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).
Patented idea for automatically controlled shock dampers using an air spring.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\4\ Scan095 | |
| Date | 5th September 1929 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} C. c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} PN.{Mr Northey} c. to Mr. Claremont. X7520 R2/M9.5.29. X.7520 X.235. X.5520 SHOCK DAMPERS. It has occurred to me that in connection with road dampers we know it would be an advantage to alter the damping from the driver's seat. We have patented this idea as automatically controlled by governor, or hand. I have now a deatil which may help! It is to control the damper relief valve by the use of an air spring in parallel with the steel spring, the latter giving the minimum damping. SEE ORIGINAL FOR SKETCH. A small air pump of piston type is fitted to the engine or transmission, or by hand, and compresses the air in the metallic bellows above the valve, as shewn in the sketch. If the pump is power driven the relief valve spring is set by the driver at will, or it can be controlled by a centrigual governor, or exex by the auto: ignition advance. As an alternative we could use a small air vessel above each valve, or one for several valves, and compress the air in this by means of oil or other liquid transmission and distribution. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||