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).
Front spring failure during brake tests in France.
| Identifier | Morton\M20.3\ img033 | |
| Date | 30th June 1924 | |
| R.R. 493A (20H) (D.A. 652 20-3-24) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. 9941 9410 REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/L.C30.6.24. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. RG.{Mr Rowledge} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} S E C R E T. ADOPTED SCHEME OF BRAKES - TESTS IN FRANCE. The two cars running in France 35-FK and 98-NK had completed 7,040 and 7,520 miles respectively on the 27.6.24. The top leaf of the front spring on the N.S. broke on 98-NK after 6,115 miles. These front springs have previously completed 11,000 miles running in France with DES.60 scheme - so that altogether, the actual front spring which has failed has run 17,115 miles. The top leaf broke 6" from the rear spring shackle. The car was driven about 10 miles after the spring had broken - no effect was noticed on the steering but when the brakes were applied the steering took charge and dived to the side of the road. We have completed approx. 40,000 miles running in France with various schemes of front wheel brakes; this is the first failure of a top leaf of a front spring. This is a better average than we get on standard cars run under similar conditions. On both cars they have broken springs in the side steering tube. Other springs have been sent out which have considerably less maximum stress. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||