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).
Letter to Smiths Ja king Systems Ltd. regarding the design and modification of a large hydraulic jack.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 175\3\ img086 | |
| Date | 20th August 1940 | |
| [Circled annotation: c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}] [Handwritten: 2] Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}8/JH. 20th. August, 1940. SECRET. Messrs. Smiths Ja king Systems Ltd. Edware Road, Cricklewood, LONDON. N.W., For the attention of Donald Sessions Esq. Dear Sirs, We are engaged in designing what we might describe as an outsize in jacks. It is 53.500 [Handwritten annotation: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}] closed up and extends approximately 13.500 ins. We had the idea that we would use the leg member of your portable hydraulic jack down the middle of the elevating tube to do the lifting, and on the head we would bolt the pump and reservoir. This latter would be coupled to the ram by means of a suitable pipe. We are in no difficulty with the ram part of the picture, but that of the pump is not so easy. We want to lay the pump head of the jack on its side, having the handle pointing downwards. This appears to cause the outfit to pump air. The filler plug is also so placed that filling becomes impossible. The purpose of this letter is to solicit your help. We feel that you may be able to suggest easy modifications to overcome our troubles, or that you may have some other suitable pump. Whatever we use must be "off the shelf" so to speak, and immediately available, for say 500 sets. We have met with hydraulic jacks where the relief valve is controlled by the grip of the pumping handle. In this case such a feature would be valuable. | ||