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).
Epicyclic gears for Imperial Airways Eagle 8 & 9 engines, proposing a trial of a new gear design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\1\ Scan109 | |
| Date | 23th September 1927 | |
| X409 X S.550 Rec Wep. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C.P. C.L/S.Dft BY2/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 23.9.27. RECEIVED 23 SEP 1927 IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - EAGLE 8 & 9. Referring to Lp{Mr Lappin}4/AV/D.13.9.27. we note that Imperial Airways are very satisfied indeed with their Eagle engines which they have in service, their main comment being one in regard to the epicyclic gears. Some year or so ago this Department designed and produced a type of epicyclic gear capable of having all the teeth ground. In addition, a somewhat larger pitch of gear was used on the pinions, and a very much increased distance was introduced between the end of the pinion tooth and the roller bearing supporting it at that end. The gear has been waiting for test in the Experimental Dept, but pressure of other work has kept it from being tried out. I would strongly recommend that we obtain permission from the Air Ministry for Imperial Airways to try one of these gears in the air. It cannot be worse than our present gear, and should be considerably better. In the absence of any likelihood of getting a test at these Works, I think the foregoing is a reasonable proposal. It must not be overlooked, however, that the gear would be used in connection with passenger traffic, but even with this factor before me, I am certain that the gear is equally strong with the present gear, and introduces no particularly new features other than the strengthening of the gears, the shortening of the tooth length, on the sunwheel and planet pinion, and in addition, the stresses are very much more evenly disposed over the teeth. The alternative to the above is for the Experimental Dept. to try out a standard gear to failure, by means of a Condor engine, in accordance with the original suggestion, and then try out the new gear against the standard gear. It is a pity now that the gear has been completed, and from the point of view of bedding demonstrated its advantages over the old type, that it should not be tried out some way or another, in view of the number of Eagle engines which are still flying. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} BY | ||