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).
Investigating high-speed lag, attributing it to camshaft friction and proposing solutions like ball bearings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66a\3\ scan0058 | |
| Date | 21th April 1925 | |
| R.R. 493A (50H) (D.B. 175 25-9-24) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. -3- Expl. No. REF Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/LG21.4.25. a considerable lag at high speeds. The fact that the lag was at high speeds, where the throttle opening was appreciable and hence the unbalanced suction small, led us to suspect that the friction causing the sluggishness must be in the camshaft. The camshaft is subjected to a considerable unbalanced load at speed due to the push of the powerful governor, and heavy pull from the control spring consequently necessary to set up equilibrium. To prove this point the camshaft was mounted on ball bearings. The result was a further marked improvement and the behaviour of the governor on the road is now reasonably satisfactory. The one remaining point where stiction appears to be possible is in the ball p joints of the rod leading from the governor to the camshaft. These, owing to the powerful governor, are heavily loaded and will not be lubricated when the car is in the hands of customers. Also the smallest mal-adjustment of the ball ends is likely to spoil the sensitiveness of the governor. We are arranging to have a throttle closing spring of the lowest possible rating so that it will maintain the minimum load on the throttle spindle and throw the minimum load on the hand control. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||