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).
Noisy gearbox layshafts, the use of close-fitting gears, and the effects of thick versus thin oil.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\1\ scan0060 | |
| Date | 20th March 1914 guessed | |
| Re. Noisy Lay Shafts - Gear Boxes. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}13/W2314. With reference to the attached, I want to make it quite clear that I am not advocating close fitting gears. A long time ago I did do this, as I found that such gave the most satisfactory gear boxes, as regards noise. Mr. Royce, however, pointed out that this was a bad policy and since then I have left the construction of the box entirely to the Works as long as they are able to produce satisfactory gear boxes as regards noise. As regards the question of thick oil, I should like Mr. Royce's definite advice on this matter. It certainly is a fact that if we use thinner oil we have less trouble from this effect, but the gears under power are noisy, i.e. generally speaking, thick oil produces noisy side shafts, but good gears when under power; thin oil produces quieter side shafts but noisy gears under power. I have tried to stike the "happy medium" using such oils as are recommended in our Instruction Book. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} (Upside down footer text): R.R. 235 a (150) H (V.{VIENNA}) 'V' 322. 104.14 G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} (.0345. SDC 'O' (V.W.) 'of' A Al(16'61) v 'H' 'H | ||