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 the Experimental Department discussing issues with an oilite cage bearing and seeking advice on a proposed solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\2\ scan0164 | |
| Date | 6th June 1935 | |
| X1020 Exptl. Dept. 6th June, 1935. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}12/KW. F.O.Hickling, Esq., Messrs. Ransome & Marles Ltd., Newark-on-Trent. Dear Hickling, Many thanks for getting through the bearings for our 10,000 miles run so expeditiously. I hope both "do their stuff" without failure. As regards the little oilite cage bearing, it was entirely my fault that the one with the plain outer track could not be assembled. A plain inner would have been O.K. The trouble was that the last operation in assembly is to push in the shaft carrying the clutch driven member. No part of it must be of greater diameter than the root of the splines on the shaft. We then discovered that an ordinary journal bearing would be better than the one whose drawing I sent you. I am very grateful for the way you fitted standard outers to get us out of the difficulty. In the original design this bearing had to float to allow the clutch to free but since the splines have been added this is no longer necessary. Our designers are still a little afraid that after a few years the oil in an oilite cage will have oxidised and that therefore an oilite cage plus the New Departure felt might prolong their life by preventing circulation of air. Have you any views on this? Could you let us know whether during your test on the N.D. bearing all the oil escaped between the felt and the inner, or whether any was centrifuged out between the outer and the tin shield. | ||