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).
Slipper drive failures concerning the use of cotton duck material and suggested solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\2\ scan0188 | |
| Date | 1st January 1929 | |
| BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Sft.{Mr Swift} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hx. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X356 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}4/H29 1.29. re. SLIPPER DRIVE FAILURES - COTTON DUCK MATERIAL. We still continue to have trouble with slipper drive failures, even although fitted with the latest cotton duck material, and our experience on new cars being delivered from Coachbuilders appears to confirm the experience we have had at Chateauroux with the 20-HP. car. The trouble is not so much on cars fitted with cotton duck material before chassis leave the Works, but when done away from the Works. In dealing with a recent case of this trouble on a slipper drive which had been fitted with cotton duck material at Cricklewood, we were able to eventually to effect a cure. The following, I suggest, are points which should be given attention in order to overcome this trouble in future:- (1) Although Cricklewood appear to have had some instructions in regard to the fitting of this fabric, these instructions do not seem to be quite clear, and Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} has promised to see that a Depot Sheet is issued on this matter. (2) In issuing this Depot Sheet, apart from the points mentioned on the previous instructions, the following should be included:- (a) The cotton duck material, before being soaked in oil should be well soaked in petrol, so as to exclude the dope which at present appears to be impregnated in the material (chalk or white lead) and evident at the joint. This, when mixed with oil, seems to form a tacky substance which does not allow the cotton duck to work as it should. Having got rid of this dope, the fabric should then be trimmed of all loose bits and well soaked in oil, and instructions carried out as mentioned by Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} in his previous memo. Will Sft.{Mr Swift} please arrange that no further slipper drives are built up unless this operation has been carried out. CONTD:- | ||