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).
Vehicle wobble issues with balloon tyres, the use of glycerine as a hydraulic element, and frame stiffening.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\4\ Scan347 | |
| Date | 1st August 1925 | |
| R.R. 493A (50m) (D.B. 175 25-9-24) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. -4- Expl. No. REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/LGE5. 8. 25. We are using glycerine as a hydraulic element which will give us a high viscosity and less variation due to temperature differences. We have not carried out the towing tests suggested in DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}4/15.8.25 - written note). The reason for this is that we cannot safely tow a car above 50 m.p.h. on the road. We know that we can only get wobbles with balloon tyres at this speed. We have proved that the Silver Ghost is just as bad as the Phantom with regard to wobbles with balloon tyres. The Silver Ghost has the rigidity which we should be aiming at in this test. The gusset plates instructed for stiffening the front of the Phantom frame are ready and will be fitted at the first opportunity. We are carrying out tests with the vertical pivot axle as suggested in your note ref. above. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||