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).
Page 2 of a letter from Gordon Armstrong Patent Suspension discussing shock absorber controls and materials.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 152\1\ scan0208 | |
| Date | 4th November 1936 | |
| TELEPHONE: BEVERLEY 321 GRAMS: ARMSTRONG'S SUSPENSION. The Gordon Armstrong Patent Suspension COMPANY LIMITED OUR REF: WALTHAM WORKS, OPPOSITE ST MARY'S CHURCH, BEVERLEY E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} YORKS. GORDON ARMSTRONG. A.M.I.A.E., F.Inst. PAT. N. O. {Mr Oldham} TILL. YOUR REF: Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. 4th November, 1936. -2- 2. Spring-loaded valves can easily be fitted, although I must say that my experience leads me rather against them. It would, however, be quite easy to change the spring-loaded valves to progressive orifice on the same shock absorber, as the parts are inter-changeable. You could, of course, have the two different types of valves to try out yourselves. 3. The load increase due to displacement on the rebound side of normal position only can also be obtained. 4. We could make the shock absorbers rod-controlled so that the adjustment on the front shock absorbers, even though they were not connected up, would be easily done by just moving the lever. Whilst the hydraulic control seems to be fascinating regarding its simplicity and cleanness of parts, it does not strike me as being free from unexpected troubles such as one shock absorber coming on before the other. After a consultation between our various people, we have decided to fit rod control to all shock absorbers that we supply as a dash controlled shock absorber up to one cross shaft and one hydraulic cylinder operating this cross shaft or levers. We do not think, in any case, we will supply hydraulic control to each cylinder from a master operating cylinder on the dash. If aluminium castings were used, would you be satisfied to have the casting without phosphor bronze bearing for the spindle? cont'd... | ||