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 responding to an enquiry about drawings for bearings made of a porous graphite bronze mixture.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 62\1\ scan0020 | |
Date | 27th January 1932 | |
COPY OF LETTER. BATTERSEA WORKS, CHURCH ROAD, LONDON. S.W.11. Ref:- Z Dept. Za/HG. 27th January 1932. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. Dear Sirs, Your Enquiry ROY{Sir Henry Royce}/MS29/P. dated 20th inst. We have carefully considered the two drawings which you enclose and would put forward our views. First, as regards the material itself, this is a porous graphite bronze mixture which is impregnated with oil. Our researches up to date indicate that the satisfactory operation of the bearing is entirely dependent upon this contained oil and that occasional replenishment is necessary. The material is naturally considerably weaker than a plain bearing metal and is not able to withstand high journal pressures or severe shocks. We have supplied a very large number of bearings to Messrs Joseph Lucas Ltd. for starters, for example, for which purpose they have given every satisfaction, but you will appreciate that in this case the time in which the bearing is actually in use is exceedingly short. In view of the above we suggest that it would be to our mutual advantage if you would kindly inform us as to the nature of the duty for which these bearings are intended, in order that we may assure ourselves that it is within the capacity of the material. With regard to the handling of the material in manufacture, we regret that it is not possible to mould it into a brass housing as you suggest. It is only possible to manufacture plain cylindrical bushes without flanges, and we should require the full thickness indicated upon your drawings for the bearing material itself. It would therefore be | ||