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 Bentley Torsion Bar Suspension system and related steering layouts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\4\ scan0138 | |
| Date | 21th September 1936 | |
| X246 21st September, 1936. Bentley Torsion Bar Suspension. Re E.2/HP.29.8.36. It appears that the advantages gained from connecting the torsion bars to the lower wish bones, similar to the Citroen system, fully repays the necessity of a 3 piece cross-steering tube. (1) The torsion bar stresses can be made as low as desired. The bar can be 3 ft. longer, and is larger in diameter. (2) The torque due to independent front wheel movement on the front of the frame is less owing to the reduced centres of the torsion bars. (3) A shock damper combined with the top wish bones similar to the American chassis can be produced. Steering. Besides the normal steering layout for torsion bars connected to the lower wishbones as Fig. I, we suggest an alternative scheme as Fig II. This has no more moving parts than the single centre steering lever system as on Phantom III. The steering box worm would need to be at the correct column angle when the rocker shaft was vertical. Although a system as Fig II enables a simplified steering and a self-contained suspension and steering unit, the extreme length of column would encourage the elimination of the controls from the top of the steering wheel. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} | ||