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 the Dunlop Rim & Wheel Co. regarding potential fatigue failure in Goodyear type rims due to sharp corners.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 159\1\ scan0037 | |
| Date | 15th July 1920 | |
| c. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. OY. c. EFC. X 3725 E C JUL 15 RECEIVED. ========= 1320. 6 lines. BY5-P15720. COPY July 15/20. Thursday. Messrs. The Dunlop Rim & Wheel Co.,Ltd., Alma Street, COVENTRY. Dear Sirs., X.3725 RE RIMS FOR STRAIGHT SIDED TYRES OF THE GOODYEAR TYPE. We have received a communication from America with reference to the Goodyear type of rim which you are proposing to manufacture. From information supplied to us from the Pierce Arrow Company, it would appear that on a similar design of rim, made by another company, where you have a sharp corner on the left hand side of the sketch attached at the base of the groove for fixing the loose flange, that the sharp corner actually caused failure, due to cracks developing that finally resulted in the whole side of the rim being blown off. This type of failure would, of course, be of the "fatigue" character, and of course anything in the nature of a sharp corner should be avoided where fairly big loads are imposed on the section of metal where the sharp corner occurs. We take it therefore that you will give this matter attention and arrange to have a radius of at least .100" at the point indicated. We would like to point out that generous radii are always a distinct advantage and should be incorporated wherever possible. You will yourselves, of course, already fully appreciated this point, but it is just possible that you may not have had your attention drawn to the fact that the contd. | ||