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).
From EP to HS (at Laval) discussing braking performance, brake shoe materials, and steering faults on the Goshawk model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan204 | |
| Date | 22th April 1922 | |
| Y4086 HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} (at Laval) from EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} X4219 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}1/LG22.4.22. We have received your report of the 20th.inst. This morning. I wrote you yesterday giving a general summary of the various points at present under discussion so that you will be able to tackle them on 5/6-Goshawk-11 and if possible let us know full details and come back to the works fully primed with the action you propose to take. We have also received a report from R.{Sir Henry Royce} covering several points, copy of which you will now have received. Dealing with the points you raise:- Brakes. According to R's report he appears to favour the fixing of an aluminium damping ring in the centre of the drum so that the rivets come between the brake shoes. Should we arrange for this to be made up and are you satisfied that such a scheme would be sufficient to act as a "thrower" or do you desire us to push ahead with an aluminium ring attached to the flange as you suggest? On 7-Goshawk-11 TMW. tried the difference in effectiveness of the brakes by injecting water into the inside of the drums. He reported that it made no difference, except to alter the clearance evidently cause by the cooling down of the brakes or drums. At the same time I feel that 7-Goshawk-11 is a good example of ineffective brakes and even with the small amount of running the car has had, considerable pressure is required to actually "pull up" the car. Sft.{Mr Swift} informs me that he has now been able to produce some Goshawk brake shoes castings in Halls special metal, aluminium bronze(?) I have asked him to push ahead making these up so that you can decide to try them if you desire to as I have a feeling that you are not entirely satisfied with the present aluminium shoes. Steering. I am not surprised to receive a report on the faulty thrust bearing as we certainly did not feel at all happy in fixing this thrust as it was, and although I discussed it with RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}, we did not appear to have any better scheme. I arranged however, to give the races much more clearance in the bore. I rather anticipate this scheme is a duplicate of the 40/50 scheme which was tried out on 74CA. I have again tackled RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} after receiving your report and have been able to ascertain there is a W.W. scheme for the 40/50, but RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} says he discussed this with you and it was not practicable to apply this to the Goshawk. I have now arranged however, for a scheme similar to this to be made up for the Goshawk so that it can be applied to such car as you think fit. I quite appreciate that the tests so far are evidently not conclusive and it is as well that R.{Sir Henry Royce} has not seen the scheme at present fixed. Contd | ||