Lubrication of Automotive Worm‐gears

In a paper presented to the Automobile Division of The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, in London, on January 10th, J. Whittle, B.Sc., A.M.I.Mech.E. (Shell Research Ltd.) dealt with work done at Thorn‐ton to produce a lubricant for automotive worm axle gears which would stand up to modern conditions. Mr. Whittle said that the number of new vehicles in Great Britain being fitted with worm‐gear axles is decreasing, and this was partly due to the problems arising from pitting and wear of the bronze worm‐wheel, together with thickening due to oxidation of conventional mineral oils. Castor oil, whilst having many advantages, is not very susceptible to oxidation inhibitors. More recently the performance in worm‐gears of poly‐alkylene oxide derivatives has been studied at Thornton, and this paper describes this work in the laboratory as well as in field tests.