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).
Comparing the construction and part count of a Ford axle to a Bentley axle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\1\ scan0014 | |
| Date | 7th June 1935 | |
| X1015 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}1/ETM7.6.35. C to Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}✓ FORD AXLE. Herewith charts giving details with regard to the weight of the above axle. The weights of hubs and brake gear are not included as these parts were not supplied with the axle. The total number of parts, including all nuts, bolts and taper pins, used in the construction of this axle, less brakes and hubs as previously mentioned, is 133 as compared with a total of 750 parts on the Bentley Axle and Propeller Shaft assemblies. As will be seen from the charts the dismantled Ford Axle comprises only 25 separate units, disregarding nuts and bolts etc. which number about 50 in all. The welded construction of the axle and torque tubes and the absence of any form of adjustment for either bevel wheel or pinion being chiefly responsible for the very small number of removable components in the axle and propeller shaft assembly. The centre casing end plates and the brackets for the spring anchorage, radius arms, shock absorbers and brakegear are all welded to the axle tubes, and the same also applies to the rear flange and front spherical housing on the torque tube. The bevel drive assembly is simplified by casting the nose bearing bridge piece integral with the centre casing and mounting the crown wheel and diff. unit in taper roller races having their outer races pressed inside the axle tubes. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} | ||