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).
Phantom clutch failures and proposed improvements with new Ferodo material and extra rivets.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 13\7\ 07-page062 | |
| Date | 10th September 1930 | |
| A7480 To R From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to CE. C. to WOP. C. to I. C. to Ds. C. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Ref. AJ/W.10.9.30. X7480 X7305 PHANTOM CLUTCH. We have been going into the failures of the present Phantom clutch and have been able to arrange a test on the Test Bed so that we have been able to reproduce the failures which we have had in customers hands. The failures which occurred are due to the material becoming soft and being partly torn away from the rivets, and the discs bulging on the outside diameter so that they jam and prevent the clutch easing free when dis-engaged. We consulted Messrs. Ferodo and they have supplied us with clutch fabrics made in an improved material. They have been supplying this material as standard to a number of firms so that it is not an experiment. The advantages in the new material are :- (1) The dressing is improved so that it stands 200 to 300° higher temperature before it melts out. (2) The second improvement is in the weaving of the disc. Another improvement we have made is by adding extra rivets holding the Ferodo to the pressure plates. We have proved that even with the present material, if we add extra rivets it is very much better for holding the Ferodo in position. With the new material and the extra rivets, tests which would destroy the present clutch leave the modified one still in 100% condition. | ||