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).
Issues with exciters, bearings, and motor drives, detailing fatigue test results for crankshafts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 132\1\ scan0152 | |
| Date | 20th September 1939 guessed | |
| -4- Exciters broke twice, and a spare one was always kept ready for use, in the later tests. The original pinion bearings were white metal. These had to be replaced by lead-bronze, to avoid galling. The usual troubles occurred with exciter working loose on shaft, breakage of motor drive (originally by chain) etc. But the final multiple belt drive worked fairly well. The type of cracks produced are those which occurred in service. The final result of the tests is the complete elimination of the trouble in the field. As far as G.M. knows this is the first time that fatigue tests have been carried out on a non-operating crankshaft, and the results are so encouraging that the tests will be carried further. It would seem to me that we could well ask to borrow this equipment, provided we make cranks in this country, to compare them directly for fatigue life with English cranks. In case there are longitudinal streaks in American cranks, as there were in 1917/18, this might settle that question very quickly and definitely. Would appreciate your comments. Yours, Oy. (Signed) | ||