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 benefits of plating road springs to improve suspension, prolong life, and reduce squeaking.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\6\ Scan007 | |
| Date | 2nd January 1928 guessed | |
| contd :- -2- We therefore think that by plating road springs we should gain : (1) Improved suspension. The internal spring friction would remain substantially more constant owing to the elimination of rust. We have tried cars with board-hard suspension due to the springs having rusted almost solid. (2) Improved spring life. The trouble which occurs due to wear from the extremities of the leaves should be eliminated. (3) Squeaking springs. These are a perpetual source of complaint on the front of the Phantom. We think a perfectly smooth glass-hard leaf surface would tend to eliminate this trouble which in our experience is mainly due to the tendency of the leaf tips to 'dig in'. So far we have failed to find any permanent cure as no known practical method of spring lubrication seems to have any lasting effect on the trouble. With reference to the effect of plating on spring life, our tests should prove the point. We do not think that the fact that two small helical springs out of one set of six tested in the spring drive on production failed, should deter us from experimenting with an innovation which might prove so advantageous if successful. It will be observed that now we are asking for Chromium plated front springs not Cadmium plated, as the former seems altogether more suitable for this purpose. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||