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).
Discussions from a visit by Ferodo Ltd. regarding belts, test rigs and pulleys.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 135\4\ scan0050 | |
| Date | 9th March 1940 | |
| 1135 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} o to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Col. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Ed.{J. L. Edwards}1/GH.9.3.40. re VISIT FROM FERODO LTD. A visit was paid to these works on the 7th instant by Mr. Shilton of Messrs. Ferodo Ltd. The following principal points were discussed:- 1. BELTS The problem of squeaking belts was put up to Mr. Shilton who agreed with the writer in that the probable source of trouble lay in eccentric and buckled pulleys manufactured from pressings. This point has yet to be confirmed thoroughly and a series of tests will be carried out at Derby. 2. TEST RIG Ferodo's have recently completed a belt testing plant on which they were able to carry out endurances on two or three point drives, the relative positions being capable of adjustments by comparatively simple methods. It was also claimed that on this rig, owing to the precautions taken in its construction it was possible to carry out noise tests on belts, and Mr. Shilton agreed to do come work on squeaking belts. 3. PULLEYS Any trouble which has been experienced recently on belts on the three point drive has been attributed to a large extent to the poor manufacture of the pressed steel pulleys and it will be recalled at 30.G.7. used cast iron machined pulleys on its trip to France. Mr. Shilton, therefore, agreed to run comparative tests with pressed steel pulleys, cast iron pulleys and aluminium pulleys. This latter material was suggested, more with the object of obtaining definite information on the reaction of aluminium and its rate of wear, then with the immediate object of suggesting it for production. An alternative material suggested by Mr. Shilton for pulleys was a cotton base sheet bakelite, pulleys being manufactured from this material by machining from - continued - | ||