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).
Development, testing, and production of controllable shock dampers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\5\ Scan085 | |
| Date | 27th February 1933 | |
| X7120 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}15/MJ.27.2.33. x794 Re. CONTROLLABLE SHOCK DAMPERS. Replying to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}6/E22.2.33, we have been writing to Hancock with reference to his reports on shock absorbers. It is most unfortunate, of course, that 19-EX. car was smashed up the day before Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} got to Chateauroux as it had been arranged for him to go over the whole of the tests which had been done. We think a lot of the criticism from Chateauroux is due to the fact that they were expecting too much from the automatic control. We have been continuing our tests on 20-EX. car at Derby and we are satisfied that we can overcome the oil leakage fault, also the bellows will stand up as long as we do not over-stress it. It will be realised that these shock dampers have been instructed up for production both for P.11 and 20/25. On the shock absorbers instructed for production we are satisfied we have got rid of the risk of oil leaks by reverting to the same gland as we have in use on the existing shock absorbers. The Works are producing the minimum number of parts so that these shock absorbers can be used as fixed loaded shock absorbers similar to the present standard. By scrapping a few parts and adding the parts necessary for the automatic control we can make these shock absorbers suitable for the automatic control. With the present rate of output these shock absorbers should come through on 40/50 and the 25 HP. at the beginning of June. We are hoping that the cars for the Olympia Show will have the automatic control but we may have to deliver a number of cars with the latest shock dampers without any control. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||