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).
Outlining seven action points to address a component failure, including material testing, design changes, and reinforcement.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 2\12\ B002_X168-page021 | |
| Date | 1st May 1913 | |
| From F.H.R. Copies sent to: Mr. Johnson. Mr. Wormald. Mr. Hadin. 1) Test the materials of the broken ones to find the elastic limits which may be low owing to material or defective heat treatment. 2) Improve the material if possible of further supplies. (I am not blaming anyone and I do not want anyone to defend himself.) 3) Reinforce the section at the point of failure. Get the forgings from the best possible market for quality such as Vickers. Design. (next move) 4) Lower the stub to the centre of the joint - this can now be done owing to the raising of the frame. Shorten the joint, improve the lightening bore inside the stub by drilling deeper and reamering to a better section. Push ahead with the special axle for the wire wheels, raise the whole axle and put less dip on the front horns, alter the back shackle to a level spring. This will carry the whole axle and spring about ½" further from the road surface. 5) Cancel the screw adjustment on the cross steering tube. Introduce the set-up spring buffers lately suggested. These two alterations should be done immediately. 6) I think that it is advisable to consider seriously making these alterations to care already made, providing that the tests shew that these buffers lessen the maximum stresses. 7) Alter the section of the pendulum lever on the steering box to make it more suitable for torsion and lessen the maximum stress on the edges. F.H.R. Handwritten notes: By point 3: "This has been done for some cars" By point 4: "Immediate steps can be taken" By point 5 (left): "being individually specified" By point 5 (right): "Immediate steps can be taken" By point 6: "Mr Johnson to look into" Bottom left: "Works to must alter. F.W. Johnson" Bottom right: "all cars on the road if there is any possible accident. Let me know that this is understood + will be carried out. FHR 1/5/13" | ||