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).
Improvements to the jacking scheme for Bentley cars, with comparisons to Rover and Vauxhall schemes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 139\1\ scan0026 | |
| Date | 20th January 1936 | |
| Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} E.11/HP.20.1.36. c. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Ry. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Bly.{B. W. Bleaney - Bentley Sales} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Bentley Jacks. Replying to your memo Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}8/E.17.1.36, it is quite obvious that we must do something to improve the jacking scheme on the Bentley immediately. Later on I believe we shall find quite a neat hydraulic scheme will be available, but I quite agree that the present scheme could be improved by making it easy to hook on the jacks. To jack from the ends of the springs as on the Rover will require more lift on the jack, and we should like the Experimental Department to tell us right away what lift is necessary at these points to get the road wheels, that is, front or rear, clear of the ground by 1 3/4". This will enable us to decide whether we can use this scheme or whether we stick to the present locations only with increased facilities for sliding in and attaching the jack. There is another scheme used on the Vauxhall cars which might be applicable to our Bentley, and that is jacking up from the running board. This would require a suitably stiffened running board bracket with possibly some form of crossmember stiffening in the frame. We will make a general investigation into the possibilities. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Since dictating the above we have made rough tests and find that the Rover scheme would require 12 3/4" jacking stroke at the rear and 9" at the front. Unfortunately the points of attachment cannot be easily arranged the same height from the ground, the rear shackle pin being 7 3/4" and the front 12", with the wheel rim on the ground. The jacking strokes quoted are taken with the worst case, that is, with the wheel rim on the ground and allow for about 1" clearance at the top of the lift for a fully inflated tyre. I find that the Experimental Department have all the | ||