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).
Fractures of the top ball in a front shock absorber, proposing a material change due to lubrication issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 79\2\ scan0055 | |
| Date | 18th August 1924 | |
| 4329 Mr. Booth. c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} ---------- 20 HP. CHASSIS. FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER. RE BREAKAGE OF TOP BALL. ----------------------- Examination of a number of fractures of the above parts have convinced me that the real trouble is the material from which the ball pads are made. In this chassis the parts in question are made from CHNS. Whilst CHNS was instructed originally and finally adopted after test, I do not personally think it is a good material for duty of this kind where lubrication is likely to be intermittent. In the particular case in point, the lower ball of the shock absorber has a steady supply of oil from the head of oil left over in the annular space between the two tubes, whilst the upper ball only has momentary lubrication which occurs at the time when the oil pump is used on the part in question. To overcome the trouble, I propose that we should resort to the use of Phosphor Bronze with 10% lead and Mr. Booth should instruct the Works to do this immediately which means that when it is possible to obtain a supply of ball pads for the 20 HP. Chassis, which incidentally will be given new numbers, any stock of the Case Hardened Parts should be scrapped ATD. Will Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} kindly keep in touch with this matter as if it should prove that customers are having a number of breakages of the parts in question, it will be necessary for me to recommend changing the material of all the parts in service. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||