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).
Notes on the theory of shock absorbers as applied to the suspension of motor cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 51\4\ Scan031 | |
| Date | 10th February 1922 guessed | |
| X4426 1. SOME NOTES ON THE THEORY OF SHOCK ABSORBERS AS APPLIED TO THE SUSPENSION OF MOTOR CARS. ---o0o--- Introduction:- When dealing with the suspension of motor cars many factors have to be taken into consideration and the ideal springing should yield to every change of surface of the road and prevent all road shock from reaching the chassis, body and occupants, and must adapt itself to the varying speeds and weight of the car loaded and unloaded. Innumerable attempts have been made to produce the ideal suspension and many types of springs are in use such as semi elliptic, 3/4 elliptic, cantilever, single and dual quarter elliptic but within limits all springs are subject to the same faults or possess the same qualities and no great advantage can be claimed for any particular type. All springs have a natural period of vibration when set in motion, a long flexible spring will have a comparatively slow period of vibration and a short stiff spring a more rapid period, the periodicity depends on the elasticity of the springs, but the fact that this tendency to vibrate is common to all types of springs is the principal reason why a Spring Damper or Shock Absorber is necessary. A better name than Shock Absorber, would be Governor or Controller, that is a device which will eliminate as far as possible spring vibration and so control the movement that the wheels of the vehicle can follow the uneven road surfaces without transmitting the shocks to the chassis, and not to re-act and continue to oscillate after passing over an obstruction which causes unpleasant and unnecessary movement of the chassis and body. To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction and all springs of whatever type or design, when compressed or released will oscillate with more or less amplitude and periodic frequency; this produces unnecessary movement of the body and chassis, it is the principal cause of wheel bouncing when travelling over rough roads and consequent excessive tyre wear, and this effect is very pronounced even with the most flexible springs. The ideal suspension is one which would automatically give to the uneven road surface; it should be a "flexible medium" which would regain its normal position after striking an obstruction without the "bound and rebound" characteristics of the usual spring suspension systems. It is a well known fact that a so called stiff spring does not cause excessive oscillation, but on the other hand, it is hard, as it does not give easily and sufficiently to the obstructions and makes the car uncomfortable and does not protect the chassis from road shocks. Cont'd [STAMP] ENCLOSURE No 738 N.U.S.T.S.O | ||