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).
Lubrication leakage issues in a propeller shaft sliding joint and proposing a test solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\3\ scan0087 | |
| Date | 14th January 1937 | |
| Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Grylls Comments c.c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} E/HDY.{William Hardy}1/HP.14.1.37. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Propeller Shaft Sliding Joint. ------------------------- Bentley We understand that attempts to use oil or a thin grease in the sliding joint have so far failed due to the high rate of leakage compared with what occurs with the ball bearing grease at present standard. As it would be of value in avoiding out of balance if a thinner grease could be used we think that it would be worth while determining where the leakage occurs. It seems to us that provided the flanged joint and the joint between the split pieces can be made oil tight there should not be any leakage from the shaft while it is rotating, even with oil. We have noticed from examination of a number of shafts that there is no joint washer or jointing material used between the split pieces. We think that this is quite a sufficient reason for oil escaping. We suggest that a shaft with sliding joint pieces assembled with jointing material and partly filled with gear oil should be tried. It will be necessary to make the test on a car, no doubt, to obtain the combination of rotary and sliding movement. A rig which would give the same result would give much more information, we imagine. Fitted to 3BIV in conjunction with Rn{Mr Robinson} 301 for 1000 miles/HDY.{William Hardy} on 5-2-37. Split lines jointed with heldite HDY{William Hardy} | ||