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).
Tests conducted on front shock absorbers to investigate oil loss and emptying.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\4\ Scan160 | |
| Date | 18th May 1930 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. to SE. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to DS. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} X7520 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}2/W.18.5.30. X7520. X7520. FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS. We have carried out tests to see if the front shock absorbers can empty themselves by splashing oil into the shaft and so draining out through the axle control ball. We found that if the shock absorbers are over-filled this can occur. If they are filled to the correct level, however, we cannot make the oil splash up as high as the top of the shaft and consequently cannot cause it to run out through the Bijur pipe. We have run ten hours on the bump with the Bijur pipe dis-connected and have been unable to collect any oil from the inside of the shock absorbers. We consider that the shock absorbers on 24-KX were short of oil because in erecting, all the air had not been expelled from the dampers. On production shock absorbers are always inspected for oil level during road test, and frequently an appreciable quantity of oil is added due to the air working out of the shock absorber during running. We consider that this was probably the fault on 24-KX. We do not like this method of lubricating the shock dampers as the oil has to flow along the arm by gravity, and on the 20 HP. rear, the arm is normally sloping upwards. | ||