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).
Extract discussing transmission design choices, torque tubes, and electrical installation schemes including starter and ignition systems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 80\2\ scan0211 | |
| Date | 7th September 1920 | |
| Contd. Extract from Rg{Mr Rowledge}/07.9.20. This transmission knock is (as anticipated seven years ago) quite absent in the Hawk Northcliffe chassis, as this has parallel control, which in our new designs we are approaching as near as seems practical. [Handwritten note above 'seems practical']: have abandoned it for the more practical torque tube or longre rod control The few makers who had parallel control which we used. You will remember also how I always strive in our designs to obtain the longest torque tube possible (whereas Hispano and other recently do not make theirs as long as they easily might) but we are limited by our present large size of gearbox and method of construction of other parts. In our new chassis we shall not suffer these advantages and we are adopting the best possible scheme from this point of view, of any torque tube or rod arrangement. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION. X.3615. X.3859. X.4173. X.795. X.3778. X4185. X.4186. We have already sent to Derby, drawings of distributing board and diagram of wiring, R.R. design, with fuses for all the circuits, this will meet OY's suggestions just received. The present scheme, except for - (1) R.R. starter scheme which is the only one we know that can be applied satisfactorily to our present chassis, having a large engine and large gearbox. (2) R.R. non-trembler ignition which has been perfected since the War, and is the only simple which is safe against back-fire shouldthe engine swing backwards. was arranged by the Lucas Company, and we are dissatisfied with the results, hence our own efforts to produce a better scheme. It was left to Lucas and Derby originally, because I was very busy finishing "Condor" and designing various new chassis. | ||