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).
Tests investigating the squeaking of thick leaf springs and the effect of radiusing the leaf edges.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\4\ scan0212 | |
| Date | 6th October 1921 | |
| To R. {Sir Henry Royce} from Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. c. to E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da. {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} X3745 Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 2/LG6.10.21. SQUEAKING OF THICK LEAF SPRINGS. X3628 (struck through) X3745 The tests we have carried out radiusing the edges of the thick leaf springs have been carried out on a standard car with no spring gaiters fitted. We considered this was the right method to start with because we delivered cars with thick leaf springs to customers without any gaiters fitted and a very large number of those cars are still running about in that condition. We have found that radiusing the edges of the leaves on a thick leaf spring without any form of spring gaiter fitted, actually makes the squeaking worse. We explain this by the fact that the radius allows the water and grit to work in more readily. This proves that the radius should make an improvement as long as there is lubrication on the spring. In order to maintain that lubrication, the right type of gaiter must be used as well as radiusing the edges of the leaves. Most gaiters fail to lubricate the ends of the leaves. thick leaf springs because the gaiter bridges over the point of the thick leaf. We feel that if proper attention is given to the gaiter and it is made specially suitable for the thick leaf springs it may be possible to maintain the leaves lubricated without the edges being touched. We are continuing our tests. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||