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).
Testing various axle journal and thrust bearing modifications and recommendations for future designs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\2\ Scan026 | |
| Date | 17th September 1921 | |
| Contd:- -2- has run 1000 miles. We have also fitted it to two other axles which, so far, have not done much running. We have used the existing journal bearing in making this alteration. This journal bearing has slots. It might be advisable to obtain from Messrs. Hoffmann a bearing of this type without slots and to use slotted bearings removed from axles on existing cars on new axles fitted with the double thrust. We shall have running in a day or two, revolving test in which we can load up these journal bearings to see exactly how much thrust load they will carry. The only criticisms we have against it so far is that it requires a certain amount of skill in fitting up to ensure that the ball bearing is taking the thrust properly. At the present time, with the information we have, and the results of our tests, we should recommend that the cars which come in for attention because of the failure of the single thrust bearing, should be modified to the scheme which allows the journal bearing to take the reverse thrust. With reference to the scheme suggested by BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} of providing better lubrication and using the existing type bronze nut to take the reverse thrust. This was one of the first schemes we tried but we abandoned it because the thrust washer turned round in the shaft. We have since, of course, proved that the thrust washer will turn round even when the double thrust ball bearing is used or even with the scheme in which the single ball thrust and the journal bearing is used. We are now fitting this scheme up again and testing it with the thrust washer keyed to the propeller shaft. We have seen samples contd:- | ||