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).
Letter to Mr. Basil Johnson regarding developments in gearbox technology in the United States.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 136\4\ scan0030 | |
| Date | 31th August 1928 | |
| X2061 S/W #S OY/.R.8.31.28. August 31st 1928. Mr. Basil Johnson, C/o Rolls-Royce Ltd., London, England. cc Mr. F.H.Royce. Mr. E.I.Day. Mr.R.W.H.Bailey. Mr. E.W.Hives. Dear Mr.Johnson, RE GEARBOX. We believe Mr.Royce will wish to know of the developments in gearboxes which are at present exciting very great interest in the United States. We have already written about:- (1) The "Flexo" transmission which consists in disconnecting the third motion shaft from the propeller shaft by a dog clutch at the moment when gears are being shifted. (2) The "Ahlen" transmission which was discussed with Mr. Royce last summer (1927) and of which arrangement prints were left with him. A sheet showing the application of this gearbox to the Durant car is attached herewith. (3) A similar transmission consisting (like the Ahlen) partly of internal gears, made by the Warner Gear Co., Mr.Orcutt of the B'ham Gear Grinding Co. has spoken very highly of this, from a recent experience during his visit to the U.S. At the time of discussing this with Mr.Royce we thought it was not equal in design to the Ahlen transmission, but Mr.Orcutt states that as far as he could ascertain the results have been very satisfactory. CADILLAC. We now attach a description from "Automotive Industries" of the new Cadillac-LaSalle "Synchro-Mesh" gearbox, which consists of a dog-clutch engagement for 2nd and direct-speeds, synchronized by preliminary engagements of bronze-faced cone clutches. This is somewhat similar to the friction-pulley synchronizing means used in the F.B.M. epicyclic gearbox of the Malcolm Campbell car, described in the "Automobile Engineer" for June. Mr.Sherbondy, who is interested in the Ahlen design, has visited England with a car, which he proposed to demonstrate | ||