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).
Monthly customer complaints report on booming, vibrations, brake squeaks, and shock dampers for 25HP and Phantom models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\3\ Scan020 | |
| Date | 18th February 1931 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} X4117 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}2/KT.18.2.31. CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINTS MONTHLY REPORT. Item (1a) Booming and Vibrations. 25HP and Phantoms. Extensive research work has been carried out with the above and very satisfactory results have been obtained. These are being verified before a definite statement is made. Item (1) Brake Squeaks and Inefficiency. W.W. gave us designs for 40% thicker brake drums. These are now on production. Further designs of ribbed brake drums have been received and are on test. Tests are being carried out with various brake lining materials. I have been to the makers of Ferodo brake linings and they are going to give us all the assistance they can to produce an efficient lining without squeaks. The present production is being fitted with the non-squeaking pilot shoe. Depots have been instructed to fit same, but only on very bad cases. It is not intended to fit these indiscriminately as the cost would be too high. Tests are being carried out with the W.W. design of locomotive shoe but the results so far are not satisfactory. Other schemes are being persevered with. Item (2) Shock Dampers. The numerous complaints during the last six months with shock dampers show that the present damper is giving anything but satisfactory results in service. The complaints of the shock dampers have been, firstly, knocks (209 complaints). The knocks are caused by slackness in the links due to wear and side clearance. A very slight clearance causes a knock which is magnified up by the frame. The knocks are the result of a small rapid movement of the lever such that will be caused by running over cobble stones. Secondly, loss of oil from the dampers. (19 complaints). A considerable amount of work has been done to overcome these troubles, but as stated, a very slight amount of slack, hardly measurable causes a knock that is complained of, and with the present design of damper, this is almost impossible to deal with. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} has carried out extensive work in regard to these and reports have been sent to W.W. New designs of dampers have been received but it will be some time before these can be exhaustively tested before being incorporated in production, meantime we are still fitting dampers that in all probability will give trouble. Tests with | ||