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).
Material selection and heat treatment for chassis road springs, comparing Chrome Vanadium and Silico-Manganese steels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67a\1\ scan0198 | |
| Date | 12th May 1927 | |
| X8440 HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C.Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} C.Roy.{Sir Henry Royce} BY2/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 12.5.27. RECEIVED MAY 13 1927 CHASSIS ROAD SPRINGS. During a recent conference with the Directors of Messrs Firths on the above subject, I pointed out to them that whilst we ought to get distinctly better results by the use of Chrome Vanadium steel if it were given a heat-treatment to bring it into a thoroughly homogeneous condition, our experience did not lead us to believe that we were getting any advantage by the use of this steel over what we should obtain if we used Silico-Manganese or Silico-Chrome. I therefore pointed out that we intended in the near future to obtain from Messrs Firths springs made in Silico-Manganese, in preference, and test same out in France and on the bumper, against similar springs made in Chrome Vanadium. Mr.Wortley-Fawcett agreed that the heat-treatment I had proposed some time ago for Chrome Vanadium had got them out of a difficulty for which they had not been able to find a solution except by giving a special heat-treatment which was practically identical with one I had been pressing upon them to adopt. Whilst in the first place I arrived at the method of treatment on purely theoretical grounds, we did on two or three specific occasions, when pressing the value of it upon Messrs Firths, back up our reasoning by giving actual data from pieces of steel taken from exactly the same springs, one "as received", the second as re-treated to our proposals. Messrs Firths are now giving springs the special treatment, and I anticipate that we shall get, in consequence, better results from the point of view of increased life. I would like to know what is the next car we are likely to run in France, as if I can have this information I will arrange for one front spring to be in Silico-Manganese, the opposite spring to be in Chrome Vanadium, both to be of precisely the same poundage. I would therefore like to have the poundages or the springs required, and would at the same time arrange for other springs to be available, again in Chrome Vanadium and Silico-Manganese, for trying out on the bumper. ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED If our experiments do not show a material advantage in favour of Chrome Vanadium, I propose to adopt Silico-Manganese, as by so doing we should materially reduce the Contd. | ||