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).
The performance of Lucas Electric Screen Wipers after 15,500 miles of testing in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 167\5\ img202 | |
| Date | 1st June 1937 | |
| Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wst. June, 1937. 3.B.IV. Lucas Electric Screen Wipers. 15,500 miles in France. (1) Motor. This was quiet in operation and gave no trouble. (2) Flexible Drive from Motor to operating mechanism. Remained quiet throughout mileage without lubrication. (3) Operating Mechanism. The connecting link between the driving wheel and the sliding piece fractured across the hole at the driving wheel end, where the pin is rivetted in. A new strengthened link was supplied by Lucas and fitted, and ran 8,700 miles without any trouble, the mechanism was silent in action. (4) Flexible coupling from operating mechanism to O.S. wiper drive. The outer tube was a loose fit in the ferrule at the operating mechanism end. This allowed a pumping action to take place, resulting in lost motion and undue strain on the internal coupling. The stranded wire down the centre of this stretched, and subsequently broke after 5,000 miles' running. A 2 BA rod was substituted for the rest of the mileage, and worked satisfactorily. (5) Driving boxes for wiper blades. The engagement dogs worked out of mesh from the start of the running. This was partly due to the hand operating knobs and spindles fouling the polished wood fillet, preventing complete engagement, so that a lead was soon worn in the dogs. After giving the necessary clearance the trouble still occurred for this reason. Dogs which tend to pull into mesh are required, so that in the event of faulty engagement, they will be pulled into the correct working position. A stronger spring would assist in this respect. | ||