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).
Bench and road tests conducted on a hydraulic steering damper, discussing its effectiveness and further testing proposals.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\3\ Scan116 | |
Date | 27th January 1927 | |
To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. to RJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to CY. [Handwritten]: Y7430 [Stamped]: ROLLS-ROYCE LTD. DERBY Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RG{Mr Rowledge}5/LG27.1.27. HYDRAULIC STEERING DAMPER. [Handwritten]: X7431 X8431 M We have carried out bench and road tests on the hydraulic steering damper. This device seems somewhat more effective than solid friction in the steering and more consistent in operation. We find that we cannot lighten the steering very much for shunting if we are to overcome 'joggles'. This is because, since the hydraulic shock dampers were fitted, the joggles complained of are only of small amplitude and occur at speeds as low as 40 m.p.h., in consequence the resultant velocity of oil in the damper is not high. We are also apprehensive that if we enlarge the bye-pass to give easy shunting under the present atmospheric conditions, the functioning of the steering will be impaired for Continental summer weather, when possibly the worst roads may be encountered. We think that the best method of estimating the true value of the hydraulic steering damper will be to compare it directly with the frictionally loaded cross steering tube during the next 10,000 miles test in France. We give the experimental results of different back pressures occasioned by different sizes of leaks and the method of estimating the probable flow of oil during the lower frequency joggles. contd :- | ||