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 from Adamant Engineering Company discussing the efficiency of the L7 steering gear and the use of needle bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\3\ Scan028 | |
| Date | 13th October 1934 | |
| Handwritten: Hardy, x4094, 1 Telegrams: 'ADAMANT, Phone, Luton.' CONTRACTORS TO H.M. ADMIRALTY, WAR OFFICE & AIR MINISTRY. Telephone: LUTON 1818 (2 Lines). ADAMANT ENGINEERING COMPANY, LIMITED (Incorporating J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} C. THREADGOLD & SONS. Established 1878.) Engineers and Founders. SPECIALISTS in the DESIGN and MANUFACTURE of HIGH PRECISION TOOLS, JIGS, FIXTURES, etc. SPECIAL MACHINES, SPECIAL MACHINE TOOLS and ACCURATE PRODUCTION WORK. SOLE MANUFACTURERS and SALES AGENTS for the MARLES and MARLES-WELLER STEERING GEARS. Directors: S. CARLTON SMITH, A.M.I.Mech.E., M.I.P.E. F.{Mr Friese} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} MATRAVERS, M.A. (CANTAB), A.M.I.Mech.E., A.M.I.E.E., M.I.A.E., M.I.P.E. O.{Mr Oldham} CARLTON SMITH, M.A. (CANTAB), F.I.S.A., M.I.P.E., Secretary. ALFRED SLATTER, M.I.E.E. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} W. HAZEL, F.I.S.A. Your Ref. He/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}25/KW Head Offices, Works and Design Dept.: DALLOW ROAD, LUTON. Our Ref. FGM/AGS/CB. 13th. October, 1934. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., Experimental Department, DERBY. Dear Sirs, We are in receipt of your favor of the 12th instant, reference as above, as also of the blue sheet of the efficiency curves of the L7, for which please accept our best thanks. In connection with this curve, we would mention that the L7 Gear as sent out by us is adjusted on the tight side, and it will be found that when this gear has been run in that the efficiency figures will improve very considerably. Average gears of this type when run in reach, in our experience, at least the figures mentioned by you for the alternative gear which you have tested. As regards roller bearings on the pendulum shaft, we would say that we have experimented with the new needle bearings in this position, but not in a Marles Steering, as our experience is that the Marles Steering is, if anything, too efficient without them. We have experimented on a Marles-Weller Steering with these Needle bearings, and in this gear we find that this type of bearing does increase the efficiency. Unfortunately it also increases the backward efficiency of the gear, which in most designs of steering lay outs is detrimental. We have received quite a lot of information from our American Company in regard to these Needle Bearings, and it is their experience that the life of them is at least equal to the - 1 - | ||