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).
Technical report on the failure analysis of a bearing after a road test of 11,000 miles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149a\1\ scan0325 | |
| Date | 22th November 1938 | |
| -2- Messrs. Rolls-Royce Limited, Derby. "No. 2.Bearing. This was an I.132948 bearing manufactured by our Works and appeared to be fitted with the old type seals I.132930. The subject Company had run this bearing on a road test of 11000 miles. Outer ring. The tracks were worn and badly scored; very slight corrosion was also noticeable. The Rockwell Hardness figure of this ring was 60 C. Inner ring. The condition was as the outer ring. The Rockwell Hardness figure was 62 C. Cages. The back face of both cages was badly worn and scored through intensive rubbing between these and the seals. Seals. The inside face of both seals was badly worn and scored through being in contact with the cages. Balls. Slightly worn and corroded. Grease. The bearing was well filled with grease and, although it contained a high percentage of Iron Oxide, it had still retained its lubricating properties. The grease used in this spindle was Wakefield's Water Pump Grease. Cause of Failure: Very bad wear caused by the rubbing between the cages and the seals. You will see from the above that one of the bearings was of New Departure manufacture and that only the second bearing was of our own production. The trouble reported regarding the fouling of the cage and the seal is one of which we were already aware, and this has previously been explained to you. This trouble is, we believe, now being obviated with the later design of seal. We have also substituted Shell-Mex V.W. Grease for the Wakefield's Water Pump Grease, as this has shown more satisfactory results on test. | ||