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).
Cause of clip breakages and potential repair methods for a Bentley Rear Silencer.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\5\ scan0025 | |
| Date | 25th October 1938 | |
| 11245 To Sr/VA... from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} (crossed out) c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}41/N.25.10.38. Bentley - Rear Silencer. In answer to your memo Sr/VA.1/HB.{C. E. Harcombe}14.10.38, we have not had the breakage of the clips as you mention, neither metal from the forward silencer or expansion box blown through into the rear. We do not dispute your statement, but one would imagine that the fragments you found were parts from the clips. The rivets you mention must be those holding brackets EB.1991/2. We have not come across any loose rivets. The clips are welded not riveted. I still maintain that the breakage of the clips at the position you show on the sketch is caused in the first place by a clip breaking away from the shell which then allows vibration of the EB.877 tube, and consequent fracture of the clips. A test has been made deleting these clips, and the vibration set up, broke down the welding of the centre support plate EB.882. Kingsbury have had cases where one half of the clip has broken off. In these cases they have been able to weld on to the broken end, building it up and finally making a joint on to the shell. There has not been a case at K.{Mr Kilner} when it has been necessary to open up the silencer. I have shewn your sketch to the welder at K.{Mr Kilner} and his remarks are that he could weld the fractured clips after burning a hole through the shell. GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} | ||