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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).
Visit to Lockheed to inspect their brake testing equipment, specifically dynamometers.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 121\1\  scan0365
Date  15th November 1940
  
1029
Brakes
To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions}
c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/MHR.{M. H. Rigby}
c. to Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}

Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions}5/JH.15.11.40.

Visit to Lockheeds. Nov. 12th. 1940.

A copy of a letter and notes of subjects discussed at this visit received from Mr. Parnell yesterday, is enclosed with this memo.

Apart from the discussion Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/MHR.{M. H. Rigby} and myself were able to inspect the testing equipment used by Lockheeds on car work.

This consists primarily of two dynamometers, one for routine tests of lining samples, the other for performance tests on brake shoe assemblies and drums. The general layout of both is similar so that construction of the latter is described.

It consists essentially of a flywheel, whose inertia can be varied by bolting on additional rings to approximate the weight of car to which the brakes are to be fitted. This flywheel is driven from a variable speed electric motor through a clutch and is connected to the brake drum of the assembly under test. The brake shoes and carrier plate are mounted on a pivot co-axial with the drum and have coupled to them a beam reacting on hydraulic cylinders as a means of measuring the torque by the pressure created in these cylinders. Actually, however, the torque generated by a given line pressure is calculated by measuring the time taken to stop the flywheel from a given speed, the motor drive being previously declutched. Means are provided for automatic speeding up of flywheel and brake application for bedding down purposes, the line pressure being obtained by a weight on the end of a lever operating a master cylinder. Clocks are mounted to measure shoe tip and centre movements of the various line pressures.

In addition to these dynamometers they have automatic and pedal operated machines for stroking master cylinders, and on the automatic machine they go up to about 500,000 strokes to observe wear and general behaviour.

Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary}
  
  


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