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).
Springing, ride control, and experiments with an anti-roll torsion rod for Phantom and 25 HP cars.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\1\ Scan113 | |
Date | 11th May 1934 | |
To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to RS.{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} 8/40 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}8/MJ.11.5.34. SPRINGING & RIDE CONTROL. We have never been satisfied with the spring and ride control on the Phantom or 25 HP. cars. It has been proved that in order to satisfy customers requirements it is necessary to fit low rating springs and when these are fitted the rolling of the car and the control on corners leaves a lot to be desired. Although the ride control which we have recently adopted helps this position it is necessary to entirely spoil the riding of the car under normal conditions to try and make the car stable Since Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}'s. return from U.S.A. we have been experimenting with an anti-roll torsion rod. We demonstrated the results of this to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} and Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} yesterday, and were able to demonstrate conclusively that the rolling of the car and the control of the car was very definitely improved. It was possible to drive the car with the damping control in the minimum position and for the car still to be stable with very little roll on corners. Whilst we are waiting for a satisfactory system of independent wheel suspension we shall have to take full advantage of low rating springs in order to meet competition. We therefore recommend that a design is got out as soon as possible for an anti-roll rod for Phantoms and 25 HP. Although we have been able to fit up a mock-up scheme experimentally it will mean considerable design attention to get a satisfactory production scheme. We feel that we have been so long in taking advantage of the shock absorber control (it is over three years since this was first demonstrated) that it is now more or less out of date. Any work we do on the anti-roll rod will be very valuable when we come to independent wheel suspension. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||