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).
Article detailing the use of Fafnir bearings in the Rolloplane and Octopus amusement park rides.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 115\2\ scan0557 | |
| Date | 6th April 1940 guessed | |
| The Rolloplane—excitingly new in performance. Thrilling Amusement Rides Operate On Fafnirs Each car of the Rolloplane rotates on two Fafnirs. Ease-of-Assembly feature of Flange Cartridge Causes Selection “HUR-RY, HUR-RY, HUR-RY,” shouts the raucous-voiced carnival barker, “step up and try the new-est and the great-est of all ride sensations, the one and only Rolloplane. It twists, it turns, it twirls. It actually plays a tune on your tummy—try this exciting ride—the ride you’ll nev-er forget.” The Fafnir Flange Cartridge One doesn’t ordinarily think of ball bearings in connection with “amusement - ride” equipment at carnivals and recreation parks, but the fact remains that Fafnir Ball Bearings are used on two of the most thrilling mechanized units in the mid-way. Fafnirs are an essential part of two Everly Aircraft developments, the Rolloplane and the Octopus, and because this conveys an idea of the practically unlimited field of application for ball bearings, it is believed that the installation merits a brief description. The Octopus set up for operation. The Rolloplane — a great favorite in this day of airway travel—consists of two four-passenger cars located on either end of a long boom that revolves both vertically and horizontally on an upright stand. Supplementing this, each car turns on its end of the boom to keep right side up. Zooming this way and that, the enthusiastic passengers have a sensation of doing the most daring tricks in an airplane. Each car of the Rolloplane rotates on two Fafnir Flange Cartridges equipped with Wide Inner Ring Bearings having a 2 7/16" bore. These units met with the complete approval of Everly because only the very minimum amount of machining was necessary for assembly. The Flange Cartridge is supplied complete and assembled, being mounted in place by bolts through the flange, thereby requiring no boring operation whatsoever. Simple but effective seals not only retain the lubricant but effectively protect the incorporated bearings against the entrance of harmful dirt and dust. In addition, the Everly engineers employed (because of its design advantages) a deep-groove, large-ball Fafnir Single Row Radial Bearing to carry the combination radial and thrust loads which take place when the boom swings from vertical to horizontal position. Size 315W, this bearing has a rated capacity of 9 tons at 100 R.P.M. and is accordingly well able to perform its duty satisfactorily. The second Everly unit, known as the Octopus, also employs Fafnir Flange Cartridge Units on the reduction drive shaft and the clutch shaft are mounted on these friction-free agents. As with all Fafnir Industrial Units which utilize the famous Wide Inner Ring Bearing with patented Self-Locking Collar, these Flange Cartridges likewise afford the user an easy-to-mount ball bearing application. It is only necessary to slip the bearing on the shaft, engage and turn the self-locking collar, set the screw and thus firmly secure the bearing to the shaft. The Maximum Type Single Row Bearing The intention of the Everly Aircraft Corporation (located in Salem, Oregon) was to incorporate as many desirable features as possible into their units and still maintain safety, compactness, and originality. The installation of Fafnir Flange Cartridges and Radial Ball Bearings in these units illustrates the accomplishment of this aim — the production of amusement rides which give the public the comfort it demands as well as paring operating costs to the bone. Fafnir FCJ Type units on the reduction drive and clutch shafts. | ||