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).
Technical memo discussing improvements to a universal joint design, comparing it to the Spicer joint.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66\4\ scan0300 | |
| Date | 8th October 1921 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. X3324 R3/G8.10.21. X.3324 - RE UNIVERSAL JOINT. X.4406 X.4217 Many thanks for the Spicer list. This is the universal joint which is on the Essex. As fitted to the Essex oil retaining is quite a failure because the cover does not make a close joint with the coupling flange. This we improved upon in our design, as we endeavoured in many other positions to make it more oil retaining. Our joint should be much more perfect in this respect than the Spicer. We have no objection to grease being used, but we should like you to be certain that you have succeeded in destroying the vacuum by boring suitable holes as suggested by us. We have always found this system a necessity and a success. We adopted this form of joint because it was so impossible to satisfactorily enclose the usual pot type. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||