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).
Static tests conducted on an X-shaped cross member to improve frame rigidity and steering.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\8\ Scan056 | |
| Date | 19th May 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c.c. to D.J. WGT. c.c. to D.A. EY. c.c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} X7380 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RmL/L.19.5.28. X SHAPED CROSS MEMBER. X1131 We have conducted a number of static tests on the X shaped cross member. Attached is the result of these tests. We compared the X member with three tubular members as indicated. It will be observed that it is about nine times as rigid as the three tubular members. We measured the rigidity of the cross with various pieces removed, it will be observed that pieces D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} seem to make the greatest difference, the effect of the xs others being very small. We believe that the X shaped member will give us frame rigidity which will be very useful to us in improving the steering, if it will impart stiffness to the front end of the frame. We have already proved that the steering benefits if we stiffen up the front end of the frame in torsion, we did this experimentally but the frame still went in the middle. We feel that one of the secrets of improving the steering is to eliminate any undamped movement of the front axle and this is only possible with a frame rigid in torsion. We hope to make some full scale tests comparing the 'SS{S. Smith}' and standard Phantom frame in the immediate future. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||