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).
Investigation and testing to reproduce 'front wheel tramp' upon brake application on a specific vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\2\ scan0182 | |
| Date | 8th October 1934 | |
| x206 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}21/KW.8.10.34. Front Wheel Tramp upon Brake Application: ------------------------------------- Referring to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}13/E.1.10.34 and Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}15/E.1.10.34. We have now made a number of tests on Mr. Fairey's car at Derby. We understand that Flight Lt. Staniland was unable to reproduce the high speed tramp in the presence of Lp.{Mr Lappin} and Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} The car was subsequently driven to Derby by Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, who intentionally put up as high an average as possible in an endeavour to reproduce the trouble, but failed to do so. While the car has been in the Experimental Dept. we have succeeded in making it tramp, after a number of attempts. The procedure necessary is to drive the car at 80 to 90 M.P.H. on a particularly wavy stretch of road and then jump on the brake pedal. The application has to be so violent that the back wheels are locked. After a few tests of this kind we found that we had bent the front brake mechanism. This therefore explains to a certain extent why we have never had the trouble on our 10,000 miles tests, nor has Sr. commented upon it. We agree that Pave roads might be worse than English conditions. Since it is so difficult to reproduce tramp we are handicapped in our investigation. It is possible, however, that some of the alterations we are making in order to reduce wing movement may prove beneficial in controlling the axle. At the moment however we have not got far enough to recommend anything. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||