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).
Letter to Vauxhall Motors discussing the merits of Neoprene versus Chrome Leather for oil seals and proposing an endurance test rig.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\4\ scan0259 | |
| Date | 2nd January 1941 | |
| 1097 2nd January, 1941. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GB.2/ET. W.A. Hamilton, Esq., Engineering Dept., Vauxhall Motors Ltd., L U T O N, Beds. Dear Pat, Thanks for your letter and good wishes. Regarding the relative merits of Neoprene and Chrome Leather in oil seals. On gearbox and rear axle applications we prefer chrome leather for temperatures below 110° C. (230° F.{Mr Friese}) Above this temperature, the leather tends to char and Neoprene is preferable. We have no idea of the horse power absorbed by oil seals. TEST RIG. Since you have enquired about horse power, I assume that the oil seals are for the bogie wheel bearings and not the suspension bearings. I would do endurance tests on a rig like that shown on the enclosed sketch. A pulley is made to take the usual bogie wheel bearings and oil seals ('A' on sketch). These are carried on a shaft ('B'), which is supported at either end on ball bearings ('C'). A lever ('D') is fixed to the shaft. Torque is measured by means of a spring balance at the end of this. The balance could be left on permanently and, if necessary, protected by a gate on the lever. Mud of a suitable consistency could be applied to either side of the pulley every fifteen minutes. Two sheet steel shields ('E') are used to prevent this from spreading to the bearings which support the shaft. | ||