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).
Defects found in Goshawk body brackets during tests for body rattles and frame stiffness, and proposing a revised design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 41\3\ Scan381 | |
| Date | 12th October 1923 | |
| X3730 To LHS.{Lord Herbert Scott} from Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Evl/M12.10.23. RE. BODY RATTLES, AND FRAME STIFFNESS. X.4260 X.3730 X.3729 We visited Messrs. Hooper's Works on Wednesday last, and made some tests on both 40/50 and Goshawk frames on lines illustrated in the sketch below. (See original for sketch) We found that the Goshawk body brackets had apparently the following defects :- (1) That they diaphragm the web of the frame. (2) That there was not sufficient heel between the bolt and the end of the bracket allowing the latter to dig into the woodwork. (3) That the bearing area of the bracket was small and would eat into the bottom of the runner. (4) That the brackets 2nd. and 4th. from the dash not being opposite cross members could twist the frame when quite a light load was applied to the end of the wooden lever corresponding to the runner. Whilst we are not sure or convinced that this flexibility is the entire cause of body rattles, after discussing the matter with Mr. Royce we have decided to take the following course immediately. (a) We propose designing a revised body bracket for brackets at 1. 2. and 3. from the dash, these having a large bearing area for the runner and extending from top to bottom flange of the frame. They will also project from the frame a contd:- | ||