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).
Study of methods and equipment for balancing the chassis propeller shaft.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 94\4\ scan0121 | |
| Date | 1st July 1936 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} X P3 . Prop note V337 GRY{Shadwell Grylls} - Please discuss with me Sft{Mr Swift}/WNW.1/DR.1.7.36. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} PROPELLER SHAFT BALANCING. CHASSIS. In connection with the above, regarding the balancing of Chassis Propeller shaft assembly, we have made a further study of our present practice and also investigated other possible methods. We have been working in co-operation with Messrs. C.F.R Giesler Ltd., who do not consider they have a machine quite suitable for this shaft. It is their opinion that our present method of using an improvised centre lathe will not give us greatly inferior results than any special balancing machine. The Trebel machine, which we have is considered poor by Mr.Giesler for reasons of lack of speed and the balancing arm feature. We believe however, that we could obtain improved balance by using a Davey Portable Dynamic Balancing Equipment in conjunction with our rig. The Davey Equipment is based on the stroboscopic principle. It consists of a Vibrometer, which is placed in contact with the machine frame and indicates the amplitude and the position of the path of the vibration, a Breaker Head, which is driven by the shaft of the machine being balanced and a Hand Lamp. No doubt you are familar with this equipment. We would suggest that before we adopt this method, you might investigate the possibility of using this equipment on an assembled chassis by which we might obtain the final degree of balance required very easily. We can see however, difficulties in this method as other unbalanced forces in the various units of the running chassis might upset the readings of the Vibrometer, also the Breaker head could not be driven directly from the Prop: Shaft, this would need to be driven by a synchronous motor in step with Prop: Shaft speed. | ||