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).
Letter from The Wilson Engineering Works discussing their device to control front wheel wobble.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 29\1\ Scan164 | |
| Date | 23th March 1928 | |
| COPY of Extract. David J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Smith, Esq. The Wilson Engineering Works. Mapledurham. The writer read with great interest that part of your letter dealing with the subject of front wheel wobble. This, coming as it does from one who is a competent observer and who obviously has at heart the furtherance of British interests, deserves serious consideration. We may say that we have for some time been aware of the great need of a reliable device which will control the defects which are apparent in the majority of those cars which fit low pressure tyres - and in some which do not: Further, we have been experimenting with a simple mechanism which can be cheaply produced. The production of this however is awaiting the formation of this concern into a Company. This desirable event will take place in the very near future as we have been able to obtain very influential support. The mechanism in question is not quite like that of the absorber illustrated in the accompanying booklet, but is more suited to the conditions under which it will have to work. Put briefly, it is a double-acting hydraulic mechanism which, while putting up great resistance to wobble - down to wobble-frequency (to coin a word) of 60 per minute or less - will not interfere with the ease of steering from full lock on either side. The greatest resistance to wobbling will be over a range of 10° or more if necessary, half on each side of neutral lock, after which there will be no resistance to the transverse movement of the steering link rod. Our experience of wobble, at least of high speed wobble, is that it does not occur upon a slight lock unless the wheels are rather badly out of balance, but that it occurs when running straight on pot-holey roads. It is at its worst when low pressure tyres are used and is more especially noticeable the nearer the steering pivots approach the 'centre point' where an angular pivot is employed. It is of course asine qua non that any mechanism of this sort should be so designed and proportioned that it will not shame the equipment of even the best of cars, and you may be sure we shall bear this in mind. We have obtained basic patents covering our ideas in all the usual countries, including the U.S.A. and we are of the opinion that it will be extremely difficult to steer clear of the provisions of these patents. We shall be very pleased to take advantage of your offer of your copy of the S.A.E. Journal for February, and can assure you that in future we shall subscribe to that journal as it contains clues which to an interested observer sometimes point the way to future development. Since you display so great an interest we shall be pleased to let you have one of the first modified models of this mechanism when we are satisfied that it is as near perfection as is commercially possible. We aim at producing this mechanism at a price of about £1.0.0d.complete. Yours faithfully, per pro THE WILSON ENGINEERING WORKS, (Sgd) F.{Mr Friese} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Echford. ENCLOSURE Nº 983 | ||