Rolls-Royce Suspension System
Page 57
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SELF LEVELLING suspensions 1--) employing hydraulic pumps are liable to sink when the engine is not running and to limit this is the aim of a scheme shown in patent No. 909,440. (Rolls-Royce Ltd., Nightingale Road, Derby.) In the drawing, the road wheel is carried on the spindle (1). This swings on links (2 and 3) on which the chassis rests via gas-bags (4). The bags are piped to a gas reservoir (5). The reservoir pressure can be varied by a metal bellows (6) which can be
hydraulically expanded or contracted by a pump (7) and a valve (8). The valve is moved in accordance with the chassis height by an extension (9) on the lower link.
The improvement which is the principal feature of the patent consists of the provision of a cap (10) on the bellows. Leakage during idle periods, can occur until this cap abuts the bottom of the reservoir, after which no further fall can occur. References arc made to an earlier patent numbered 758,761.