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 from Borg & Beck regarding the testing of a 10 inch clutch, safety margins, and flywheel flutter.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 129\3\ scan0064 | |
| Date | 29th January 1936 | |
| Telegrams BORGANBECK, LEAMINGTON SPA. Telephone LEAMINGTON SPA 1550-1. X110 BORG & BECK COMPANY LTD. MANUFACTURERS OF CLUTCHES. Registered Office BROCK HOUSE, LANGHAM STREET, LONDON, W. 1. WORKS: Tachbrook Road, LEAMINGTON SPA. Warwickshire. Directors E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} B. BOUGHTON. W. EMMOTT. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} T. BROCK. Your Ref............ Our Ref TS/HTB/CC. 29th, January 1936. SMTH Messrs.Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. For the attention of Mr.F.Ll.Smith. Dear Sirs, We beg to confirm our 'phone conversation of this morning in which we advised that we have tested one of our 10" clutches built up to our standard specification to your requirements, and would advise that after 20 hours continuous running at approximately 5,000 r.p.m. that no wear at any part is discernible, and furthermore, there was no tendency for the release levers to fly out of position. This further serves to confirm our previous theory put forward that we feel that we have an ample margin of safety incorporated in our clutches at speeds far in excess of those likely to be obtained by your engine. It would therefore appear that flywheel flutter is definitely contributing in some way to the present failure of eyebolts. It was understood that you are now running tests with a car with the engine running at maximum revolutions, and furthermore, that you are conducting further tests on the 10" clutch built up with special material eyebolts on your test bed, and we shall be interested to hear the results in due course. In the meantime we shall be glad if you would regard the above as an acknowledgement of your letter dated 21st.inst. Yours faithfully, BORG & BECK COMPANY LIMITED, [Signature of H.T. Barker] H.T.Barker. | ||