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).
Critiquing the 'S & S' Shock Absorber design, highlighting risks of overstressing springs and instability at high speeds.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\1\ Scan068 | |
| Date | 24th March 1925 | |
| To WJ. from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Re:-"S & S" Shock Absorber. In our view there is a little virtue in this design consisting of the introduction of a small quantity of undamped flexibility which would operate beneficially over small excresences at low speeds. This is however, obtained at the expense of overstressing the top spring leaves at the ends. The main effect of this device is to increase the operative length of existing road springs, and hence increase their flexibility at the expense of overloading them. This should be properly carried out by fitting more flexible springs. An R.R. chassis fitted with these "gadgets" would no doubt ride better at 15 to 20 M.P.H. but at any higher speed would bump and roll in a most alarming manner, and in time finish up by breaking its springs and steering off the road, due to the presence of the extra shackles. We return the papers in connection with this device. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||