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).
Troubleshooting history and ongoing design improvements for shock dampers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\1\ img016 | |
| Date | 20th August 1932 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} - Er - ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ) ORIGINAL G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} to EG. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} HDY.{William Hardy} re. SHOCK DAMPERS. trouble. These should now be considerably less liable to give trouble. When first re-introduced it will be remembered that it was difficult to retain the oil. This was greatly assisted by the replenishing valves, which we must be sure to keep efficient. Our next trouble was knocks in the connections between the axle and the damper lever. This was considerably reduced by the introduction of our set up ball connection, which was first introduced into the cross steering tube. We then had noises which were thought to be an internal slack connection between the piston and its lever. This has been eliminated by the double piston scheme. We still had mysterious noises which have recently proved to be valve flutter and seem to be greatly reduced by damping the valve and making the stroke longer. This can be most easily carried out in our double acting single valve. We are at present acting upon the suggestion sent by RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} to simplify the construction and reduce the cost. We are returning to our own old practice of making the body of the damper in aluminium to reduce the weight. We have not yet carried out and proved our controllable arrangement, but we hope that the automatic device will prove itself simple enough, as we feel sure that a hand adjustment will be so often left in the wrong position. I thank RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} for co-operating with HDY.{William Hardy} in this work. Two things we have to remember - firstly, that our cars and their fittings are expected to last longer than those of USA., etc, and secondly, all the items we make are repairable, and can be taken to pieces for examination, etc. This practice should be followed until our directors change the RR. policy. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||