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).
Fundamentals of car performance, detailing suspension issues and the concept of 'pitching' in the 40/50 HP model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\1\ img207 | |
| Date | 20th December 1927 | |
| HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rml/LG20.12.27. FUNDAMENTALS OF CAR PERFORMANCE. 40/50 HP. SUSPENSION. We are aware that one of the most difficult problems encountered by outside inspectors at the moment is that of suspension. We are continually working on this subject and consider that it may be of some assistance if we indicate the conclusions we have so far formed. We believe that the feature of any suspension system that causes greatest discomfort to the occupants of a car is that of 'pitching'. The 40/50 HP. pitches inherently more than the 20 HP. and that is why its riding is inferior to that of the smaller car. We believe that pitching is not a question of spring strengths or type of spring employed, but mainly of weight distribution. The ideal system for absence of pitching can be illustrated by a dumbel with a spring under each end. This system, when acted upon through the springs by a vertical external force will have the minimum tendency to pitch, a fact that can be proved mathematically Therefore an ideal car from the pitching point of view would be one with little weight in the centre of Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} [Diagram Text] WHEELBASE CENTRE OF GRAVITY | ||