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).
Visit to supplier Samuel Fox & Co. to discuss the design of lubricated springs for post-war use.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\2\ scan0346 | |
| Date | 25th June 1941 | |
| To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GB. c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Clm.{D. D. Clapham} c. to Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames} c. to Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions} [Handwritten]: 130S Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GB.5/SW.25.6.41. Visit to Messrs. Samuel Fox & Co. Purpose of Visit. The object of this visit was to take up the question of getting a cheap version of our fully lubricated springs for use after the War. Messrs. Fox were represented by Messrs. S.R. Howes, C.S. Stirling and A.{Mr Adams} Hodgson. Correspondence should be addressed to the first named. Questions put by Fox's. After a preliminary study of our spring drawings, Messrs. Howes etc., raised a number of questions on design. They were :- (1) Will we change the central eye at the front end of the Senior Range Springs to an offset eye, as at the rear, to simplify the drilling of the oil hole? Our answer to this is No. The central eye is required by the steering geometry, and we cannot consider changing spring brackets etc., at this stage. (2) Can the diagonal portions of the lubricating grooves be omitted? (3) Can the groove be on the compression side of the spring leaves? This has obvious advantages from the stress point of view. Part of the grooving on Phantom lll springs is on this surface. (4) Can leaf ends be speared and not drawn, instead of drawn? The former is cheaper. To questions 2-4, our answer should be that we are prepared to accept such features providing we get springs which are durable, silent and well lubricated. -continued- | ||