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 effects of damping, steering tube springs, front axle modifications, and tyre conditions on vehicle performance.
| Identifier | Morton\M19\ img221 | |
| Date | 31th August 1931 | |
| -3- HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/LidB/AD31.8.31 contd. to damp it out almost entirely. Damping in the Column. This is of no use to us unless used in conjunction with the flexible shackle. Under these conditions the maximum permissible damping consistent with good steering is between 2 and 4 lbs as measured at the steering wheel rim. The scheme of damping used, similar to that tried on P.I. is not acceptable for production because the friction plates are held by splines and the slightest amount of slack in the splines is very pronounced at the steering wheel. Effect of side steering tube springs. The beneficial effect of the flexible shackle is shown up by removing the side steering tube springs. The steering is as good as a standard car for joggles and better for selectivity when using the flexible shackle and a solid side steering tube. Effect of damping on front axle. Drilled valves have very little detrimental effect. A very large increase in damping is beneficial, but the small amount of increase possible consistent with maintaining good riding qualities is of very little benefit. Effect of dumbell to stop jellying. The use of a dumbell on the front dumbirons by which means all jellying is stopped does not at the same time stop joggling - it does appreciably decrease it. Condition of Front Tyres. Under the conditions of these tests there was a very marked difference between very worn tyres and hard new ones. When using worn tyres joggling is distinctly worse. Very little difference was recorded between new Silent Tread and new Triple Stud tread buttressed tyres. Movement of flexible shackle. In order to get some idea of the conditions under which the flexible shackle works, a device was made and fitted up which measured accurately the maximum movement of the spring eye under all road conditions. Backward movement | ||