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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).
New design scheme for the Wraith II chassis rear end, focusing on the petrol tank and shock dampers.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 8\7\  07-page02
Date  25th January 1936
  
(Handwritten)
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(Typed)
For. from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}

c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} Sft.{Mr Swift} E.2/HP.25.1.36.

re Wraith II Chassis Rear End.

We are arranging what I think will be a very neat and simple scheme for the rear end of Wraith II chassis, but it depends largely on the treatment for the petrol tank and we shall want to know if the method of dealing with the petrol tank and as I have proposed can be carried out. To arrange the shock dampers and the rear roll bar all in one unit the dampers have to be located behind the rear axle, in which position they trespass on the space normally occupied by the petrol tank.

With the limitations of ground clearance, luggage platform height, sweep for the hinges of the luggage carrier, axle clearance and shape of the tail on the body, it is very difficult on our cars to find room for the amount of petrol we want. I, therefore, propose to throw away our normal type of suspension so as to make a tank with the end cut away to clear the shock dampers. This tank will be held up with straps which we now think is permissible with a rigid chassis frame fitted with a cruciform member, and which also has other advantages in respect to noise damping, ease of detachability, and we believe, reduced cost.

There remains to be settled a method for producing such a tank and here we can choose between pressing the tank in two halves, upper and lower, joined together by some suitable means round the middle, or fitting each end with a hollow shaped pressing with the edge of the barrel of the tank rolled over and sweated as now. We shall shortly issue a drawing to get Works views on these points.

The dampers could be arranged vertically to leave more room for the petrol tank, but the production of a successful vertical damper design raises new problems which we do not want to introduce on Wraith at the moment.
E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}
  
  


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