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).
Failure in an aluminium brake casting for the 'Goshawk II' and suggesting alternative materials for testing.
| Identifier | Morton\M1.1\ img081 | |
| Date | 18th October 1921 | |
| To HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to SJ. " " BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} " " DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} " " WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} X4259 XL253 [STAMP: ORIGINAL] [STAMP: RECEIVED OCT 18 1921] RE "GOSHAWK II" BRAKES. We are pleased to hear you have made satisfactory tests of the brakes. Sorry to hear one of the aluminium castings has broken. We think, however, it is quite possible that this casting was cracked during the riveting, as we know how rough many of the people are at the Works in the riveting process. We should not expect piston metal to be more suitable for casting the brake straps, and do not know at the moment what to recommend to give sufficient lightness and reliable strength. We shall see better when we examine the broken casting. I suggest in the meantime we lighten the pattern and have some castings made in Halls' aluminium bronze, it would at least be something for comparison. An alternative would be to try a set in malleable iron, semi-steel, and real steel castings. It is quite evident that these parts ought not to be put into production until we have learnt more of the best shape and material for the purpose. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||