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).
Experiments to prevent body yawing by altering frame rigidity and front mounting.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\6\ Scan050 | |
| Date | 22th January 1929 guessed | |
| contd :- -2- the car was entirely altered and exactly the same effect produced on the driver as a 30% reduction in the rating of the side steering tube springs. It appears to us that it should be perfectly possible to prevent the body yawing in this manner on corners by restricting the freedom of its centre point front mounting to a few degrees from the vertical. This arrangement should not allow the front of the body to give any torsional support to the frame, but may prevent the steering being spoilt. We have a whole series of experiments in hand, however, to find the best compromise of frame period - on the one hand by reducing the frame rigidity of the bodied car aft of the engine, on the other hand by trying to spoil the chassis by increasing its frame rigidity behind the engine with suitably applied masses. We are working to get back to the chassis characteristics of 100% radiator steadiness by dividing the increased flexibility that we think is required in the complete car between the cross and the body mounting. Simultaneously static frame twisting tests are going forward to see if we can measure in the shop the alterations we are making on the road. Unfortunately the road tests are being held up owing to persistent foggy weather. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||