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).
Proposed improvements and development trials for an independent springing system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154\1\ scan0096 | |
| Date | 30th January 1934 | |
| X3873 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Bu. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} re Independent Springing. In connection with the Rolls-Royce scheme of independent springing we are pushing on with attention to the following items:- (1) Improvements to provide more steps and a more gradual change in the rating of the springing. (2) Improvements to remove any error in the steering geometry. (3) Reduction in the transverse angle of lean of the pivots to reduce the amount of self-centering. (4) Improvements to reduce tendency of the car to lean by modification to rear springing, and by use of stabiliser shaft if found possible joining the mechanism of the rear shock dampers. Our object is to get all of the above modified on 27-EX, to deal with what are apparently curable faults in the scheme. If, and when we reach a satisfactory state of development we can then make a test for tyre wear. We are of the opinion that however perfect any given independent suspension may be in respect to the control of the movement of the wheels and the geometry of the steering there will always be scrubbing of the tyres on the road present, and gyrostatic reaction from the steering due to the fundamental impossibility of eliminating angular displacement of the car and front end movements when passing over the irregularities not affecting both road wheels to exactly the same extent. We therefore think that actual development and trial is the only means of deciding these questions when the differences in action between the mechanisms we have under review, having regard to the complicated conditions attending the behaviour of a moving car on anything but the most perfect surface, are so small. | ||