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).
Poor design and performance of Bentley-Draper hydraulic shock dampers.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\3\ img143 | |
Date | 16th April 1932 | |
HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BA. ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ) (At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) C.c to BG. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} PN.{Mr Northey} R2/M14.4.32. Sent from WW. 16.4.32. X235 x832 SHOCK DAMPERS. Apparently the Bentley-Draper hydraulic dampers are very poor, both in design and proportions. It is possible that generally speaking the cars were running (like many others) with badly lubricated springs, and no dampers. One sees how difficult it is to get something distinctly better than the simple orthodox device. Nine tenths of the dampers work for a short time, then go out of action, either through wear or loss of oil, but they last long enough until the spring lubrication gets bad enough to give some friction to steady the car. R.{Sir Henry Royce} [STAMPED: RECEIVED 18 APR 1932] | ||