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).
Investigating a prematurely worn shock absorber piston pad that was incorrectly fitted in a soft, unhardened state.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\2\ scan0192 | |
| Date | 21th February 1934 | |
| x469S Shock Damper File. KES Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Sft. {Mr Swift} By: Sft {Mr Swift} 6/BH.21.2.34. With reference to the worn Pad in the Shock Absorber Piston shown to me by your Mr. Leslie yesterday, we have investigated this case, and the position is that these Pads go to Mr. Brock's Dept. in a soft state to be burred prior to the Nitriding hardening operation. We have come to the conclusion that one of these soft ones, has inadvertently been fitted to a Cylinder in mistake for a hardened one. We believe this is an isolated instance, and this is supported by the fact that we have been able to account for all the remainder from our records, as having passed through the Dept., been in Nitriding, and out again. It has however, brought up the need for some further check, and we have immediately applied a check test to all existing Pistons, and have arranged that this shall be an operation carried out by fitters prior to the final assembly of Shock Absorbers. We believe that these new measures will prevent anything of this kind occurring again. I am sending the worn pad on to By. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} with his copy of this memo'. Sft. {Mr Swift} | ||