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).
Letter from a bearing manufacturer regarding an inspection of a Bentley rear axle casing, identifying lubrication as the main cause of trouble.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\4\ scan0167 | |
| Date | 2nd April 1937 | |
| London Office: 17, VICTORIA STREET, WESTMINSTER, S. W. 1. Telephone: ABBEY 3875 (2 LINES) Telegrams: OFFISLUNDA, SOWEST, LONDON Branch Offices: LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER, LEEDS, NOTTINGHAM AND— X Ben Rear Axle BALL & ROLLER R&M BEARINGS Contractors to H.M. Admiralty, War Office, Air Ministry, Colonial Offices &c. RANSOME & MARLES BEARING CO., LTD., MANUFACTURERS OF BALL & ROLLER BEARINGS NEWARK ON TRENT. Our Ref. Tech.Dept. FOH/AD. Your Ref. 202 Telegraphic Address: 'BEARINGS, NEWARK' Telegraphic Code: BENTLEY'S Telephone Nos: NEWARK 456-457-458-459 Branch Offices: SHEFFIELD, BRISTOL, GLASGOW, NEWCASTLE, DUBLIN, BELFAST. For the attention of S.H. Grylls, Esq. Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Limited, D E R B Y. 2nd April, 1937. Dear Sirs, With reference to the component parts of a Bentley rear axle casing which were handed to Mr. Hickling for checking up for inaccuracies etc., we have pleasure in enclosing copy of our Test Report No. 749.B. outlining the results of our inspection, together with Chart TR.{Capt. F. W. Turner - Finance}73 which covers our findings. In general, you will note that the errors in the individual components are quite satisfactory, but the accumulation of these may have been a contributory cause of trouble, although we feel that the main cause of trouble is in the lubrication. As mentioned during our conversation on this job, there is no doubt that E.P. oils in any form have a tendency for sludging under certain circumstances, and it does appear that in actual service the thrust row of balls will merely be churning a small amount of oil which remains at this portion of the bearing. Under these circumstances there is no circulation of oil through the thrust row of balls, with the result that an accumulation of sludge causes inefficient lubrication between the cage and the O.D. of the inner, with consequent wear etc. As also mentioned during our discussion on this job, we do feel that a definite circulation of oil from the front Enclosure | ||