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).
Views and experiences with body subframe mounting, comparing rigid and elastic systems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\1\ scan0173 | |
| Date | 10th May 1926 | |
| HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [handwritten] X8390 [handwritten] DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}2/M10.5.26. TO BJ. FROM DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Copy to T.G. [struck through] L.H.S.{Lord Herbert Scott - Chair} O/C H.S. re. BODY SUBFRAMES. In reply to your BJ8/22.4.26., re. subframe body mounting, we wish to give you our views and experiences. INTRODUCTION. In mounting a body two courses are open to one - either to make the body and chassis as one, or to insulate one from the other. With the former system one can make the body so powerfully rigid that it resists the inevitable flexing of the chassis frame for a period of time which is permissible. Such is the present practice of most coachbuilders. As an alternative one can make the body so elastic that it will permit of being distorted by the chassis without damage - (i.e. the Weymann system.) With the latter system the body is built on a base of its own, and is relieved of all stress and strains save those set up by dead weights and such forces as are produced by the acceleration and retardation of the sprung mass. We have been conducting experiments with subframe bodies for the past 2 years. Rapid progress is impossible with experiments carried out largely in Works not under our control. Overleaf we give you a list of the cars we have built. (1) | ||