carried on ball bearings; those at the rear (driving end) being housed in a cast bronze end-plate. Carried on each shaft and revolving with it is a steel disc which bears by means of a coil spring surrounding the shaft, on to the end face of the outer ball race with a pressure of about 5.5 lbs. This may be intended to act as a damper to deal with the pulsating load and also as an oil and perhaps a pressure zeal. Actually, the drag has been carrying the outer ball races round in their housings to some extent. At the front end, the bearings are carried in steel liners pressed into thealuminium casting and are sealed with a somple leather ring. A steel end cover encloses these bearings. It has a tubular extension in line with the lower rotor which acts as a starting handle sleeve and also as the front engine bearer. Thus unless the starting handle is in position or the sleeve is otherwise plugged, these front bearings are liable to pick up foreign matter from the road and we found them in fact somewhat rusty while a certain amount of water was present inside the steel cover. The lower, or main rotor shaft carries a nut with the starting handle dogs formed onit. Any further tightening of this nut after assembly, by the use of the starting handle would shear the split pin with which it is locked. The upper, or layshaft rotor has a hollow spindle which forms a communication between the bearing chamber and the engine crankcase. On the top of the chamber (i.e. the cavity enclosed by the steel end cover) is a small gauge covered breather. The bottom forms a well and a filler plug is placed a little way up the side for oil. The blower is located on the engine by a spigot on the main shaft which fits into the crankshaft. The flange mounting has no spigot or dowel pins; the flange studs being relied on to transmit the weight of the engine to the front bearer. Details of the blower are shown on Lec. 3022. | ||