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).
Chassis and body vibration, stiffness, and the development of dampers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 12\6\ 06-page018 | |
| Date | 3rd March 1931 guessed | |
| (2) is found unless the engine assists in the torsional stiffness - i.e. helps to prevent twisting of the complete frame. I have telegraphed that we ought to get Maybach as a chassis so that we could fit one of our bad and one of our good bodies on it to compare with our own chassis. Naturally it goes without saying that there are types of bodies which are always more troublesome than others. Perhaps the saloon type is very easy while the large limousine with glass partition closed is one of the most difficult. I do not believe that our chassis vary much from one to another; if they did it would reflect discredit upon the Works, but the bodies - type construction, mounting, windows, etc - are all so variable that no two seem alike in results. I doubt very much if it is any use trying to stiffen bodies. I think slow periods well damped is the only way. Even slow period may have waves (see "Tyndal on Sound") just the same as I have demonstrated a low piano string (undamped) can be put in a state of vibration by a higher one either an active, or a third, or a fifth. Our car here gets worse by tightening the scuttle; last year it was very bad with the rubber removed. We must realise that 6 cyl. chassis (and perhaps any chassis with high speed revolving parts) cannot made to be free from causes of vibration if there is anything undamped that is in synchronism. I think R.A.I. bodies are generally of a type and construction that does not give very much trouble, being largely made of leather above the waistline, but HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} knows - I only guess between the lines. I think that we must buck up and get our dampers made right and sent to U.S.A. before the bodies are ready. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||