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).
Use of a friction damper on the 12-EX scuttle to solve issues of steering column waggle and customer complaints.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\3\ Scan207 | |
| Date | 27th March 1928 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to BJ. R.{Sir Henry Royce} +7430 DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/M27.3.28. 12-EX SCUTTLE. X.7500 X.7430 X.4613 We are not convinced from what little we know about what happened on 15-EX that the friction damper between the dash and the scuttle is of no use. We think that most of the troubles experienced on 15-EX resulted from the steering column waggling the dashboard, and that when this is cured many of the other troubles will automatically disappear. 12-EX has an ordinary body with standard mounting (no subframe). We wish this car to be fitted with a friction damper so that we may ascertain its functioning on a non-subframe car, as we wish to have something better than total or semi-isolation to offer the coachbuilders immediately. Our experience at the coachbuilders with semi-isolation has not been satisfactory. The friction damper, being an adjustable affair, would enable us to cure all sorts of customers' complaints. The man with a very rigid scuttle does not need a lot of damping between it and the dash. If there is much connection cracks appear in it and he comes back to complain. The other complaint is from the man who has a very flabby scuttle: he can stand considerable damping, or an almost rigid attachment between the scuttle and the dash with advantage. On production at the moment we have these two classes of complaint, and the friction damper would enable us to handle both of them. The gap between the scuttle face and the dash can be filled with sorbo rubber strip to prevent the entry of water, and to prevent fore and aft hammering, should this occur. You say that 10-G3 was a failure until you introduced semi-isolation. We do not doubt this, but fail to see why the friction damper should not produce similar results, and in fact, believe it does do so on 10-G3., to which it is now fitted. We would be glad if you could seriously test this damper on a car with a non-subframe mounting, such as 12-EX and on a normal subframe car. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||