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).
Failures in the Four Speed Box for the 20 HP Chassis, attributing the cause to a design issue.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 6\4\ 04-page030 | |
| Date | 21th January 1925 | |
| Y5310 C.Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY8/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 21. 1. 25. FOUR SPEED BOX. 20 HP. CHASSIS. We have had two failures with the above box. The failures in question affect the First Speed Pinion and the Reverse Pinion. From an examination of the failure, I am of the opinion that it has nothing to do with either workmanship or the question of case hardening, but is essentially a fault due to design. As I see the issue, it resolves itself into one of stiffness in the driving shafts or tubes considered torsionally. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} will be reporting fully on the subject, and is at the moment making certain check tests which will include careful measurements and an explanation of how the failure occurs. The failure appears to have two stages, a/- A deflection of the teeth out of line with the axis of the shaft. b/- A forcing of the teeth out of gear consequent upon this action. The matter is of course one of great importance, in as much as it affects delivery dates. Fuller information will be supplied by Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} I am merely intervening to make it clear that to me it certainly appears to be a design issue. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} By | ||