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).
Steering, tyre, shock absorber, and suspension design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 71\2\ scan0078 | |
| Date | 1st April 1926 guessed | |
| contd :- -3- set and equal each way). (c) All the ball joints in the steering gear - i.e. 3 or 4 could have lignum vitae pads spring loaded so as to create friction (consistently) and be independent of lubrication. (12) You will see that I have been persistently working for medium pressure tyres from when I first saw the full balloons and that I would go further more carefully and let people have semi-balloons when we wished to give the maximum comfort, (we cannot do the same any other way.) (13) I do not think we can look upon ourselves as being in any trouble with steering and springing not shared by even the best of other makers, and there are many [REDACTED] reasons for keeping to medium pressure tyres on the front wheels - shunting and lock, risk of front wheel skid on muddy roads etc. (14) That to avoid any wrong impression we might ( as soon as we can fit them) describe our hydraulic shock dampers and their virtues of avoiding high speed wobbles, providing CJ. thought there was nothing against this, and our patents were secure - (i.e. make a [strikethrough]demonstration[/strikethrough] say on Brooklands, and issue a bulletin). (15) I do not think sufficient has been said in Mr. Day's extremely good report, on the relative behaviour of the 20 HP. which is a car in which the centre of gravity and other conditions are so entirely different. (16) I do not think front road springs with rebound leaves will help us, but they ought to be tried as they are simple and eligible. I am also doubtful if springs with a stiffer centre (i.e. flexible at the ends) would control the axle better. (17) You will remember that in our suggestions of parallel control for the axle other than by the springs was included the use of a rod above the axle. It was thought the shock damper arm might be used. I was not aware, until Mr. Robotham's visit that this has been tested at Derby with some success. At WH. we could not get it in to meet all the conditions but it might be investigated again. I do not think any such change would improve the present situation, which is only [REDACTED] very slightly affected by any change in the stiffness of either road spring that is possible within the limits of weight etc., but is more a question of friction according to my reading of the Derby demonstration reported by DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||