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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 SKEFKO Ball Bearing Company regarding the failure of water pump spindle bearings due to water ingress.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 149a\1\  scan0360
Date  27th June 1939
  
1269.
SKF EDWARDS.
The SKEFKO Ball Bearing COMPANY Ltd.
HEAD OFFICE & WORKS
LUTON

YOUR REF. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Ed.{J. L. Edwards}7/JH
OUR REF. TECHNICAL/F
TELEPHONE EXT. NO 5 MJK/RW

CONTRACTORS TO THE ADMIRALTY, WAR OFFICE, AIR MINISTRY, INDIA OFFICE AND CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES.

TELEPHONE: 1100 LUTON (8 LINES) PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGE.
TELEGRAMS: "SKEFKO TELEX" LUTON.
TELEX NO: LUTON 2884.
CABLES: SKEFKO, LUTON, ENGLAND.

27th June, 1939

BRANCH OFFICES
ABERDEEN
23, WINDMILL BRAE.
TELEPHONE: ABERDEEN 7824.

BELFAST
41, VICTORIA SQUARE.
TELEPHONE: BELFAST 23965.

BIRMINGHAM
183-185, CORPORATION STREET.
TELEPHONE: CENTRAL 3011-2.

BRISTOL
73, VICTORIA STREET.
TELEPHONE: BRISTOL 23771.

CARDIFF
CHURCH HOUSE,
16, WESTGATE STREET.
TELEPHONE: CARDIFF 7162.

DUBLIN
28, UPPER O'CONNELL STREET.
TELEPHONE: DUBLIN 44416.

GLASGOW
METROVICK HOUSE,
74, WATERLOO STREET.
TELEPHONE: CENTRAL 3268.

LEEDS
LONDON ASSURANCE HOUSE,
WINE STREET,
(OFF INFIRMARY STREET)
TELEPHONE: LEEDS 28059.

LEICESTER
17, WATERLOO STREET.
TELEPHONE: LEICESTER 58722.

LONDON
109, KINGSWAY, W. C. 2.
TELEPHONE: HOLBORN 4623-4.

MANCHESTER
SUNLIGHT HOUSE, QUAY STREET.
TELEPHONE: BLACKFRIARS 7077-8.

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE
31, MOSLEY STREET.
TELEPHONE: NEWCASTLE 23736.

NOTTINGHAM
CLUMBER BUILDINGS,
CLUMBER STREET.
TELEPHONE: 43609.

SHEFFIELD
97, WEST STREET.
TELEPHONE: SHEFFIELD 25358.

TELEGRAMS: "SKEFKO" ALL BRANCHES.

Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd.,
Experimental Department,
DERBY

For the attention of Mr. W.A. Robotham, Development Engineer - Chassis

Dear Sirs,

Water Pump Spindles

We would refer to your letter of the 15th inst., and advice note WG{Mr Gill - Financial Director}/F 63103, and letter of the 22nd inst., and advice note WG{Mr Gill - Financial Director}/F 63138 regarding two water pump spindle Bearings which have failed in service.

These have now been carefully examined, and we find that in both cases the failure is unquestionably due to the intrusion of water. We feel certain that this is the initial cause of the trouble and that the failure of the seals followed later.

It seems to us that in this application two problems have to be solved,

(a) the gland must be watertight or, if any leakage occurs, it must be led away where it can do no harm to the bearing, and

(b) we have to find a grease which will afford reasonable protection at high temperatures and will not offer too much resistance at low temperatures.

With regard to (a), we believe that a cored slot of fairly large dimensions between the bearing and the gland will help considerably and a thrower and channel on the lines of the enclosed print P.25070 should also help.

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