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 performance of 4-wheel brakes, detailing safety concerns, passenger comfort, and adjustment procedures for a new trials car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 73\3\ scan0042 | |
| Date | 20th May 1924 guessed | |
| -2- car travelling at a high speed. There is a risk of passengers losing their lives if the brakes do not perform perfectly or affect the steering under this condition. (b) To ensure that the brakes will operate immediately and smoothly in close-running traffic conditions. This is the condition which will show up any lag in the operation. (c) It is also necessary to see that the car can be brought to a stand-still smoothly without jerking the passengers. We have allotted one car with 4-wheel brakes to be handed over to the Administration as soon as ever we have completed the cars for France. This car is a completely finished limousine No. 59-PK. It is finished and upholstered so that it can be shown to anyone or used as a Trials Car. We think it would be a valuable test if this car could be run by London and used as a carriage. We are concerned about the fact that with 4-wheel brakes it may require more skill to bring the car to rest, without jerking the passengers. Often, the driver does not appreciate this because he is supported by the steering wheel and pedals but to the passengers it may be very objectionable. On the adopted scheme of 4-wheel brakes, there will be only two adjustments. 1. The adjustment in the clearance of the servo itself. We anticipate that this will only have to be adjusted once in 20,000 miles. 2. The only other adjustment is on the brakes themselves which is a similar adjustment to that which we have on the 40/50 HP. There is nothing else which the driver can do. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||