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).
Steering and braking dynamics, referencing issues with pivots leaning forward and the effects of spring strength.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\P\October1926-November1926\ Scan007 | |
| Date | 1st October 1926 | |
| Contd. -2- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/T1.10.26. It appears to us that the most dangerous feature of the pivots leaning forward, is that the driver very probably gets no indication whatever of danger until he is in a critical situation necessitating maximum brake application, then he finds that the car is out of control. There is no doubt that as we go to weaker side steering tube springs this danger is emphasized, because unless a dive is checked at its commencement the situation is hopeless. In connection with front axle control we have proved to our satisfaction by varying load spring strengths (as in the recent tests in France), that if a heavily loaded car with weak front springs takes an acute corner at a good speed, the pivots tend to lean forwards even though the brakes are not applied. We have had a case on an old Silver Ghost where the steering actually definitely took charge under these conditions. Strong front springs remove the tendency. With reference to our recent tests, in each case the near side front brake was arranged so that it did not operate. With 2.6" out of centrepoint, the car could be driven without any danger in traffic, even though the fact that one front brake only was in operation was forgotten. When the brakes were applied violently, the car did not dive to the O.S., but the effect was to produce a very considerable drag on the steering wheel in this direction. The feeling produced was that as the steering went over on a lock, the pull on the wheel became less, instead of more violent as is Contd. | ||