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).
Impregnating spring material with graphite or emery to improve shock damping effects.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 37\2\ scan 003 | |
| Date | 12th December 1918 guessed | |
| BYL/F211218. contd. - 3 - (1) The ordinary idea was to impregnate the material with graphite, and a number of cars have been so fitted. (2) The second idea was to impregnate the fabric with fine emery. This was the result of his introducing the scheme to a London Bus Company with material impregnated with graphite, but as this made the springs too lively they replaced the graphite by fine emery, and the results were so good that they fitted all their buses with the scheme, at the same time taking out one of the plates. The bus engineers idea is, that the buses are considerably better sprung as a result of this inovation. I am inclined to think that this latter scheme would certainly make a spring with a constant shock damping effect, and upon enquiries from Mr Frood it would appear that the springs which have been running on his own car so treated, shew no signs of wear that can be measured, but the plates are kept in a bright condition, and as a result he states the riding of the car is considerably improved. Of course, as Mr Frood is responsible for the idea, one has somewhat to discount his enthusiasm, but when this has been done I am inclined personally to think that:- (1) The graphite impregnated material, plus the shock absorber of the Truffault design would give constant springing effects. (2) The material impregnated with emery might possibly eliminate the need for a shock absorber at all, at least for normal conditions of roads. I attach herewith copy of some test results on the cotton pressed fabric, which will interest you. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||