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 from The Cleveland Graphite Bronze Co. discussing an error with incorrectly drilled clutch facings and a new experimental design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 129\4\ scan0084 | |
| Date | 24th November 1937 | |
| 1110 THE CLEVELAND GRAPHITE BRONZE Co. BUSHINGS BEARINGS WASHERS DETROIT OFFICE, 7-169 GENERAL MOTORS BLDG. MAIN OFFICE & PLANT 880 EAST 72ND STREET CLEVELAND HARD ROLLED BRONZE STEEL BACK - BABBITT LINED November 24, 1937. Mr. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham, Rolls-Royce, Ltd., Derby, England. Dear Mr. Robotham: Mr. Hopkins had expected to write you but he has been confined to his home for the past month with a foot infection, which is now clearing up. He has asked me to write you, giving you a picture of our present situation, as we see it, on clutch facings. We were delighted to hear that the facings mentioned in your letters of October 7th and September 28th have done so well. Since that time we have had further reports, through Mr. Vandervell, and an order for facings for 500 clutches, which is very gratifying. We have noted the fact that the facings were incorrectly drilled and this is entirely our error, for which there is no excuse. The new clutch facings which you have just received were drilled in the same way, before we learned of our mistake. We hope they can be used but, if not, we will replace them. These facings seem to indicate that there will be advantages in this type of material rather than the material you have ordered in quantity, but the material is still very much in the experimental stage. Chrysler has made preliminary tests, which give promise of success, but it is much too early for us to recommend them for production. Enclosed herewith is blue print of a type of driven clutch member which we are proposing here for passenger car service in connection with these facings. We call attention to the cushion arrangement, which is had by placing an annular double leaf spring between two driven plates. The corrugations of this annular spring being so designed as to give the desired cushion performance. We further call attention to the construction of the driven steel plates themselves. As will be noted, they are divided in two concentric rings which are inter-connected and tied to the driven hub in such manner as to give complete freedom for radial expansion or contraction. By this | ||