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).
Failure of tubular stays on the Wraith front expansion chamber supports due to compression.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\3\ scan0084 | |
| Date | 20th May 1939 | |
| 1113 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} (K) from BY/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Ms. BY/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}3/MG.20.5.39 WRAITH - FRONT EXPANSION CHAMBER SUPPORTS --------------------------------- Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}12/N.18.5.39 The tubular stays removed from WXA-37 have been examined, and it would appear that they have failed due to collapsing in compression. What happens is that the exhaust system sags between the downpipe and the support at the front end of the rear silencer, and this tips the front end of the front expansion box upwards and puts the two tubular stays in compression. Therefore any increased flexibility at the ends of the stays would not help. We would like to know whether you have seen any other instances like this. If not, would you please get N to examine a few cars and let us know what they find. It looks as though the stays should be made from thicker gauge material, but before instructing this it would be useful to know what the stays on other cars look like after a fair mileage. Also, when these particular stays were replaced, did the standard length of stay go on again, or did you have to make special stays? BY/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} | ||