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).
Letter to Joseph Lucas Ltd. detailing the results and failure analysis of a windscreen wiper life test.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 167\5\ img204 | |
| Date | 15th September 1937 | |
| 6115, Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs}5/MH.{M. Huckerby} Messrs. Joseph Lucas Ltd., Great King St.{Capt. P. R. Strong}, Birmingham, 19. 15th. September 1937 For the attention of Mr. Toulman. Dear Sirs, Some time ago, your windscreen wiper expert, Mr. Mason submitted one of your units for testing purposes, and requested that we should give it a life test. We have now completed this test, the unit failing after 945,600 oscillations. The failure being due to the locating screws of the blades causing wear on the actuating spindles. This wear caused a jerky movement to be transmitted to the blades which movement increased during the test, and finally caused failure. Wear on the crankpin also accentuated this failure. The plating of the blades is not too good, signs of pitting were apparent at the end of the test. The torque of the motor is very satisfactory. We should be glad to discuss these points at any time with your Mr. Mason. Yours faithfully, for ROLLS - ROYCE LTD. | ||