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).
Test results and recommendations for a cast dashboard design.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\S\March1928-May1928\ Scan139 | |
| Date | 30th April 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c.c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c.c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c.c. to EY. ORIGINAL. CAST DASH. X7500 We have now arrived at the position where the cast dash can be brought in with little delay if we can decide on its final requirements. Further tests have been carried out on the bump. These shew that holding the column rigidly where it passes through the dash as on the car which has just done 9,000 miles at Le Manadel, relieves the top of the dash from an appreciable amount of distortion previously occasioned by the triangular stay having to take the whole column weight. We therefore recommend that this support is reverted to on the 'Continental' cast dash. Our test on the bump rather emphasises the horizontal column movement because the cams on the drums have so far been used at 180°. They do indicate, however, that with a stiffened dash we may be better off with the vertical portion of the triangulated column support only, otherwise stresses are likely to be set up due to the column and dash quarreling when frame distortion takes place. This requires confirming on the road. We are also running the cams in step and seeing if this has an appreciable effect on our results. We have carefully compared the behaviour of the column under dynamic conditions with the solid and with the rubber engine mounting. It will be remembered that our static tests did not indicate much difference. Under running conditions, however, it is apparent that frame distortion is somewhat greater contd :- | ||