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).
Impact tests conducted on a vehicle's front wheel and suspension.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\1\ scan0302 | |
| Date | 16th May 1939 | |
| -2- RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}3/MB.16.5.39. Method A.{Mr Adams} Hitting ½ ton cylindrical weight with O.S. front wheel. Test 4. 5 m.p.h. impact. No damage. Test 5. 10 m.p.h. " No damage, but weight travelled so far that method was abandoned as unsafe. Method B. Hitting ½ ton rectangular weight at angle of 45° with near side front wheel. Test 6. 5 m.p.h impact. No damage. Test 7. 10 m.p.h. impact. No damage. Test 8. 15 m.p.h. impact. Rocking shaft twisted about 5°, front suspension yoke slightly twisted, tyre punctured on edges of block, rim dented. Block moved 10 ft. Bearing tracks inside roller follower indented. Side steering tube load 3400 lbs. After the above tests we received Faroux's account of the accident to chassis 3.DL.58. We therefore attempted to reproduce this by using the earth bank at the edge of the Skid pan. In our case we wished to avoid overturning the open chassis, so we dare not use a speed of more than 18 m.p.h. A new standard rocking shaft was fitted. Method C. Driving into earth bank approx. 2 ft. high so as to produce direct impact on O.S. front wheel only. Test 9. Bank vertical for 1 ft. then sloping at 60° to 2 ft. high. 5 m.p.h. impact. Car mounted bank. No damage. Bank cut back so that face was vertical and 2 ft. high. Test 10. 10 m.p.h impact. No damage. Test 11. 12 m.p.h impact. No damage. | ||