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).
Extract of a memorandum discussing the production of rear axle bevel gears, comparing in-house plain bevels with outsourced Gleason spiral bevels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\1\ Scan054 | |
| Date | 26th April 1917 | |
| H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 235a (500 T) (S.D. 408. 26-4-17.) Bm. 2156/13. X3612 X.3487 X.1308. (Extract from BY6/P291118). RE 1000 45/50 H.P. CHASSIS. Referring to the rear axle bevel, we have not of course, a Gleason machine in the works suitable for producing the spiral bevel. I had intended to carry on with the straight bevel at first, owing to the fact that we had no facilities for turning out bevels a spiral form of tooth. There is no question but that the spiral form of tooth is correct from the point of view giving even turning moment and reducing vibrations and noise, although the results obtained from the Gleason cut spiral bevels were not quite so good as our own plain type. This, however, is undoubtedly due to the fact that the spiral bevels, as received from Gleasons, were very roughly finished and were a purely commercially cut proposition, whereas our own gears were produced as the acme of refinement in cutting. In view of the foregoing would you please confirm whether you are in agreement with us carrying on with the plain bevels cut at our works, or do you consider we should get the bevel gears cut spirally by Gleasons; personally I am of the opinion that we should obtain one or two Gleason bevel gear cutters with a spiral attachment and should continue with our own scheme of plain bevel until we were able to improve on it by the spiral bevel cut by ourselves. Contd. | ||