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).
Preliminary tests of Automatic Lock Shock Dampers designed to relieve discomfort over hump-backed bridges.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\4\ scan0014 | |
| Date | 26th March 1935 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} +342 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.1/KW. 26.3.35. Automatic Lock Shock Dampers to relieve discomfort over Hump-Backed bridges. We have now carried out preliminary tests with the type of damper as mentioned at the end of our Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.3/KW.31.1.35. The functioning of this damper is to gradually increase the load on the rebound after a small amount of wheel rebound movement. Then by means of an hydraulic locking device operated by the damper oil pressure on the bump stroke, the maximum damper load reached on the previous rebound stroke is maintained for the whole of the following bump stroke. The result so far obtained is that SpectreCodename for Phantom III I with Auto-Lock dampers is slightly superior, over a hump-backed bridge, compared with a standard Ph.II. Without Auto-Lock dampers it is inferior to a Ph.II. With regard to the normal riding of the car; for all road conditions where a certain amount of rebound movement is not used, that is, whenever the road wheel travels from a normal position upwards or only slightly downwards, the shock damper is identical to our standard damper. It is therefore not surprising to find that the low speed riding is not adversely affected. At higher speeds on slightly wavy roads, the autolock principle comes into action slightly and appears to help to damp out what would otherwise be pitching of the car. In order to ensure against any major disadvantage, so far unknown, much motoring experience on every type of road surface is essential. We are therefore going to produce some more experimental parts, which will enable all SpectreCodename for Phantom III motoring to be done with Auto-Lock dampers. This appears to be far the quickest method of learning all the information necessary in order that the final design can be made. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} | ||