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).
Arguing in favour of a 4-speed gearbox over a 3-speed gearbox.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 137\5\ scan0005 | |
Date | 12th February 1919 | |
To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from EH. c. to CJ. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to CY. X 3720 X.3426. X 3501 EH3/LG12.2.19. 12th February 1919. POINTS IN FAVOUR OF 4-SPEED INSTEAD OF 3-SPEED GEAR BOX. At the works I frequently drive cars fitted with 3-speed and 4-speed boxes. I consider the 4-speed box makes a much nicer car. The chief reason why I like the 4-speed box for ordinary driving is because it is easier to change gear. I think this is a big point because we know that one of the standard complaints against Rolls-Royce Cars is the difficulty of changing gear, therefore, any improvement that can be effected in that direction is worth having. The other advantage I find in the 4-speed box is that one can maintain a higher average speed with better comfort because the engine speed can be kept within reasonable limits. My experience in driving in the Austrian Trials convinced me that a 3-speed box would be no use for that work. For Alpine work, one has always got to bear in mind the reduction in HP. at the high altitudes. The cars we took to Austria would romp up the hills in Derbyshire which were quite as steep as the Austrian hills but in Austria we had nothing to spare on the hill. Apart from absolute failing on a hill, there is also the point that for a number of miles the car may be climbing fairly stiff gradients. The 4-speed box gives you a range of speeds so that you use your engine comfortably. If one had a car with 3-speeds with the low gear sufficiently low for climbing Contd. | ||