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).
Cause and potential remedies for squeaking leaf springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 80\2\ scan0205 | |
| Date | 9th September 1920 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to CJ. " " PN.{Mr Northey} " " Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} " " EFC. " " By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} " " EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} " " R.R. of America Inc. (For the attention of OY). X2628b R5/G3.9.20. X.2628b. X.3483. X.3745. RE SQUEAKING OF SPRINGS. X.3981. BS{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} as As far we can tell here, it is quite right that the friction between the leaves cause a squeak in the springs, but the vibration is not caused by lateral pressure or lateral movement of one leaf upon the others, but is a vertical vibration caused bynthe friction stopping the bending of each individual plate independently. Apparently the vibration is of the middle of each end of te spring. It appears that it would still exist if there was no friction on the centre pivot, and the spring was fixed at the centre, so that under suitable conditions all springs, whether they are cantilever, or semi-elliptical we think are capable of creating this noise in this way. APPARENTLY there is no noise when the spring is properly lubricated, and probbly no noise will be made if we can fit a substance like ferodo between the plates, and it only exists with dry seizing friction as occurs between rusty or soft steel surfaces. It has suggested to use the advisability of wrapping up the spring after greasing it, with leather or tape. One might try, in addition to the leather stockings only, a wrapping of grease-absorbing tape, and over this a layer Contd. | ||