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).
Report from the USA regarding valve spring failures on a Bentley and observations on American car suspension systems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\1\ img213 | |
| Date | 5th February 1934 | |
| # 317 COPY OF REPORT RECEIVED FROM Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} IN U.S.A. DATED 25.1.34. To Eg. from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rt. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rt. 26/KW.5.2.34. c. to r.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to S. c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Hdy.{William Hardy} My time has been somewhat occupied in getting the Bentley to Detroit owing to the repeated valve spring failures. I dared not run the risk of a valve dropping into the cylinder and writing off the engine, so I finally left the car and got a complete set of new valve springs made in Detroit. I am fetching it to-morrow. I got in for several S.A.E. papers as there has been a meeting of the society here. Olley read a paper on "Knee Action" which was a summary of the information I have already given you. I contacted with the man who has been doing Chrysler's riding work and he says that with their forward engine they get such a large moment of inertia for the car that they, with 4" front spring deflection, can get as good a ride as Cadillac's do with 8" or 9" deflection. I shall be able to evaluate this when I have tried the cars. Generally speaking, however, the view is that engines must move much more forward still for frame stiffness, k economy of chassis etc. If this is so, our cross tube carrying the coil springs becomes an obstruction. I have your wire. It seems to me I can easily spend three weeks in Detroit or more, and learn something all the time on independent suspension, apart from anything else. At the moment I am not planning to sail until about March 15th, unless you cable me to the contrary. I believe I am more use here than in Derby for the time being. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||