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).
Persistent squeaks from the front road springs and proposing design alterations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\7\ Scan117 | |
| Date | 1st December 1928 | |
| X7440 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}7/LG4:12. 28. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to CY. FRONT ROAD SPRINGS. X7440 One of our most persistent troubles is spring squeaks. The main source of this complaint is the second leaf of the front spring at the rear end. This is uncovered by the gaiter because the gaiter cannot satisfactorily enter the 'pot' provided for the rear spring eye. A separate cover is provided for the 'pot' but it does not enable us to keep any lubricant on this leaf (N.sch.2091). An additional aggravant is the fact that the second leaf, in order better to support the main leaf, is not tapered appreciably at the tip. In consequence of this it is liable to dig in. We have recently been experimenting, at the suggestion of the Test Dept., with two bowden outer cables running along the side of the main leaf from the lubricator, the sides and underneath portion of the leaves being packed with thin felt in the gaiter. The lubricant can be made to pass through any desired portion of this cable. The results so far are very promising but we still have no satisfactory means of dealing with the rear end of the second leaf. As we observe that the present scheme is being perpetuated on the 'SS{S. Smith}' we should appreciate a design to alter the rear supporting bracket of the front spring so that the gaiter can be carried to cover the end of this leaf. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||