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).
Importance and necessity of rigorous testing procedures for controllable dampers ahead of increased production.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\2\ scan0239 | |
| Date | 5th May 1934 | |
| -2- Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Les.1/KW.5.5.34. With controllable dampers the importance of the correct functioning of every damper makes the whole difference as to whether the system is a success or not. At the moment as these dampers are only fitted on Ph.II chassis, sufficient time can be spent in the Test Dept. in order to get the chassis away. Shortly 25 HP. and Bentley chassis will also be fitted with controllable dampers. This will increase the production of controllable dampers approximately six times. We cannot expect Mx. {John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} to run the rear wheels of every chassis at 80 M.P.H. in the air in order to test work that should have been done on the bench. There is also a certain amount of danger in running the rear wheels of a chassis at 80 M.P.H. The whole object therefore of this note is to ensure that the tests which were instructed 5 months ago should be treated seriously, so that we should be perfectly ready to deal with the increased production of controllable dampers on 25 HP. and Bentley chassis. We think the test of putting 10 lbs/sq.in. pressure in each completed damper to test leaks is necessary in order to make the dampers function for the specified time without attention. With regard to the damper control governor range, we think a record should be taken of every governor unit, and suggest that the figures should be included on the test card of each chassis. We are certain that the extra cost involved in carrying out these tests will be far less than what would otherwise be spent on service, particularly as removing our front dampers also necessitates removing the axle control. Also in view of the fact that such a large percentage of our service troubles have been caused from damper fixings being unsatisfactory, we want to ensure that the dampers are disturbed the least number of times. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Les. | ||