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).
Ordering road springs from Messrs. Woodheads and proposals for testing special sets on cars running in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\3\ Scan084 | |
| Date | 23th February 1922 | |
| X4261 Wd. {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} from BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Mr Booth. c. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} GOSHAWK 11. ROAD SPRINGS. I have been discussing the question of road springs with Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} , with a view to settling up definitely what we should do in regard to ordering the proposed 100 sets for production purposes. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} , after thoroughly discussing the whole issue is satisfied that the only way we can deal with the issue is to order up 100 sets of springs from Messrs. Woodheads made to our latest drawings, which represent W.W. views in this matter. In regard to the special springs submitted by Messrs. Woodheads, Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} , is not satisfied that it is safe for us to proceed with these at once, but would like to have a further six sets ordered and proposes that one set of these can be got in early to put the set in question on one of the three cars running the 10,000 miles in France. I am quite satisfied that the policy in question is the best, because there is no reason why springs made to our general design should be less reliable than the special springs submitted by Mr Woodhead, as the failure of the previous springs was essentially one of heat treatment, and the same values which have been obtained in regard to heat treatment with Mr Woodheads own type of spring can be obtained with ours, particularly as we are prepared to allow Messrs. Woodheads lattitude in design in regard to the slight variation in thickness proposed of plates. The objection to using Messrs. Woodheads spring itself are mainly in the direction of possible squeaks developing, as the untapered ends will give greater loads on the tip of the spring and therefore they very much resemble our present thick leaf springs in a less aggravated degree in regard to possible squeaking due to the plates bearing too heavily on the tips. We certainly like the improved clip which Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} , agrees with me in considering to be a distinct advantage. contd. | ||