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).
Hydraulic shock dampers, discussing a broken link, potential improvements, and a comparison with a Lanchester patent.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\January1926-March1926\ Scan92 | |
| Date | 3rd March 1926 | |
| DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}) (crossed out) TO HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}) (Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence. ORIGINAL. C. to Mr. Claremont. (C. crossed out) CJ. BJ. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} (crossed out) RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} (crossed out) HYDRAULIC SHOCK DAMPERS. Handwritten: X235 / V441 The broken link was almost certainly either damaged with pressing in or rivetting, or may have had a punched hole. It suggests - (1) Whatever it is, increase the section and use better materials, not too hard. (2) Perhaps the section should be uniform so that in case of being pressed in or rivetted too tightly, it will stretch all round and not in one part only. (3) It would be unwise to punch these links unless they were opened out in pairs afterwards by drill and reamer, or rosebit. You will see my latest suggestion re. position and type of leak from low pressure side. Mr. Rowbotham says 75/30 is effective as wobble damper. Might it be better to adopt 75/25 or 80/20, as the lbs. at the lever end for Phantom. Probably still less would do with the new axle - i.e. lighter, more vertical pivot, and 1" out of centre steering, all of which are thoughts to be an improvement. Many thanks for the Lanchester patent description. I agree with DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/HDY{William Hardy} that it would probably have defects, such as, small amount of lost motion, and non-righting after cornering. This can be overcome in the following way, which might be useful to us also, so should perhaps be patented. It consists of arranging a spring or gravity to return the steering worm shaft or some parts on the hand controlled side of the irreversible device or damper, so that the force tending to bring the steering to a straight running position does not have to pass the irreversible worm and other device or damper. (Will Mr. Bailey and Mr.Claremont take note as to whether it is worth an English provisional patent, or more, so as to avoid our having to pay someone else if we should want to use it.) Regarding the comparison of Lanchester and our proposed practice, we ought to be better because we stop the tramping primarily, and with fittings we have to put on the car for other reasons, (i.e. steady riding) so that we have no additional fittings, where-as Lanchester has to fit his special damper, and also shock dampers to the axle to get steady riding. (Our very old practice of front shock damper was excellent practice as we have lately proved on the 20HP., which asked for still more effective ones for the steady riding of the car with balloon tyres.) R.{Sir Henry Royce} Handwritten stamp/initials: AX H3 | ||