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).
Oil leakage from hydraulic shock damper glands during road tests.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 68\2\ scan0136 | |
| Date | 1st March 1925 | |
| Expl: Report. Expl. No. 235. Y8520 Hg/RmH/LGS. 3. 25. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hg/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} RG.{Mr Rowledge} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} RR. HYDRAULIC SHOCK DAMPERS. X235 We have carried out a road test to determine the amount of oil which passes the gland under these conditions. We found that in 300 miles of main road driving, about 5 c.c's were lost from each shock absorber. Though this is not much it is sufficient to make the case thoroughly oily and give the appearance of a bad leak. We are repeating the test starting with an oil level at the bottom of the gland only. Naturally, we are unable to reproduce Continental roads and atmospheric temperatures. It is quite clear from the above that our uncooled test on the bumping rig is much more severe than any road conditions likely to be encountered. Our main troubles with the glands are :- (a) We cannot make them of equal efficiency. (b) They will not stay put. Once they have been made to leak under extreme conditions they continue to do so. We have tried the suggested breather in the reservoir; So far we have been unable to appreciate any definite improvement. We have not previously tried the suggested method of trapping the oil as it comes out of the gland and running it back into the main chamber because - (a) the highest level which can exist in the reservoir will be the bottom of the gland - (b) we thought that if there was any tendency to make the contd :- | ||