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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).
Analysis of seat cushion damping, showing how undamped cushions can spoil the ride quality, with illustrative graphs.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 132\3\  scan0227
Date  29th December 1938
  
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Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale}3/MH.{M. Huckerby}29.12.38.

The next two records show how a cushion without damping can spoil a ride, by throwing the passenger up and down the whole time.

DAMPED.

UNDAMPED.

A spring cushion so arranged that the air contained in it is entirely free to go in and out is unsatisfactory. A spring cushion so arranged that the air in it is entirely trapped is unsatisfactory. Both are undamped.

The best seat cushion is big enough for one person only. The top and sides are airtight, and the bottom is airtight except for a 4" dia. hole in the middle of it. This hole rests on the board that supports the cushion. Air has to escape between cushion and board, and provides damping. A rear seat, which is big enough for two or three people, could be made with a fabric division in the middle and the two holes in the centres of the two sides. Thus it would approximate to two separate cushions.

A great many Park Ward cushions are right, but it is desirable that every coachbuilder should properly damp his spring cushions.

Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale}
  
  


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