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).
The failure of the Phantom Spring Drive fixing and outlining corrective actions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65\4\ scan0245 | |
| Date | 2nd December 1925 | |
| Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} +8020 U. SFT{Mr Swift}9/EMM.2.12.25. FAILURE OF FIXING OF PHANTOM SPRING DRIVE. In reply to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}' memo.reference Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG.28.11.25 - when this engine was erected, particular care was taken by the erectors to ensure the spring drive being a good job. During the process of gear quietening, however, this spring drive was dismantled, and apparently we must assume it was not fixed properly on being re-assembled to the crankshaft. I have taken this question up very seriously with all in the Works and on engine gear quietening, and we are arranging in future that - 1. The Spring Drive centre and the Crankshaft shall be blued together. 2. The Spring Drive hub keyway shall be free from burrs etc. 3. As suggested, we will file a slight flat across the top of the keyway. 4. The squaredness of the nut with the thread and face of the hub shall be checked over with blue. With regard to the question of the Locking Device - our people are emphatic that they never slack off the nut to tighten up the position of the Locking Device; in fact it is considered much easier to alter the position of the Locking Device and tighten up still further. I do assure you, however, that everybody in the Works is alive to the importance of this job. SFT.{Mr Swift} [Signature] | ||