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).
Challenges of creating a silent and durable supercharger drive for the Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 140\1\ scan0126 | |
| Date | 4th February 1935 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} x109 HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 25/KW. 4. 2. 35. Supercharging the Bentley. We think that the most difficult job in supercharging the Bentley is to get a silent and durable supercharger drive. As we continue to run the Graham the drive becomes less silent. After 12,000 miles it has reached a stage where it would not be acceptable on the Bentley. The Graham drive, however, is far more silent and durable than those we have had made by David Brown. As far as we know there is no worm drive made in England that is comparable with the American Cone worm. We think that if the design of the drive could be settled we could start getting the necessary tools to produce it and learn how to make it silent. Our own feeling is that since the hypoid bevel gives such good results on axles at about the reduction ratio required for the supercharger, i.e. 4 1/2 to 1, it might prove to be the best solution to this problem. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Curve dated 30/1/35 B V C 9 | ||