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).
Failed five-blade fan during fan belt tests conducted by Messrs. Ferodo Ltd.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 135\1\ scan0182 | |
| Date | 25th August 1938 | |
| 1135 To HBS. from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.24/JH.25.8.38. FAN BELT TESTS - MESSRS. FERODO LTD. You recently despatched a five blade fan complete with pulleys etc. to Messrs. Ferodo Ltd., for fan belt tests which they are carrying out for us. The fan flange and blades in question were actually identical with our Phantom III five blade fan as regards dimensions etc., but were taken off the Cadillac car. During the tests the fan has failed, one arm of the spider having fractured, allowing the arm and blade to fly off, while the resultant out of balance force has bent the fan spindle. We are handing the defective fan to the shop - will you please strip it, hand the damaged parts to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. and replace them with parts from a standard fan which Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. will supply - a new five blade set should be built and fitted to this fan and blades to E.89255 and flange to E.89254. The pulley at present fitted to the fan should be refitted and the fan packed with grease using high and low melting point grease in our usual manner. It is urgent that this fan should be built up and handed to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. with minimum of delay as Messrs. Ferodo's tests are held up and this will cause inconvenience. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. | ||