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).
Analysis of an actuator box and pinion engagement procedure with the crankshaft, detailing observations under different conditions.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\Q\2-July1927-September1927\ 11 | |
| Date | 8th July 1927 | |
| Contd. -2- EFCL/T8.7.27. made the main switch by hand, after the lapse of a sufficient time to take observations after the closing of the small switch. In one set of observations in which the crankshaft was allowed to revolve freely, the procedure was :- (1) Close actuator box and teazer circuit. (2) Close main circuit. (3) Open teazer circuit. (4) Open main circuit. In these circumstances no jam was or could be produced with either the 5° or 20° spiral. Engagement took place and the motor was generally capable of turning the crankshaft slowly with the teazer current. In the 5° case, owing to the slowness of the spiral, the actuator box normally worked very sharply, making a big click, because it could generally complete its travel without interference from the spiral. In the 20° case the engagement click of the actuator box was not so marked, because it could not immediately complete its travel. As regards the extent of engagement, in the 5° case this was little more than the position to which the actuator box would push the pinion, and there was no tendency for the engagement to increase during the subsequent slow drive motion. Even when the main power was put on, the pinion only gradually moved towards full engagement. In the 20° case, the longitudinal inertia given to the pinion by the actuator box, together with the acceleration torque between the pinion and the wheel would cause nearly full engagement to take place, without much shock, on the teazer current only, in spite of the pinion disengaging spring, but on continuing to allow the motor to turn the crankshaft with the | ||