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).
Suspension damping, leaf springs, and mechanical friction dampers, including the Hartford damper.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\1\ Scan082 | |
| Date | 22th June 1925 | |
| -5- imparted to the system are in step with the natural period of the suspension, a large movement of the springs can easily be built up and the car body will undergo considerable displacement. It often happens on a wavy road at a certain speed that the springs will receive blows in step with their own period, and consequently violent pitching will result. This is particularly likely to occur when stiff front springs such as are fitted to cope with F.W.B. are used with weak rear springs. (b) Inherent damping qualities of leaf springs. The simplest method of preventing the free vibration of the suspension is to damp its movement by friction. One reason for the use of leaf springs is that they inevitably possess a considerable quantity of internal friction. However, in most cases this is insufficient and friction is applied externally. Devices to produce this result would be more aptly termed "Vibration Dampers". These can be classified under two headings - "Mechanical Friction" and "Fluid Friction" vibration dampers. IV. MECHANICAL FRICTION DAMPERS. (a) Double acting constant load dampers. The Hartford is most widely used to-day and its operation is well known to everyone. A spring provides the load which presses the friction surfaces together and partially compensates for wear so keeping the HARTFORD. | ||