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).
The performance testing of 'Lovejoy' hydraulic shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 55\3\ Scan029 | |
| Date | 12th June 1925 | |
| H.R. 493a (50 H) (D.D. 31, 12-6-25) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. +235 REF Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/LG231025 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} EY. c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Oy 'LOVEJOY' SHOCK ABSORBERS. +832 These are the only hydraulic shock absorbers which we have tested which have shewn no inclination to leak on the bumping rig. We have run them in all, over 60 hrs: One completed 31 hrs: and is still running, two failed as indicated after 15½ hrs: running each. We consider the success of these is due to the fact that the hydraulic pressure which can be built up in each is limited by the springs fitted to the control valve. The efficiency of these shock absorbers varies some-what with temperature, but we consider that they would be very reasonably consistent in operation on the road due to the large radiating surface offered by the aluminium case. We have never been able to get them warm in our road trials, but sufficiently bad roads and high atmospheric temp. for a conclusive test have not been available. On the bump we cooled them with water. We have previously reported that they are a good palliative for wobbles. We consider they are the best shock absorber we have so far tried. Their main objection is their bulk and weight. We consider that the latter might be considerably reduced by improved design. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||