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).
Trial of steel camshaft wheels to resolve noise issues in 20HP engine gears.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 43\1\ Scan006 | |
| Date | 18th January 1926 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} Y3942 C. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. to Y. C. to Hft. (Mr. Mosedale). C. to Mr. Vale. C. to Hx. (Mr. Wren). Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}5/W18.1.26. 20HP. ENGINE GEARS. The chief reason why we asked to be allowed to use several steel Camshaft Wheels, was to try and overcome the large number of Engine Gears which develop noise after once being quietened. At one time as many as 85% of the bronze Cam. Wheels were developing noise after being run on the Engine Unit test bed. The position is considerably better to-day with the bronze Wheels. Last week's percentage was 25%. The noise which develops is not the usual engine gear sing, but is an uneven rubbing noise, and BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} was of the opinion that it was caused by the casting settling down under load. The men engaged in quietening Timing Gears have re-quietened these/Gears by simply fitting a new Camshaft Wheel to them. The object of the steel Wheel was to produce a Wheel which would get over casting difficulties. If the Experimental Dept. think that there is a chance of trouble occurring through these wheels when cars are in service, we agree that it is very necessary to have a 10,000 miles test, and Standardisation Sheet made out. From a quietening point of view we should like to be in a position to use either a bronze or a steel wheel, at any rate until such times as we have learned by experience which will give us the least trouble, and the smallest number of them develop noise after once they have been quietened. For that reason we should like the Experimental Dept. to do a 10,000 miles test with one of these Wheels. We take it from your memo that you disagree with cars going out with steel Camshaft Wheels fitted, and we are arranging for them all to be removed and bronze Wheels fitted in their place. Our records show that the bronze S.D. Wheels, material for which is bought outside, develop a rubbing noise in the same way that our own cast bronze Wheels do, but we have not sufficient data at present to be able to make a comparison of the proportions of Wheels that develop noise. Contd. | ||