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 issues and proposed solutions for the front axle, dampers, and connecting links.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\5\ Scan191 | |
| Date | 31th August 1928 guessed | |
| - 2 - We already have banjo fittings on the front axle and front dampers in connection with the axle control. The first trouble has been (after 6500 miles) lack of oil to the top bearing of the connecting link and to the forward bearing of the lower spindle of the connecting link. Detail A-12523 shows what happened on the lower spindle. We fed the forward bracket with oil, somewhat as shown in A12461 attached. But in spite of this the rear bearing was the only one to receive oil, because of the pivot lean, 1-3/4°. We have now tapered the forward end of the bore of the spindle as shown in A 12523, the angle of 5° included being enough to form a "Watershed" at the oil hole with normal pivot lean. Apparently this is now lubricating both ends, but we have not run far enough to be really certain. As shown in A-12461 we propose to feed both actuating shaft bushings independently, which implies coming through to the front side of the axle for the feed to the outer bushing and to the pivot. We propose to feed the front bracket for the axle control spindle as part of the same system. (3) Ball End of Axle Control Damper. As received by us these had the original scheme of lubrication shown in N.Sch. 2455. As was anticipated, the oil did not find its way to the ball end. We are therefore temporarily instructing the scheme of F-78208 having a close fitting connection for getting oil pressure into the rocking shaft. While we believe this may work satisfactorily, we do not think it nearly as positive as your gland scheme N.Sch. 2517, and are applying the latter experimentally with a view to adoption, if the lubrication of the ball end works out as satisfactorily as we anticipate. SUMMARIZING: (1) For oiling the actuating shafts in the front axle we believe drip plugs at either end are desirable. (2) For oiling the spindle of the axle control connecting link by the Bijur system, some device is required to feed the forward bearing against the pivot-lean slope. Tapering the end of the tube and feeding the forward bracket may do this, or it may be necessary to use a through-bolt which is a slide-fit in the bore of the spindle. - continued - | ||