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).
The requirements, advantages, and disadvantages of torsion bar suspension systems, with references to other manufacturers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\2\ scan0056 | |
| Date | 28th March 1939 guessed | |
| -4- (h) Give good steering geometry. (i) Give the required geometry of wheel movements. (j) Not restrict the engine position relative to the front wheels. (k) Not limit seriously the depth of the frame sidemembers at the front. After applying the torsion bar suspension to the original B.5. we contend that such a suspension complies with all of these requirements. An examination of the finished designs will shew this to be so. There may be some doubt about item (g) the noise transmission. There is a growing belief in Germany and America that the linkage bearings are not the places to apply the rubber because such rubber is heavily loaded in compression, in which state it will not absorb the energy of the high speed vibrations. We would propose the scheme outlined by Dr. Porsche and S.M. of mounting the whole suspension on the frame, by the use of rubber in shear. The following disadvantages of this suspension are believed to exist as the result of our tests on the Citroen Bentley. (m) Torsion bar reaction felt in front seats. (n) Difficulties in the manufacture of the torsion bar, and the design of its fixings. The trouble of the rear end of the torsion bar and its reaction being felt by the driver we believe not to be an insuperable defect, provided that the design is carried out to give light reaction loads, and that they are applied at the frame sidemember through rubber so designed to be capable of absorbing the energy of the vibrations. With respect to the difficulties of manufacture and the end fixings, we feel that we have reason to believe they cannot be of great magnitude now, since Citroen, Vauxhall, Fraser-Nash B.M.W. and above all Lagonda are using them in production. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||