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).
Brake system defects, spring stiffness issues, and a new front axle control scheme.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\K\November1923\ Scan116 | |
| Date | 21th November 1923 | |
| TO CJ. FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Bo. DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} RE. VISIT OF RC.{R. Childs} AND HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} TO WW. ON 20th.NOV.1923. Handwritten: X9440 X2628 X1579 X4214 We spent the whole of yesterday on brakes. With the exception of slight minor defects we cannot see much seriously wrong with the system as we originally suggested it - a semi-servo with a direct foot braking on the front wheels, and the 'servo' acting on the back wheels. After removing one or two defects which have shewn themselves in this particular model due to modified proportions etc, it only remains necessary to adjust the proportions which we could not fore-tell and we have a working scheme at least equally to the average good ones. There is however one very serious point in connection with these front wheel brakes, and this is that such cars as the Hispano (which is the best we know) have not satisfactory road springs but the front springs are terrifically stiff so that the car travels along with these moving only a very slight amount, and they are stiff enough to control the axle against the brake effort. It has been decided by us however that such stiff road springs are not suitable for maintaining the reputation of the RR. luxury car springing. It has forced us therefore into an unusual scheme of providing other control of the front axle against brake torsion. The best scheme we have so far tried is the torque member which is fitted to the axle and passes under the engine very much like on a Ford, but naturally longer and more substantially carried out. It is not for the same purpose but it appears to be the simplest thing that we can use under the circumstances to permit the use of front springs which are reasonably supple. Today Mr. Rowledge has gone with my car to Southampton to visit the aeroplane people - A.V.Roe - and the Supermarine Co. Tomorrow he returns here to discuss aero engine matters, and I will write you about these on friday. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||