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).
Solutions for high and low-speed steering wobbles and the development of new shock dampers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 25\2\ Scan112 | |
| Date | 14th September 1925 | |
| Handwritten: X1152 To CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to EY. c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to PN.{Mr Northey} c. to CWB. STEERING. R7/M14.9.25. X.8430 X.457 X.1152. Regarding the high speed steering wobbles we have reported what we are doing. We are sending today (already sent) the designs of an hydraulic shock damper which should be more satisfactory than anything we have seen. We want it pushed through so that it can be fitted to the chassis at an early date if found more reliable than the Houdaille, Berkshire, or Derihon, the only three types purchasable. At the moment I think the Houdaille would be the safest policy. Regarding the friction damped lever I fear the movement on this is so small that the friction damping cannot be very effective. I want Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} to test however with the equivalent stiffness of springs, and arrange as much damping friction as it is possible to get on it. We are endeavouring to place the friction damper in a better position so that it would be more effective, and this application is in hand. In the meantime we are arranging for the production and 10,000 miles testing of the slower speed, large dia., steering, as fitted to the car I have here - 46-FK. Dealing with low speed wobbles, which are not seriously worrying us at the moment by the increased friction at the steering pivots, we think it is this increased friction that tends to make us think that beyond centre point steering is an advantage. It will be realised that when we throw the wheels out beyond the centre point they increase the damping friction considerably. While I am in London this week Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} is going to Derby to see if he can learn any thing on the subject, and to see how much weight we can get off the axle ends, and if the extra stiffening of the frame has any effect. We are not expecting much but the experiment has been in hand some time without a report. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||