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).
Design and potential improvements of independent road wheel suspension systems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154\1\ scan0076 | |
| Date | 19th October 1933 | |
| x3873 To HOR. from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c.c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Ba. Independent Road Wheel Suspension. I have seen now a number of the independent road wheel suspension systems, but quite the majority of them employ the road spring as part of the linkage securing the road wheel so that in the event of failure of the road spring there is great danger of the wheel flopping over and letting the chassis down on to the ground, which to my mind is a very serious objection. That some of the designers of these systems appreciate this point is evident by their attempts to introduce other spring leaves surrounding the eye of the master leaf as far as the working clearance permits to act as a safeguard. We nevertheless consider that the spring should have an entirely separate job to do, and in the R.R. independent springing for the front axle the road wheel is fully controlled by linkage independent of the road spring and the system is so arranged that in the event of the fracture of the latter piece the effect is only to let down the chassis frame to the full bump position. It has been objected in connection with these linkages that there is a multiplicity of bearings moving about under the weight of the vehicle which are liable to give trouble in the course of time by wearing out. We do not however think this trouble will materialize. On our present scheme we are employing plain bearings lubricated from the centralized chassis lubrication scheme, and the oil should get well spread round the bearings by the oscillation on the road. It has occurred to me however that we might advantageously replace these at a later date with needle roller bearings as this type of bearing has shewn itself to be well suited for an oscillating load. The possibility also occurs to us of using needle roller bearings for the spring eyes and shackles of the rear springs. Experience up till now has shown that if the conditions are present for retaining the lubricant the roller bearing can be run almost indefinitely without further attention. | ||