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).
Modifications to the Goshawk II's rear universal joint and propeller shaft.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 105\2\ scan0063 | |
| Date | 20th January 1921 | |
| To-R from DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Copy to DN. Copy to EFC. X.4254 DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}9/CB20-1-21. Re Goshawk II - Rear Universal Joint & Propeller shaft. X.4254 We have modified this joint in accordance with the discussion we had with you at West WitteringHenry Royce's home town, and send herewith a print of "N" Scheme 716. We have increased the bearings carrying the bevel pinion so as to get a good size taper for carrying the rear portion of the universal joint. We have also suggested that an extractor should be fitted to the latter, as it can be done as shewn without occupying any room. We understood that you wished a leather stocking which was not called upon to take any angular distorsion. We suggest that the forward fastening of this stocking should be slipped on to the propeller shaft before the end is pegged up. The reason for having the forward row of bolts is that unless something of this kind is done it seems to be very difficult to get the joint apart. The proposal is that the front row of bolts should be undone and then the axle can be pulled backwards, or the propeller shaft forwards, as the case may be. But if there is only a row of bolts at the back, and the spherical portion is shewn solid with the outer sleeve, in order to get the joint apart it would be necessary to have a very long end on the propeller shaft, to enable the two spherical oil retaining sheels to be slipped far enough up the propeller shaft to allow the driving pin to be knocked out. We have shewn a suggestion for preventing the block scraping the oil off the driving surfaces without reducing the driving surface very much. In the lower view we have shewn a suggested modification to the axle centre box to carry the support of the pinion bearing housings a little further forward. Bolts cannot very well be used in this case because they cannot be got in from the inside on account of the web carrying the tail bearing. We shew Mr Royce's proposal for keys joining the overhung blocks of the female member of the joint to the containing sleeve. In case it is though desirable to prevent any motion of the blocks, but we expect it will be thought that the long slot which appears to be necessary in the containing sleeve, outweighs the advantages of these keys. We also shew recesses in the slots to enable the driving blocks to run off, which we believe was Mr Royce's intention. The approximate whirling speed is 3,900 which is considerably below that calculated for Goshawk I, but we do not know the exact length of the Goshawk II propeller shaft until we get particulars. Contd. | ||