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).
Project memo discussing the design of a front suspension for the Junior Range vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\2\ scan0315 | |
| Date | 18th July 1940 | |
| 1305 To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. c. to Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/EAG. (crossed out) Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions}6/JH.18.7.40. ¼ scale Project of Front Suspension. Junior Range. PL.273 is a project of a front suspension for the Junior Range on the general lines of that fitted to the Opel Kapitan car i.e. the suspension forms a unit on its crossmember or "bath tub" which is insulated from the main structure of the car by a rubber mounting. The track is fixed at 50" and this enables a width over the outside of the frame members of 26" to be obtained with the usual 41° lock angle of the inside wheel. This lock angle gives a turning circle of approx. 32 ft. for a 99" (8'3") wheelbase. A number of cars have better turning circles than this; even up to the 12 H.P. class there are at least two cars better than this. The track of 50" gives the front wing width desired by Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/EAG. Although the drawing is not complete I feel that no useful purpose is served by further work since it is probable that full size design will alter a number of features at least slightly. It may be possible to eliminate the steering idler lever when it comes to doing the full size schemes and this will be borne in mind when these are done. Any greater width of frame member in front than the 1.875" shewn will imply more out of line of the steering column than the present .75" and tends to bring the steering box close to the engine. It is intended that the steering box shall be mounted on the front pan and that there shall be a rubber joint between the box and the steering wheel on the general lines of that already suggested by Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} on the Senior Range. The type of rubber mounting to be used between frame and suspension has not been definitely decided but should obviously give the maximum of control with the minimum transmission of noise and vibration; it will have to take full brake torque and should therefore I think be outrigged from the front pan front and rear rather than be, say, a slab of rubber between the top face of the pan and the underside of the frame member. P.T.O. | ||