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).
Experiments with rubber spring shackles and their effects on noise and stability.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\2\ scan0047 | |
| Date | 19th March 1936 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} c.c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c.c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c.c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c.c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} X346 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}13/KW.19.3.36. Rubber Shackles. We have now concluded a series of experiments on rubber spring shackles. Our tests have of necessity so far been confined to one car - 33-BX - which is a close coupled Continental type. We are of the opinion that the rubber shackle at the rear end of the rear spring serves no useful purpose in eliminating tyre noise. Additionally, when fitted it interferes with the directional stability of the car to a small extent. Mounting the front end of the rear spring in rubber, on the other hand, is an advantage. In particular, on the tests we have carried out it reduced the noise in the car when running over setts by 50%. We consider that any loss in directional stability of the car is more than compensated for by this advantage, and we think it might be worth while arranging the full spring support so that if ultimately the rubber successfully completes a 15,000 miles test, it can be inserted in cars retrospectively in cases of complaint. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||