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Performance of overriding control schemes for the suspension dampers.


Identifier  ExFiles\Box 56\1\  Scan238
Date  12th December 1932
  
235.

To Hdy. {William Hardy} From Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
c. to Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}
c. to Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}
c. to E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}
c. to Da. {Bernard Day - Chassis Design}
c. to By. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}

Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 15/MJ.12.12.32.

OVERRIDING CONTROL TO THE DAMPERS.

With reference to Hdy {William Hardy} /1/M.5.12.32.

We have tried schemes (1) and (2) mentioned in your memo. We believe that we should be able to get all we require by scheme (2).

One thing seems to be quite clear, that if the over-riding control is to be sufficient to introduce stability when driving fast along winding roads at 40 M.P.H. then it will spoil the low speed softness of the suspension. Without the over-riding control we find that we get a sufficiently soft ride at low speeds if we reduce the fixed damper setting to below 40 lbs., and the normal governor characteristic then gives us quite a good control at 60 M.P.H.

From the front seat we had formed the impression that we could do with a steeper governor curve to improve the 60 M.P.H. car stability but judging from the back seats the best riding will not be obtained with any more damping than the straight governor gives us at present at this speed. Naturally, we shall not expect to obtain the best compromise until we have had experience with a considerable number of cars and drivers but at present scheme (2) strikes us as being clearly the best.

Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
  
  
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).


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