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 responding to suggestions for overcoming suspension problems, specifically regarding inertia control for shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154\2\ scan0055 | |
| Date | 29th December 1937 | |
| 130J Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Les.3/MH.{M. Huckerby} John Pattisson-Knight, Esq., Ortygia House, Harrow. 29th. December 1937. Dear Sir, Thank you for your letter together with your suggestions for overcoming all suspension problems. Actually our experience has shown that it is very difficult to obtain a real benefit from inertia control for shock absorbers. The reason being that in every case in order to overcome the particular fault it is necessary to use a very sensitive apparatus for carrying shock absorber loads, which unfortunately generally comes into operation when it is not required. In nearly all cases it is the discomfort which operates the inertia, therefore very little would be gained by a late increase in the damping. In view of the thousands of unbeneficial patents which are taken out annually we could not advise you to take out a patent on this subject which already has been fairly thoroughly explored in most countries in the world. Yours faithfully, for ROLLS-ROYCE LTD. | ||