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 design and development of a new brake system, including the front axle, servo, and shoes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 73\2\ scan0166 | |
| Date | 1st January 1924 | |
| X, 9940 To RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} & DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} copy to - CJ. BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Mr. Claremont. S E C R E T. R5/M.1.24. E.A.C.1 & 2. BRAKES. X, 9940 SYSTEM. The system we have adopted for the above more closely follows the practice of other makers. It should be watched for infringing others, and for any novelties we may develop. FRONT AXLE. The method of operating is like EAC.3 but is somewhat improved by the use of two short shafts only on the front axle, (instead of one being long) and a torsionally stiff shaft through the crankchamber as in EAC-3. We may be running into Hotchkiss patents but I understand they have none owing possibly to prior publication. Our scheme is somewhat differently arranged. It may be thought advisable to improve the design of the support of the shoes and the form of drum as suggested by me, and drawing by DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} This also has a different scheme of steering arm for the cross steering tube which may be thought neater and more desirable to the front wheel brake one we are using. SERVO. This is the slow speed ratchet driven one made by a single plate with special RR. cooling scheme and driven by foot applying the brakes backwards. This foot accelerated and assisted servo by a single backwar pull acts on the 3 point floatin lever suggested by me, which seems so simple and perfect for its purpose that we ought to try and secure it for the purpose, and in the combination we have arranged, in spite of the statement by Mr. Stent that it is a railway scheme. I hunted for it on my way here but failed to see it. The two pulls from this lever must have the same force in lbs, but the lever is arranged to have quite different strokes and leverage to the front and rear brakes so that the braking can be a fixed suppo proportion and simultaneous between front and back, in spite of errors of adjustment, except that the shoes must work consistently and the pull off springs be carefully arranged. BRAKE SHOES. By the time we get through and are satisfied with EAC-3 we shall probably know the best pattern of shoe for this scheme, also the pull off springs. I am more than ever convinced that shoes and pull off springs are the most important at the moment on this brake question. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||