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).
Suspension components, comparing grease cups to oilers and proposing design improvements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 43\2\ Scan002 | |
| Date | 2nd December 1919 | |
| contd. -2- December, 2nd. 1919. The only way to take up this side play at present is by inserting thin discs at either side of the eye. Mr. Caswell suggested that the eye should be bushed from either side with a flanged bronze bush, which could be sweated in if necessary. This would have a large bearing face and would be easily replaceable in case of weair. Sketch. The space between the inner ends of the two bushes would be useful as a reservoir for oil. The bushes would necessitate a longer shackle bolt, and wider front horn forging and spring shackles. This, it was thought, would be an improvement because what wear does take place on the shackle bolt and bushes is due to torsion, the bush wearing bell-mouthed. A number of the later American and imported Frech chassis show longer shackle bolts and wider spring eyes than our own, apparently with the idea of avoiding wear due to torsion of the spring. All at the afternoon conference agreed that the above changes were desirable. Oilers instead of grease cups on shackle bolts. Some better American cars have abandoned grease cups because the grease and even heavy oil hardens in the winter and the grease cups are at all times inconvenient to handle. Also dirt is liable to be introduced into the bearings when grease cups are used. We are investigating to find the best types of oilers and I am taking samples to England. An oiler with some form of cup-leather plunger to force the oil into the bearings was agreed to as the best type Abandoning the hgrease cups on the brake operating shafts on the back axle. In practice we find that these are so inconvenient to get at that they receive no attention at all. If the car is driven through mud they become hidden and their existence is often scarcely realised by drivers. Contd. | ||