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).
Oil retention issues with 20 HP Universal Joints and proposing leather gaiters as a solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 105\2\ scan0095 | |
| Date | 6th September 1924 | |
| To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ) EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ) X.4254. R3/M6.9.24. RE. 20 HP. UNIVERSAL JOINTS. I was surprised to hear of trouble with oil retaining. Our scheme and parts should be better than usual, certainly than all I have seen. It cannot be expected to retain much oil, but sufficient to lubricate the joint for a fairly long period, say a month of intermittent running. If one puts in a cubic inch per day a cubic inch will come out every day somehow, because the joint cannot digest oil. Our outer cover is intended to prevent the entrance of water which would be extremely bad, and this is the only duty that can be done by leather gaiters. Do we keep the water out? We are sending you a scheme of leather gaiters which we think might perhaps prove more desirable than our more expensive outer metal cover. The car I ran in France for several months last Winter never gave any trouble or shewed any signs of wear. It has I understand since run 17,000 miles about London to test if special body design is practical in long and varied use. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||