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).
Tests on a new engine suspension system using Hardy couplings to reduce vibration.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 25\3\ Scan285 | |
| Date | 1st November 1927 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to EY. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RmL/LGS.11.27. ENGINE SUSPENSION. In view of the fact that we understood you have been contemplating a four point engine suspension with a vibration absorbing type of mounting for the two rear supports, we have carried out a test in which the front of the engine was fixed rigidly to the side members, the rear carried on Hardy couplings as indicated in the attached sketch. This scheme was fitted to 10-EX as the engine on this car was suffering from a number of bad periods above 1800 r.p.m. due to the sustained high speed work to which it had been subjected. The altered engine mounting produced a considerable reduction in the vibrations felt by the occupants of the car and by the driver through the steering column at speeds above 1000 engine r.p.m. The mounting at present does not cope with torque reaction vibration at low engine speeds full throttle. Owing to the rigid mounting being at the front, the front wings of the car seem to take up the torque reaction period in rather a pronounced manner. We are continuing experiments on this feature. As arranged, the Hardy couplings do not give sufficiently to upset the engine alignment when its weight comes upon them. So far we have driven the car about 250 miles at high speeds. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/W.A.Robotham. | ||