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 Hardy Spicer & Co. regarding the testing and analysis of propeller shafts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\4\ scan0167 | |
| Date | 29th November 1940 | |
| Chassis. Propeller Shaft General file. Hardy Spicer & Co. Limited. TELEPHONE: BIRCHFIELDS 4504-9 (6 LINES) TELEGRAMS & CABLES AUTOTRANS, BIRMINGHAM LONDON OFFICE BUSH HOUSE ALDWYCH LONDON W.C.2 TELEPHONE: TEMPLE BAR 8219 REGISTERED OFFICE AND WORKS BIRCH ROAD, WITTON, BIRMINGHAM, 6. OUR REF. JAD/MMF. YOUR REF. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}6/ML. 29th November 1940. 1262. W.A.Robotham Esq., Rolls Royce Limited, DERBY. Dear Mr.Robotham, We have tested all the shafts of our make which you left with me. They were all damaged by exceeding the permitted angle, but despite this, we should pass all but one for smooth running at all speeds. The one had a slight period, and to enable us to find the cause, we checked it for balance. One end was good at .2" ozs. out, but the other end was .4" ozs. out. We followed up this as the worst, and took all parts away for separate measuring. The result of this is shown on SK744/B, copy herewith. You will observe there is very little evidence of wear with the summary .0009/.0022 clearance on centering. We understand that changing the rear shaft cures the trouble, but we should like to know if the companion flanges are re-tightened, or anything else done at the same time. Is it possible that the holding bolts may be loose, and when the new shaft is fitted they are properly tightened? With our details of dimensions before you, would you criticise any of them as contributory to roughness? We think the fouling question should be dealt with, and as it occurs mostly on the sliding end, it appears that the shaft may have been fitted front to back, as the fixed joint has more available angle and should be fitted at the axle end. We are sending you separately the journal, flange yoke and sleeve yoke for inspection of damage, and also for you to observe how nicely the journal has been standing up. -Continued- | ||