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).
'axle period' issue, the refusal to pass axles with this fault, and potential solutions involving different coupling types.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\3\ Scan046 | |
| Date | 7th February 1914 guessed | |
| COPY. Re - AXLE PERIODS. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} WOR{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}11/T9214. With reference to Mr. Platford's sheet re axle periods - it is a fact that Mr. Platford demonstrated that this period was eliminated by replacing the solid engine coupling with the damped spring coupling. But we did not know that Mr.Platford was going to write to you saying that he was going to refuse to pass axles which are in this state, and we do not think that Mr. Platford's note, which we have only seen to-day, clearly puts the position. This period is only produced with some difficulty by an experienced driver, and is at a very slow speed, which fades away almost immediately. Quite a different axle period in our opinion to the one that we used to have on cars fitted with the central brakes, when, you will remember, this period was about 15 to 20 m.p.h. This is a speed, of course, that is often used by customers, and is really objectionable, but we do not agree that the period on our present axles is of such a nature as to warrant us stopping turning out cars. It is true that we want to cure if possible, but it is a matter that should engage the Experimental Dept. and Mr. Royce. We do not want to fit damped spring type coupling because this fitting has some weaknesses, such as - excessive wearing of blocks, due to them being heavy - and also breaking of springs. We wish you to quite understand that Mr.Platford is refusing to pass very good axles in all other respects except this period. We suggest that axles should not be stopped for this, and that the Experimental Dept. try to find a cure, if possible, without again introducing the spring damped coupling. I have consulted Mr. Haldenby, and he is going to investigate this job. We have sent the axle, which Mr. Platford refuses to pass, to the Experimental Dept. for experiments. Another important matter is, that there are hundreds of Rolls-Royce Cars with a far worse period than our present one. This, of course, is no excuse for not wishing to get rid of our present one, but it is | ||