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).
Vehicle pitching, wheelbase, and methods for improving ride quality through weight distribution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\1\ img209 | |
| Date | 20th December 1927 | |
| -3- Actually, the fact that the 40/50 has a longer wheel base than the 20 HP. is a disadvantage for similar types of bodies. Briefly, as the wheel base of the modern car is more or less fixed at the moment, our endeavour is to increase the flywheel effect of the car in the pitching plane as far as possible for any given total weight. The means available for doing this are at the moment somewhat limited with the conventional chassis but they can be tabulated as follows :- 1. Carry spare wheel and luggage at back. 2. Avoid top heavy and short bodies which tend to concentrate the weight in the centre of the chassis. 3. Carry the petrol tank as far out at the rear as possible. 4. Carry the battery at the back of the frame and not on the running board. 5. In exceptionally difficult cases the fitting of rumpers may improve the riding of the car. 6. Coupe bodies may convey a false impression of reasonable riding. The driver sits at the point about which pitching takes place. Riding in a 'Dickey' seat on such a car is usually most objectionable. A point that we have noted experimentally is that filling the petrol tank does in most cases improve the riding appreciably. As the fluid carried weighs about 160 lbs. it is equivalent to carrying two spare Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} | ||