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).
Visit to B.T.H. Coventry regarding self-lubricating materials for mouldings and timing gears.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61\1\ scan0204 | |
| Date | 13th January 1932 | |
| Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} SFT{Mr Swift}/EJB1/EG.13.1.32. Visit to Messrs. B.T.H. Coventry. I visited Messrs B.T.H. at Coventry yesterday, with the object of gaining some information on Self Lubricating material for mouldings. They have got so far with the job inasmuch as they make Timing Gears for several motor car and bus firms. The rim for the teeth and the bores are treated specially so that no lubrication is required. They gave me a sample herewith of a roller they make for the Waygood crane people. Timing gears are made in a similar way excepting that the rim as well as the bore is built up in a pile of 'Army Duck' rings that have been impregnated with resins and a Graphite compound. You will notice on this sample, that the bore only has been built up in a pile, the rim being just anyhow because it is a roller and not for a gear. They claim that the bore of this piece needs no lubricating, and will stand a load of 200 lbs. while being revolved, without heating. This material may of course be useful to us for larger bushings, but obviously could not be moulded into small shapes. B.T.H. explain that they could supply us with samples of this material, but that we must not make gears with it, on account of infringing their patents. If you are interested I daresay that they would supply a gear blank that may be near the size of one of our gears, so that we could machine it and try it out on an experimental car. It might save us time in quietening, or they would supply us with some of the rings treated so that we could build them up, and mould them into a bush, and try it out on any particular job. At the moment I am trying an Asbestos filled material which I am moulding into steel shells. It will of course take some little time before we can say whether it is satisfactory or not. Several tests will have to be made. Mr. Lidsay has suggested a couple of jobs where he thinks the idea would be useful, viz; engine mounting bushes, and I am trying this job. Perhaps you might think it worth while to appoint someone such as he to work with me on this job, so that we can be sure the job is tried out properly. It won't be fair to our firm to spend money, however small may be the amount, and then for the job to be shelved. SFT{Mr Swift}/EJB. EJBrock | ||