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).
4-wheel braking systems, skidding, and servo-assisted brakes.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\K\October1923\ Scan84 | |
| Date | 26th October 1923 | |
| R.R. 493A (40 H) (SL 42 12-7-23). J.H., D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. 9940 REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/1/1026.10.23. more effective braking under normal conditions with safety if we sacrifice front wheel braking on the corners. If 4-wheel brakes are applied on a greasy road and all 4 wheels are locked, as the car still continues in a straight course, it is difficult for the driver to know the wheels are locked until he attempts to steer. Our arrangement of operating the front wheel brakes by foot pressure will allow (if the brakes are reasonably effective) for the front wheels to be locked on a greasy road. We understand that the Sunbeam people on their car which the brakes are operated by a servo, claim it is impossible to skid the front wheels. The brakes are arranged so that the servo operates on all four wheels. The leverages are arranged so that the rear wheels will always skid first. As soon as the rear wheels skid the servo brake goes of out of action and therefore the pressure is relieved on all 4 w brakes. They also have the feature of the Perrot scheme of the brake on one front wheel being/lieved on a corner. This arrangement, to us, sounds attractive as regards preventing the front wheels being locked. There may be some 'nigger' in it however because on their 20 HP. 6-cylinder they are using the wrapping action on the front wheel brakes with no servo. The present chassis which we are running fitted with a temporary arrangement for operating the front wheel brakes gives a most excellent impression of braking when the 4 brakes are applied. It is the most affective braking we have experienced. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||