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).
The trial of a 'Barkerlite' car, detailing issues with body resonance and experimental alterations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5\2\ 02-page136 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1928 | |
| w/s. C. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to H.F. SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} C. to E.P. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to MX.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} CWG. K5830 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/LGS.2.28. BARKERLITE TRIALS CAR. 45950 Our conclusions on this car are that it is one of the worst bodies for resonance we have so far encountered. We believe that nothing we can do will altogether eliminate its objectionable attributes if the chassis has a vigorous engine as at present. We consider that Barkers should be asked to give careful consideration to improving this body for as it stands we think the type would do R-R no good. The alterations we have carried out experimentally are as follows :- (1) Fit rubber engine mounting to the rear feet of the engine instead of that at present fitted to the pinions. The result of this alteration was that the sensible high speed vibrations transmitted to the passengers were percep-tibly diminished, this was especially noticeable on the overrun. The booming was not altered very much. The torque reaction period was slightly reduced. (2) Introduce flexibility into the silencer support brackets. This had more effect on the booming than alteration (1) and on the whole we think has improved the car appreciably. In spite of these modifications, the characteristics of the body are such that its objectionable features can still be shewn up by opening and closing the windows or damping the glass with the hand. contd :- | ||