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 issues with oil seals, materials, and leakage problems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 141\2\ scan0245 | |
| Date | 27th March 1941 | |
| 1184 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GB.3/ST.{Capt. P. R. Strong} 27th March, 1941. W.A. HAMILTON Esq., Engineering Department, Vauxhall Motors Ltd., L U T O N, Beds. Your Ref. WAH/BVB.234. Dear Pat, Many thanks for the report on oil seals. I am sorry to hear you are having so much trouble. Oil seals which allow oil to drip are rejected by the A.I.D. although we like a little seepage to provide lubrication between the shaft and the seal. Neoprene does not provide as good a seal as leather. The former develops small cracks after about a year. However, a temperature of 150° C. rules out leather. 120° C. is the limit for leather. On one rear axle we had some trouble with oil seal leakage due to pinion deflection. This trouble was overcome by fitting a seal one size smaller. This was done against the advice of the seal makers. The designers here have had it very firmly impressed on them that shaft eccentricity causes leakage past seals. It is reasonable to assume that the vibration of which you speak causes constantly varying eccentricity of the rotating member in the seal, and hence leaks. My brother tells me that he saw a seal at Daimlers which was as near 100% as any he has met. This is shown in the attached sketch. It was used on a propellor shaft application. With best wishes to all at Vauxhall. | ||