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).
The failure of the rear axle bevel pinion thrust race and a proposal for design modification.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\1\ Scan310 | |
| Date | 11th May 1921 | |
| X4150 By from EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} B. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Mr. Cr.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} to Mr. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}14/F10.5.21. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} MAY 11 FAILURE OF REAR AXLE BEVEL PINION THRUST RACE. Although we have received complaints from our Depots of the above failing, we have not experienced this on cars in this country and have not therefore been able to get the correct analysis from examination of such a failure. We recently received a car, however, which was complained of as being noisy, and we found that the cause of the trouble was the axle, which on the retard was certainly very bad and had evidently developed into this condition since delivery, a point which was confirmed on enquiries. The car has done 3,000 miles and we have now dismantled the axle and found that the trouble of this noise was due to the end play which had developed in the pinion due to the thrust race which should be fixed to the pinion shaft having become loose and turning round, wearing away its packing piece (No. G515) to the extent of about .060". These parts were examined to-day by Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and yourself and the point confirms that the present design of Gleason gears requires immediate attention. The point about which I am anxious, however, is that some scheme should be got out and recommended for adoption on existing cars, and that I should if possible be able to supply these recommendations to our Depots, especially America, where I shall visit shortly, in order to overcome the complaints they are receiving, in fact it may be considered advisable for some alteration to the existing axles to be made on all cars with which they come in contact. I feel that under the present circumstances and from the evidence we have now got, the latter point is one which would have to be done in dealing with this job as regards future design can you please instruct what is to be done to the existing cars. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||