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 failure modes of fabric couplings and the need for improvements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\4\ Scan058 | |
| Date | 24th September 1929 | |
| Sèvres P/W "Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}" X7305. Ps9/RJ.24/9/29. Re: Fabric couplings Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/MJ.II/9/29. In reply to the above, we have changed quite a few couplings because of their failure as outlined by you. On the earlier types, the rivets failed and came away from the plates, and on the later types the plates became loose, probably by a compressing action of the fabric, and the coupling bulges between the fixing plates. I think you will agree that most cars which have, say 20.000 miles to their credit have a bulging coupling; it is purely a question of degree, and I will definitely say that any scheme which has for its object the improvement or the prolongation of the life of these couplings, would be welcome. Ps. | ||