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).
The failure of Phantom III rear rubber buffers due to tubular rivets and tests on alternative fastening methods.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 92\5\ scan0108 | |
| Date | 3rd March 1937 | |
| 302 To W/Ex. from HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}/RH.{R. Hollingworth} c. to [redacted] c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to [redacted] HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}/RH.{R. Hollingworth}2/CB.3.3.37. PHANTOM III REAR RUBBER BUFFER. Recently six Rear Buffers have failed on Experimental cars due to the failure of the Tubular Rivet. The construction of the unit is such, that it is not possible to get the parts sufficiently solid to roll over Rivet head and produce the amount of turn over to withstand the load imposed, consequently the tube draws out of the casing, thus taking away all the strength, and consequent failure. The following tests have been carried out under a Press :- (1) As rivetted on production. Failure at 1 1/2 tons. (2) Carefully rivetted. Failure at 3 tons. (3) Bolt and nut in place of tube. Casing burst at 9 tons. Suggest a bolt and nut be employed in place of tubular rivett. Herewith drawing Ex.1.133 showing results of the above tests. HPS{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}/RH.{R. Hollingworth} | ||