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 discussing the root cause of bearing failures, focusing on lubrication systems and installation over bearing material.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\4\ scan0104 | |
| Date | 1st July 1940 | |
| Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} - 2 - Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}10/ML.1.7.40. When a bearing has failed, most of the criticisms have been directed against the material of the bear-ing instead of the way in which the bearing has been installed. In our original talks, as early as 3rd. November, 1938, we were writing to Wellworthy's pointing out that the trouble might be divided between the bearing material and the lubrication. So far as we know however, no-one at Wellworthy's has made a real study of lubrication systems, a comprehensive knowledge of which is absolutely imperative if one is to instal bearings satisfactorily. Your competitors, however, without any encouragement from us, have acquired a knowledge of our practice in this Company, and we find that they are recommending it wherever an engine is fitted with their bearings. In a few minutes talk with Pilkington the other night we believe we convinced him that the trouble he was having was more likely to be due to an inadequate oil supply to the bearings than to the bearing material. As a matter of fact, he agreed that the fine strainer on the suction side and the way in which it was fitted, was open to criticism. We feel that the Wellworthy bearing expert ought to have been able to have pointed this out had he had an adequate knowledge of his subject. We are sending a copy of this corres-pondence to Mr. Hives and Mr. Devereux, as they have both seen your original letter referring to the matter. Yours sincerely, | ||