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).
Brief description of the ride control and the shock absorber loading system.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\2\ scan0269 | |
Date | 7th August 1934 | |
Sr. (Paris). From Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} J.698 Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 1/MJ.7.8.34. With reference to your note of the 3rd.inst., the following is a brief description of the ride control. On the R.R. car variation in shock absorber loading is obtained by means of fluid pressure. In the ordinary way the shock absorber operates by forcing oil through a spring loaded valve. The compression of the valve spring dictates the load. On the latest scheme a sylphon tube is located above the valve and oil pressure causes this to expand and increase the load on the spring to any desired extent, this alters the shock absorber loading. The hydraulic pressure required is generated by means of a pump fitted to the gearbox and driven off the transmission. A small control on the steering column provides the mean of adjusting the pressure which is delivered to the dampers. Additionally a little governor also located on the gearbox automatically increases the shock absorber loads with increase in speed. The advantage of this is that a driver can with his hand control arrange the car so that the suspension is very soft at low speeds, but we are able to prevent him from keeping the same minimum damping when the car is driven fast because the governor insists on providing sufficient spring control to ensure that the car will not leave the road. We attach herewith two other notes written for the benefit of Sales in London. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Attached: Copyof Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Les.2/KW.3.3.34 " " Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Les.14/KW.5.3.34. | ||