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).
Design improvements for a mechanical component, including details on serrations, bearings, and materials.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\October1930-February1931\ Scan379 | |
| Date | 25th February 1931 guessed | |
| (2) Since writing the last para. I have schemed that we might make the back bearing blind and of large dia., say 1.1, the fine parallel serrations 1.25 and the front bearing 1.1, so that even if the shaft became loose it could not work out. It also makes it easier to form the serrations on the shaft because the shafts could be pressed right through the die. It was intended that after the shaft had been pressed into the lever in the damper body a bush could be pressed in, then the gland packing, and then the gland plate could be put on and the 2 nuts that tightened the gland "right home" would also keep in the bush and shaft. Only the small top cover would be needed to pass into the body of the internal lever. We should then be using fine serrations (parallel) inside, and ditto taper outside. Both are features we introduced into engineering practice. (I don't think they were used even parallel before our Silver Ghost days - certainly not tapered. Owing to the large dia. of the internal serrations the loss of the lever need not be deep radially. Some estimates could be made for maximum stresses and how much press tightness is needed to prevent the slightest movements. I think the body should be made as light as possible in cast iron, and also tried in aluminium should it be thought too heavy. I hope Mr. Hardy will soon be able to get this new model into a design and send me a copy in parallel with the one sent to Derby for HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}'s and RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}'s criticism. If it is as good as we know how and looks satisfactory, I could send a telegram for "damper approved." The springs for loading cam suggested by DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/HDY.{William Hardy} at 110 lbs. I think too much. I imagine not more than a half = 30 for vacuum, plus 25 for inertia. The piston never moves very quickly and need not be heavy. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||