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).
Propeller shaft failure on the Phantom III due to faulty sweating and proposing a more economical solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 94\4\ scan0163 | |
| Date | 4th April 1938 | |
| F.J. HARDY - seeme To. Ey & Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ..... From RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} C to HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}: RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}1/MC.4.4.38. PROPELLER SHAFTS - PHANTOM III. 337. The failure encountered on one of the above units due to faulty sweating is admitted to be solely the works responsibility as distinct from a design trouble, and having regard to the fact that 600 Phantom III. shafts are giving satisfaction it would appear that the present construction is of adequate strength when correctly assembled. Special precautions are now being taken to ensure that sweating is thoroughly carried out on all couplings, and there would seem to be some doubt as whether the additional 4/- expense involved by doubling the number of pins as suggested in Ey.6/G.11.3.38., can be justified. The area of metal in shear, however, could be increased by 60% without appreciable increase in chassis factory cost if .312 diameter pins of equal length and quantity to the existing .250 pins were used. In addition alteration to existing drill jigs would cost only £2.0.0d., as compared with £10.0.0d. for the scheme involving extra pins. Will you please, therefore, give consideration to this proposal which is more economical as regards tool and factory cost than the alternative suggestion involving an increase number of pins. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} | ||