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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).
The steering and braking of a Lambda Lancia car.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 29\1\  Scan031
Date  10th September 1925
  
R.R. 493A (50 H) (D.D. 31. 12-6-25) J.H.D.
EXPERIMENTAL REPORT.
Expl. No. 4457
REF Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/LG10.9.25.

To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
c. to CJ. BJ.
c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}
c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}
c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}

LAMBDA LANCIA CAR. 4457 74048

While trying this car we noticed two points which we consider of special interest :-

(a) The steering was over 2 1/2" out of centre point.

This car is fitted with front wheels brakes which are designed to do at least 50% of the total braking. The owner states that he can lock his front wheels on wet roads. The compensator between the front brakes is not so elaborate or efficient as those fitted to R-R cars. In spite of this it is possible to apply the brakes fiercely at 50 m.p.h. on a dry road without any tendency for the steering to take charge. In addition, it is possible to brake on a lock without any adverse effects being felt by the driver: it is possible to do this with the hands off the wheel, the car will continue on its original lock.

We consider that this is a very good example of the benefits to be derived from pivots held rigidly in torsion. The Lancia construction obviates any possibility of the pivots taking a forward lean when the brakes are applied. They are thus able to use maximum front braking with out-of-centre-point steering and moderate compensation without running into trouble such as 'taking charge', and 'jaggers'.

The advantage of getting away from centre point

contd :-
  
  


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