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).
Further tests into road spring friction, the phenomenon of 'digging-in' on used springs, and potential remedies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67a\2\ scan0188 | |
| Date | 29th September 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} OY. 48440 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn{Mr Robinson}2/LG29.9.28. ROAD SPRINGS. Y4429 X3854 In continuance of our report Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn{Mr Robinson}1/LG8.9.28, we have been carrying out further tests on spring friction. Our impression in suspension tests has been that if we take a rear spring that has been in service some little time and grease it, we do not get such good results as if we fitted a new spring. The reason for this appears to be the digging-in that takes place at the end of the leaves after running. This in some cases is most pronounced. We took the spring whose internal friction is shewn in Graph D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} and repeated the test shewn in Graph E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} We then dismantled the spring, carefully cleaned and greased it, and took another curve of the internal friction - Graph F.{Mr Friese} By comparing graph F.{Mr Friese} with graph A.{Mr Adams} in our XXXXX previous report, it will be seen that a new spring has only about half the internal friction of a spring that has seen service though both are freshly greased and cleaned. The Repair Dept. have carried out some tests and are satisfied that, by polishing up springs that have been in service and cleaning up the places where digging-in has occurred, they can get an appreciable improvement in riding which they cannot get by simply cleaning and greasing the springs. Summarising the rear spring position - Cadmium plating is an advantage from the internal friction point of view but it cannot overcome digging-in which appears to be the worst evil. contd :- | ||