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).
Internal memorandum detailing the investigation into the failure of an impulse type clock, its subsequent lubrication, and test results.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 164\1\ img215 | |
| Date | 27th April 1939 | |
| 6026 To By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs} c. to By/RD. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs}8/JH.27.4.39. FAILURE OF IMPULSE TYPE CLOCK. With reference to our report of 29.3.39. on the failure of one of the impulse type clocks, it was stated that the instrument would be returned to the makers for their examination and report. In a discussion with the Drawing Office that followed, however, it was agreed that we should first open the instrument and examine it ourselves. When opened it was found that in addition to the small circuit-breaker contact being rather dirty, there was a fair amount of dust distributed over the various parts, including some metal dust. It was then suggested by the D.O. that oiling might rectify the trouble as they had been informed by the makers that no provision had been made for lubricating the earlier electric clocks. This was done; some small drops of typewriter oil being supplied to the bearings of two or three main shafts and the instrument re-assembled. Having done this, the clock was put back on the bench for test, where it ran for 14 days. During that time it lost half a minute in the first 24 hours, but regained it in the next 24 hours. It then remained constant for four days, and finally gained two minutes during the last eight days. From this it appears that lubrication does affect the life of these clocks, and is therefore an important point to be taken up with the makers. The Unit in question will still be sent to them for examination. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs} | ||