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).
Summary of efforts to cure a chassis 'jellying' problem by exploring different methods of damping.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\1\ Scan232 | |
| Date | 19th February 1930 guessed | |
| -7- SUMMARISING THE POSITION. We think we have explained the difference between different cars. While bodies vary, the most noticeable difference on cars in service will be as to whether the wheels are at the back or the side. Those with wheels at the back may be improved by allowing the body to damp the chassis as described though for various reasons we should like to avoid this if we had any alternative (which we have not). As we view the problem at the moment, the best chance of restraining the "jellying" is to use the mass of the engine to hold the front shock absorbers, and with this end in view W.W. have given us a damper integral with the front engine foot. The inertia of the engine however, is but a small fraction of that of the body and hence the success of the experiment is rather doubtful. If it fails it appears that the body will have to be used scientifically to damp the frame but we wish to avoid this if possible. In the meantime, fitting the spare wheels at the side on standard cars would reduce the trouble over 50% especially if they were moved slightly forward. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} is looking into a scheme for this. Naturally, our object is to perfect a cure where the spare wheels are carried at the back and so perpetuate the improved riding gained thereby. Our results are encouraging because we have obtained a 100% jellying cure on 1-WJ by stiffening the frame with tubular cross members, that can be applied to standard cars. | ||