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).
Pump diaphragm material issues and complaints regarding noisy pumps.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149\1\ scan0298 | |
| Date | 10th September 1936 | |
| -2- At the time the present diaphragm was agreed upon by R.R. we were in trouble with the skin type diaphragm cracking. S.U's submitted a fabric diaphragm, G.I, which was tested and at the time thought to be quite satisfactory. In the meantime S.U's had obtained a differently treated material which from tests proved to them to be superior. It was submitted to R.R. but was not accepted. The S.U. people, however, satisfied themselves that it was more satisfactory, and have since used it in their standard pumps for the last 12 months, with none of our complaints. The material is a cotton woven fabric, made in England, and sent to Germany to be zinc treated. We have had samples of the fabric tested in alcohol and water, with no signs of shrinking or becoming soluble. We have therefore requested By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} to communicate with S.U's with a view to getting this material for our diaphragm immediately. We were shown diaphragms that have been in use for 12 months with no discernible defects. (2) Noisy Pumps. The complaint of noisy pumps was taken up with them. In answer to this we were taken to hear a pump which was mounted on a R.R. dashboard with a label attached as being the standard we have agreed to for noise, 12 months ago. One cannot appreciate the ones we now call noisy against the noise of the model. I pointed out to S.U's that 12 months ago we were only interested in the pump for the Bentley, which at that time was considered good. They admitted the point and were in agreement that a quiet pump should be made. In this respect they are working in conjunction with our Exptl. Dept. A sample quietened pump is already being tried out. | ||