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).
Outlining problems with the Bijur Luvax lubrication system, focusing on design, manufacturing, and material hardness.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27\1\ Scan085 | |
| Date | 19th February 1929 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 73806 BY2/G.19.2.29. BIJUR LUVAX LUBRICATION. Referring to the Bijur Luvax letter of the 14th inst. with enclosure from the Bijur Co. on the question of hardness of the tubing used, we think the points raised are not germane to the question. We think our troubles are due to the following factors :- a/- Our design not being sufficiently foolproof in regard to manufacturing limits. b/- Luvax have not treated the matter of the production of our special plug sufficiently seriously and intelligently. c/- We have not given sufficiently close consideration to the form of each pipe length. d/- Our banjo fittings being insufficiently rigid e.g. too easily distorted. With reference to the matter of the oil pipe hardness, we do not think this enters into the question of our difficulties since we have had no failures of tubing which has been produced in this country. This is not accidental, but the result of our applying intelligent and accurate tests to the tubing to ensure its hardness lying within certain clearly defined limits. In regard to the suggestion that soldering softens the pipe, this idea is due to the fact that brazing is often spoken of as 'hard soldering'. We do not hard solder, but on the contrary use tinman's solder of usual composition, for which the melting point is only approximate-ly half of the temperature required to soften the hard drawn tubing. This latter temperature is well known as a result of accurate research by Dr. Hatfield and is 500°C. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} RECEIVED 20 | ||