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).
Proposal to change the location of auxiliary gear boxes from in front of to behind the aircraft bulkhead.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27\3\ Scan271 | |
| Date | 22th March 1943 | |
| F.J. HARDY - See Fell & E and find out what we shall have to provide on the C.I. engine Copy to Ad. Ld. En. Der. Cav. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Lb. AUXILIARY GEAR BOXES It seems clear that at an early date we shall be called upon to make provision for the fitting of auxiliary gear boxes in the aircraft structure behind the bulkhead, instead of as at present on the front of the bulkhead. The present position was adopted as it was necessary to secure interchangeability between engines which drove the auxiliaries direct with those requiring a gear box. This state of affairs will come to an end with the Merlin. There are many disadvantages to fitting the auxiliary gear box in front of the bulkhead. It occupies space which can be ill-afforded; it very largely complicates and multiplies the connections which have to be made through the bulkhead when changing the power plant; it also makes it impossible to store complete power plants which will be universally applicable, because in multi engine machines, different auxiliaries are fitted to engines occupying different positions in the aircraft. We have in the last few days received strong objections from the Air Ministry regarding this matter. Mr.Bartels, who has been detailed to look into the whole question of the application of the S.B.A.C. Power Plants, has stated that he considers that the complication which will arise in store, due to variations in auxiliaries, will almost offset the value of having interchangeable power plants. Wing Commander Scrogge, who is in charge of maintenance, called on us last week and drew special attention to the greatly increased time which would be necessary to change a power plant if all the connections to the auxiliaries had to be re-made each time. The proposal is, therefore, that we should provide a coupling on the engine which would take a shaft passing through the bulkhead driving the auxiliary box which would be mounted on the aircraft structure, (Continued) | ||