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).
The testing and performance issues of Andre Telecontrol Dampers after 6,500 miles of use.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 152\1\ scan0046 | |
| Date | 11th October 1932 | |
| Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rn. {Mr Robinson} from FD. {Frank Dodd - Bodies} 88321 Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /FD. {Frank Dodd - Bodies} 1/KT.11.10.32. ANDRE TELECONTROL DAMPERS. We have been running a set of the above dampers on 22-EX and up to date have completed 6,500 miles. The telecontrol models are of the friction type with brake shoes separated by an elastic rubber expander. When liquid is forced into the latter the shoes are expanded and pressed into frictional contact with the cylindrical interior of the shock absorber. The friction material used is wood and there are four separate sections of these to each shoe, a print is enclosed shewing the section through the damper. A dashboard control is provided whereby the liquid is transferred from the control cylinder to the hydraulic expanders. The dial on the control is graduated in the lbs. per sq. inch, and we have checked the dampers over the whole range, from 25 to 300 lbs pressure. The dampers were checked for poundage after completing the aforesaid mileage and a graph enclosed shews that while three of the dampers gave a maximum poundage of 106 lbs, the other was much stronger and went up to 133 lbs. While we have been very satisfied with the results these dampers gave, running in conjunction with the R.R. hydraulic dampers, we have a few criticisms to make as regards the fitting etc. The dampers are mounted on rubber blocks which give a very elastic movement sideways, the rear dampers were constantly vibrating on the petrol tank support bolts, with no damper load this noise sounds like distant thunder. The front dampers having nothing to hit against just vibrate sideways and are so noticeable that people pause to watch the car approaching. Our other criticism is in the control unit, while we were very satisfied with the pressure being maintained at first we soon developed liquid leaks from the end cover plate. Liquid leaked past the piston which is headed with a plain rubber cup type of washer, and so out of the cover via the threaded portion. There is no gland provided to countermand this. Fig. 2 of | ||