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).
Cause of a broken gear and clarifying departmental responsibilities for design and testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\3\ img199 | |
| Date | 1st June 1932 | |
| HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/LID.{A. J. Lidsey} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} ORIGINAL R1/M1.6.32. x7310 C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} [crossed out] C. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} DY.{F R Danby} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} [crossed out] P. 2. - re. BROKEN GEAR. I now understand that this applies to the old box which we are just about to supersede by the synchronous mesh box, and that the breakage has come about through altering the helical angle of the constant drive gear teeth. The angle to which this has been carried is 40°, which is excessive, and the wheel was never strengthened to provide for the extra side pressure. I think this experiment should not have been made because it creates so much confusion to alter such a gear so late in its history, when one is about to make another box. The matter should also have been referred to the Design Dept. to prove, and perhaps provide, the extra strength they may have thought necessary. This rather confirms the necessity of working on the lines I wish, namely, that each designer shall be responsible for his own pieces, and that the Expl. Dept. shall test and report, make suggestions, and give information when they wish for any modification in the design, but not take the work away from the proper designer. This is to avoid overlapping, which is always considered costly for both time and money, as well as taking the interest away from the designer. For instance, when I first read the memo. I thought it was a designer's fault. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||