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).
Test report on a Whittle Belt for an Aero Engine Dynamo Drive.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 55\2\ Scan060 | |
| Date | 21th May 1915 | |
| To R. {Sir Henry Royce} from Hy. {Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Copy to J. {Mr Johnson W.M.} 2C HY {Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} /J Wor {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} /Hy {Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} 5/L.21515. May 21st.1915. Test of Whittle Belt for Aero Engine Dynamo Drive. We have now made a 100 hours test of the ¾” Whittle belt with a horizontal drive and about 30” shaft centres, the pulleys being 8” X 4”, the 8” one turning at 1500 revs. per min. and a load of 2½ HP being applied to the belt the whole time. The length of the belt at the commencement of the test was 6’ 6¼” and after the 100 hours run the length was 6’9½” (52 links, weight 2 lbs 10 ozs.) The belt was tightened, by sliding the shafts further apart, at 26 hours, 61 hours, and 93 hours. This horizontal drive seems to be much nicer than the vertical drive which we tried previously, as the belt will drive when fairly slack and if it does slip it simply reduces the speed a regular and definite amount and does not almost cease to drive altogether which the vertical one does when it slips. The vertical belt has to be kept inconveniently tight to prevent slip, and when slip does occur it is very spasmodic and irregular. A heavy load is also unnecessarily put on the bearings with the vertical drive owing to the belt having to be kept so tight. The horizontal belt is in excellent condition after its 100 hours run and would probably stretch less now it has been well run in. I should say that a horizontal drive ¾” Whittle N.B. 2500 (and rep.) 22/ V '14. -- E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} & S. 6152 | ||