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).
Three methods for achieving satisfactory engagement in single-plate clutches.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\1\ img230 | |
| Date | 12th December 1932 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} ORIGINAL R2/M12.12.32. X7300 Y3300 [Text crossed out: Cc to CC. WRP. EW. PA.{Mr Paterson}] CLUTCHES. In the case of single plate clutches (which are the almost universal type) there seem to be 3 ways of getting a satisfactory engagement: (1) A distorted plate which is in nearly universal use, but has defects. (2) A moving back plate, an original scheme of ours, which, if I remember rightly, was anticipated by some French patent, and has proved in many ways preferable to the distorted plate. (We must not forget in this type to be sure that the following plate is free in its control pins, even when hot.) (3) The third way, which is a recent scheme of ours, and was applied to J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} 3. and Peregrine, is what we might call the spring lift of the pressure plate, and has the merits of being simple, with some very definite advantages over the other schemes. We hope this last type will be the one we can adopt universally as it should save us a considerable amount of money, and some anxiety. Until I saw the reports of GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} remarking on the smooth engagement, I rather feared this type (3) was not a success, and when we redesigned the clutch for other reasons we went back to our following back plate. I will ask DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} to send you an alternative for either of these systems. It will be noted that now we have fabric on the driven plate, and have cured the troubles of the expansion of the pressure plate binding in its serrations, and ought - with the improved design sent to you - to be in a fair way to getting a better pedal operation, we should be in a very much better position than heretofore, especially as we can use cast iron for the friction surfaces. I shall look forward with great interest to seeing the result of this combination. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||