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).
Recommendations for chassis work following a U.S.A. visit in May/June 1936.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\3\ scan0060 | |
| Date | 12th December 1936 | |
| 1204. [Handwritten] Grey Have you seen the over drive unit mentioned. Will it easily go on one of our cars. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} [Handwritten] Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} [Handwritten] c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Psn. [Handwritten] HP.12.12.36. U.S.A. Visit - May and June 1936. Arising out of the visit of E/Psn. to U.S.A. with Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} and Paravacini, the following are the recommendations we wish to put forward in connection with chassis work:- (1) Purchase of Lycoming 8-Cylinder "V" Engine. This engine is a supercharged V.8 of 3¼" bore x 3¾" stroke, as fitted in the 1937 Cord car. In purchasing this engine not only would we get a V.8 engine, but also the steel roller epicyclic type of supercharger drive. [Handwritten] Dont agree. It has taken us 8 years. Cord a second rate firm (2) Investigation of Pendulum Control for Shock Dampers. One of the most noteworthy features of the Scarab rear engine car was the absence of rolling and front end dipping under braking conditions. This was accomplished by a type of pendulum control of the Firestone air springs which operated to increase the spring rate against both rolling and pitching. It might be possible to devise a somewhat similar scheme for shock damper control. (3) Dynamic Balancing of Crankshaft Systems. All G.M. production crankshaft and flywheel systems are dynamically balanced, and the reciprocating parts are held to fine weight tolerances. It is recommended that a number of our own engines should be balanced accurately and the reciprocating parts carefully matched to see whether any appreciable increase in smoothness of running results. (4) Cast Iron Camshafts. A number of American production engines are now fitted with cast iron camshafts, and it is reported that apart from the reductions in cost, the cast iron results in less wear on the cams and tappets. This subject has already been taken up with a firm in this Country for | ||