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).
Letter to Lucas Ltd. discussing the adoption of Luvax shock absorbers, comparing spring loaded and orifice type controls.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 152\1\ scan0011 | |
| Date | 12th May 1932 | |
| X832. c. E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} ----- HS {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 3/AD. May 12th, 1932. Messrs. Lucas Ltd. Warple Way, Acton, London, W.3. For the attention of Mr. Pitt. Dear Sirs, With reference to our conversation the other day with regard to the possible adoption of Luvax shock absorbers for one of our cars, we have now discussed the matter with Mr. Elliott and we have considered the indicator diagrams taken on your shock absorber and sent to you in our letter of August 11th 1931. We are unanimously in favour of the spring loaded valve instead of the orifice type of control but we are also of the opinion that the N.P.3. instrument, which is the size we should consider suitable for the small model, cannot, from the indicator diagrams, be considered to have altogether desirable characteristics. The conclusions from our tests were that if the instrument was filled with thin oil it would function reasonably satisfactorily under all conditions, but we should be unable to obtain the loads which would be considered desirable on a Sports car owing to the leakage past the rotor and this leakage would become more serious with temperature rise. With the thick oil the required maximum loads could be obtained but the replenishing valves seem inadequate. We should imagine that working with an indicator you would not have very much difficulty in over-coming defects shown up by the indicator diagram and possibly merely the increase in size of the replenishing valve would overcome the majority of the difficulties as it would enable thick oil to be used without the disadvantages shown in the indicator diagrams. | ||