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).
Page from 'Our Consulting Department' addressing home enquiries on motor vehicles and detailing the properties of 'Y' steel.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\1\ scan0005 | |
| Date | 21th October 1911 | |
| 350 MOTOR TRACTION, OCTOBER 21ST, 1911. [Handwritten Note: 6th meeting] Our Consulting Department. Home Enquiries. MOTORS FOR BREWERS. (1911-161.) "I have purchased a 4 ton petrol lorry, and wish to compare the cost of running with horse traction. I have no doubt you have figures of the latter for various trades, and should feel much obliged if you could give me some. My work is the ordinary brewery work, taking out both casks and bottles. The maximum journey with horses is about fourteen miles per day loaded, and bringing back empties. Total distance to be run, twenty miles with the motor. We intend to do this distance twice daily. The maximum load on a two-horsed waggon is two tons, and one man at 27s. 6d. per week and a boy at 15s. per week are attached to the vehicle. I also use a 1 ton float run by one man whose wages are 25s. per week. I am, of course, aware that there are items in connection with the horse haulage that cannot be very well shown on paper. For instance, if a couple of horses have taken two tons fourteen miles, and returned with empties, they are not much good the next day. I consider that the horses cost about 13s. per week to keep." [P.A.L., Wolverhampton.] In our issue of March 4th, 1911, we published an article under the heading of "Motor Transport for Breweries." This article dealt with the running costs of steam and petrol vehicles, and illustrated from actual instances how mechanically-propelled machines in certain circumstances may or may not be adopted with financial success. It is generally a most difficult matter to arrive at the exact costs of horse traction, as so few users appear to have kept them with any accuracy and completeness. PLAIN V.{VIENNA} BALL BEARINGS. (1911-162.) "Can you tell me if there has been any discussion in your paper on plain versus ball bearings for road wheels, gear boxes, etc., as used on industrial motors? If not, perhaps some of your readers, who have had experience with both types, could tell me which they consider the most durable for 2 ton loads, and the least likely to cause trouble on the road. Also, will a two-cylinder engine wear longer than a four-cylinder under equal conditions? Which requires the least attention to keep in good condition?" [A.H.L., Bristol.] We have not published any discussion on the comparative merits of plain and ball bearings for road wheels, gear boxes, etc., but in our issue of November 20th, 1909, we inserted two interesting letters from Mr. W. C. Davenport and Mr. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Sibbering-Wood, comparing the co-efficients of friction of the two kinds of bearings. A number of leading industrial motor vehicle manufacturers are now fitting ball bearings to the road wheels of their light machines with very satisfactory results. Provided that they receive equal treatment, there does not seem to be much difference in the life of a two-cylinder or a four-cylinder engine. It is possible that after it has been running for a considerable time the four-cylinder motor might require slightly more attention, owing to its greater number of parts, and there is no doubt that it certainly gives much the sweeter and quieter running. TOWER-WAGGON BODIES. (1911-163.) "We shall be much obliged if you will be good enough to send us the names and addresses of firms who supply tower-waggon bodies suitable for motor chassis." [L.D., London.] "Y" Steel. Properties and Uses of a Natural Alloy Chrome-nickel Steel, as manufactured by the Pennsylvania Steel Co. The following particulars of “Y” steel have been supplied to us by Messrs. Sanders and Co., of 110, Cannon Street, London, E.C., who are the European agents of the manufacturers, the Pennsylvania Steel Co., of the United States of America. It is manufactured from the Mayari deposit of ore in the Province of Oriente on the Island of Cuba. This deposit, consisting of high quality ore containing nickel and chromium, is owned and operated exclusively by the Spanish-American Iron Co., a subsidiary company of the Pennsylvania Steel Co. Properties of “Y” Steel. “Y” steel is a natural alloy of chrome nickel steel containing from 1.20 to 1.50% of nickel, .30 to .60% of chromium, not over .03% phosphorus, not over .04% of sulphur, .30 to 1% of manganese as desired (ordinarily made with about .50% of manganese), and carbon as required. It is manufactured by the open hearth process, and the nature of the ore gives the steel the desired percentage of nickel and chromium without necessitating the addition of them in the furnace. This assures uniformity in composition, and reduces the cost of manufacture. It is claimed that in the natural rolled or forged condition “Y” steel has about 10,000 lbs. per square inch higher elastic limit and 8,000 to 10,000 lbs. per square inch higher tensile strength than carbon steel of the same carbon content, with the same elongation and reduction, or with the same tensile strength a greater elongation and reduction of area. It may be forged, rolled, or pressed into shapes with the same ease as carbon steel, and can be supplied in any form in which the manufacturers now furnish carbon steel. In the heat-treated condition it gives most excellent results, and tests show that in this form it is practically identical with heat-treated nickel steel of 3½% nickel and the same carbon. We append three charts showing the physical properties of .20%, .30%, and .40% carbon “Y” steel, heat-treated. The specimens treated were 7/8in. rounds. In each case the specimens were quenched in [text cuts off] Fig. 1.—Chart showing the properties developed by heat treatment of grade A.{Mr Adams} 30% carbon "Y" steel. | ||