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).
Oil flinger and 'Perfect Seal' gland tests for the Bentley rear axle, detailing issues with oil creep and modifications to improve sealing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\4\ scan0037 | |
| Date | 1st October 1934 | |
| x202 COPY. To Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}: 1.10.34. BENTLEY REAR AXLE - GB.619: OIL FLINGER TESTS - FURTHER TO PREVIOUS REPORT 26.9.34 The test axle was returned to R.Hollingsworth so that his recommendations could be adopted, i.e. the drain hole in the wall of the banjo casing, and also the slot which is made to facilitate the machinery of the bridge piece faces, were blanked off. The complete axle was then again tilted, slowly, until at an angle of 16°, the oil began to creep through the axle shaft bearing into the axle tube. The transference of oil was naturally very slow, even at 30°, but it was then definitely trapped in the axle tube. Arrangements are being made to run the axle on the tilting rig - necessary material not yet to hand - to test the pumping effect of the axle shaft bearing. Meanwhile, the substitution of "Perfect Seal" glands for the standard oil flinger, and baffle plate, is being investigated. The first "Perfect Seal" gland tested leaked after running for 4 hrs. at 700 shaft r.p.m., using Whitmore's oil at 40°C. temperature, with the shaft tilted at an angle of 30° to the horizontal. This gland which was supposedly designed for a 1" diameter shaft, was not a really good fit, there being only approximately 1/16" length of contact surface between the leather and the shaft; the shaft measurement was .995" diameter. By fitting a sleeve over the shaft, the diameter under the gland was increased to 1.125" diameter, so that using the same type of "Perfect Seal" as before, more contact surface could be obtained, and incidentally more spring load. This is being tested under the same conditions as the previous gland, and will finally be run without oil. W. Bell. | ||