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).
Letter to The Packless Gland Co. Ltd. regarding the design and adjustment of bellows for shock dampers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\2\ scan0281 | |
| Date | 5th November 1934 | |
| +4696 Exptl: Dept. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Les.11/KW. 5th November, 1934. The Packless Gland Co.Ltd., Windmill Road, Sunbury, Middlesex. For the attention of Mr. Martin-Hurst. Dear Mr. Martin-Hurst, Thank you for your letter. It appears that provided the free length of the bellows can be adjusted really accurately the present design is best. This I understand is quite possible as you assure us it does not harm the bellows to pull it out to the required length. Personally I loathe allowing our fitters to regulate the lengths of the bellows, but if it necessary, will make special arrangements for it. What I should prefer is for you to adjust the lengths and pack them in a good design & felt-lined wooden box, not even allowing our Inspection Dept. to touch them, so that the next time the bellows is removed from its container after leaving you, is when it is put into the shock damper, there being no need for adjustment of free length. This would of course put far more responsibility on your inspection and make it essential for you to use good gauges etc. Each unit gets its final test when the shock damper is tested complete, but in view of faulty bellows there is the cost of assembling and dismantling the shock damper. The main object of the new design was to dispense with the bellows guide (i.e., the .312" diameter stem). At the same time we were removing the adjustment which makes up for the differences in free length of the bellows. | ||