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).
Installation and potential use of a new flash-butt welding machine for chassis components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 138\2\ scan0124 | |
| Date | 25th November 1937 | |
| To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} c. to BY/Ds. c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to RWo. c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr}1/VS.{J. Vickers}25.11.37. ELECTRICAL WELDING. As you are no doubt aware, a 40 K.W. Flash-Butt Welding Machine has recently been installed in the Experimental Department. This machine was primarily obtained for the welding of the ports to the liquid cooled Exe engine cylinders, but in view of the appreciable savings and improvements which may be effected by the adoption of this process, we strongly recommend that its use be specified as extensively as possible in future chassis designs. The junction produced by flash welding is very reliable and may be considered with safety for the fabrication of stressed pieces; this statement is confirmed by the fact that the Lagonda Stub Axle Pivot is flashed to the axle body, the operating cam on the Lockheed brake system is flashed to the operating shaft, and the serrated end of the Ford V-8 axle shaft is flash-butt welded to facilitate manufacture. We therefore do not anticipate failure on the class of work for which we wish to utilise the machine. It has been found by tensile tests conducted on flash welded specimens that the tensile strength is almost identical with that of the original material, and that whilst in most cases the elongation is slightly decreased, the safety of the welded construction is not materially affected. If, however, it is possible to heat treat after welding, the physical properties will be still further improved. Whilst we do not advocate the use of this process on very highly stressed pieces, we shall be pleased if you will specify its use on the smaller details of Bentley III and Bentley 50 chassis. HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} | ||