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).
Secret memo discussing the requirements and challenges of testing a larger flywheel on an EAC engine.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\L\Jan1924-March1924\ Scan68 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1924 | |
| TO B.Y. FROM E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} S E C R E T. E2/M22. 2. 24. Copy to - HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} re. TESTING LARGER FLYWHEEL [Handwritten: X9300 - crossed out] ON EAC. ENGINE. [Stamped] LIMIT For the purposes of the above test it is necessary to remove the existing clutch casing and hence we lose all support for the clutch withdrawal gear. One of the easiest ways therefore for trying this experiment would be to fit the 40/50 clutch and flywheel complete on to an EAC.2. chassis. The 40/50 clutch pedal and withdrawal gear could be used. It merely means that the existing pedal bracket nearest the centre of the chassis would be moved up nearer to the brake pedal to support the latter and this would leave the cross member entirely clear for carrying the 40/50 clutch pedal brackets. The point that requires some investigation is the actual attachment of the flywheel to the crankshaft and the anchorage of the longitudinal tie rods to the crankcase which carry the clutch trunnion girder. We should be glad to know whether you could make a scheme for this experiment in Derby. There is one disadvantage attached to testing the larger flywheel in this way, and that is it also involves the use of a stiff coupling shaft in the form of the present 40/50 coupling, and hence it may not be possible to say to what feature the effect eventually produced can be ascribed. We think however we should make a separate test of a stiffer shaft on the EAC.2. chassis with the E.A.C. clutch and flywheel and we are at present looking into this matter to see what can be done. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||