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).
Testing cadmium-plated road springs, detailing wear patterns, life expectancy, and recommendations for further trials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\6\ Scan026 | |
| Date | 26th June 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c.c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c.c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY: c.c to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} X1360 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/LG26. 6. 28. CADMIUM PLATED ROAD SPRINGS. X1360 X7410 X8410 We have run a pair of front springs cadmium plated 2000 miles in France on the road and a second pair on the bump. We have broken one spring after 23 1/2 hrs. running on the bump. This is well up to our average on the same type of spring unplated. The other spring is still running. We have carefully examined the broken spring. By treating with copper sulphate we can see exactly where the cadmium has worn off. We are somewhat surprised to find that at the tips where most longitudinal movement takes place, the cadmium seems to wear into the steel a certain amount. In the centre, however, the cadmium has not adhered quite so well on the points of contact: however, the leaf tips cause most trouble by squeaking and therefore we believe the results so far are very promising as we have not, apparently, shortened the spring life. The American Co. have run springs 20,000 miles so treated and report improved riding, as yet however, we have insufficient experience to say exactly how they effect the springing of the car. We think the results are sufficiently encouraging to try out a number of plated springs on trials cars to get the Sales view of their riding characteristics in parallel with our own. The next 10,000 miles car will be fitted with cadmium plated springs all round. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||