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).
Front shock absorber lever failure on a 20 HP car and proposed strengthening measures.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\2April1926-June1926\ Scan101 | |
| Date | 4th May 1926 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. to BJ. RG.{Mr Rowledge} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to SY. Na.{Mr Nadin} ✓ c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} ✓ ORIGINAL. X58409 X235 HYDRAULIC SHOCK DAMPERS. We have a report from France this morning saying that the lever in one of the 20 HP. front shock absorbers has failed as shown in the attached sketch. Although we have run shock dampers considerably more than 100 hrs. on the bump test here, we have never previously had a lever fail in this manner. We conclude that the nut retaining the bolt stretched, causing first of all the fracture of the bolt then the failure of the lever. As it appears that the loading on the rear shock dampers will put a greater strain on this lever than when these are run on the front, we are strengthening up the lever and bolt as far as possible and in addition making the locking of the nut positive. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham. | ||