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).
Methods tested to prevent oil leakage from the 40/50 HP universal joint.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\J\March1923\ Scan7 | |
| Date | 1st March 1923 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to EX. c. to EF. Re10/LGS.3.23. METHOD OF RETAINING OIL ON 40/50 H.P. UNIVERSAL JOINT. Springfield have pointed out that a large quantity of oil which is put into the sphere at the back of the Gear box to lubricate the universal joint, leaks away down the torque tube. They have suggested that a conical collar is turned on the shaft so that any oil dropping on the shaft will not run down the shaft. We have carried out tests using a front extension on the torque tube, a section of which had been cut away so that we could observe the manner in which the oil leaked out of the joint. We found with the present standard arrangement, any oil in excess of one syringeful, would leak away. We found by adding a conical collar as suggested by Springfield, that we did not materially improve it. The reason being that the oil drips off the boss formed on the top of the sphere and drops down and is collected in the pocket formed by the bottom boss, from there it overflows into the torque tube. We carried out numerous tests with different means of preventing the oil getting away. The sketch attached herewith shows the means we ultimately arrived at as being the best and most efficient. With this arrangement we get no oil leaking out down the torque tube. If there is more than 4 syringefuls, however, put into the sphere, the oil will leak out at the gear box and when the shaft is revolving slowly. contd; | ||