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).
Visit to Ransome & Marles regarding the use and testing of self-lubricating ball bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\2\ scan0139 | |
| Date | 27th April 1935 | |
| +3807 To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Hdy.{William Hardy} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}6/KW.27.4.35. Self-Lubricating Ball Bearings. ------------------------- We paid a visit to Ransome & Marles to discuss with them the present position of bearings requiring no lubrication for use in our case as pilot bearing for the 1st motion shaft in the flywheel, clutch thrust bearing, and flywheel outboard tail bearing. For two years they have been experimenting on bearings of this nature and have reached a state at which they recommend fitting them to cars. The method of lubrication of the bearing is by fitting an oilite cage, having a 40% mineral oil content. During two runs on a 25 mm. journal bearing, one for 100 hours at 10,000 r.p.m., and one for 200 hours at 2000 r.p.m., no trouble was experienced. At intervals during the test the bearing was examined and on each occasion oil that had escaped from the cage wiped away. During these tests the temperature rise above the surroundings did not exceed 15°C. Machining of the cage has presented some difficulty but with adequate proportions, failures should not occur. We attach a drawing of an angular contact bearing to replace the graphite thrust on a 9" Borg & Beck clutch. This bearing is being fitted to the writer's car in an endeavour to overcome having to adjust the clutch every 500 miles because of wear on the graphite block. A report on its behaviour will be sent in due course. We gave to Ransome & Marles a New Departure Seal Bearing in which grease is retained by felt rings. They will run this 100 hours at 4000 r.p.m. and 100°C. and also the thrust bearing just described. Meanwhile we recommend for the Bentley Borg & Beck clutch an oilite cage and no external lubrication. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} | ||