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).
Gearbox noise caused by the side shaft running idle and potential solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\1\ scan0012 | |
| Date | 10th March 1912 | |
| Recd.12/3/12. Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence. Z 522 10th March.1912. R6/D10312. C.J. and Technical Committee. Gear Box. The noise caused by the side shaft running idle now appears to be the worst trouble in our gear boxes. The following are features which may be considered to overcome this trouble. 1. When the car is not running on the gears, side shaft to be thrown out of action. This would make longer box and change gear mechanism more complicated. Also changing gear would not be as nice nor could it be done as quietly as at present. The Napier car, I believe, is made like this, and so this method could be demonstrated. 2. The method which I generally call the "Continental" arrangement, i.e. side shaft in permanent engagement with the main drive and not with the engine or clutch. The side shaft is running faster than the engine, which is poor. I have watched this construction for a considerable time and have noticed that it has lost favour and there is growth towards more universal adoption of our practice. | ||