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).
Design progress and improvements on the J.3 model, focusing on cost reduction, steering, and the crankshaft.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\March1931-September1931\ Scan397 | |
| Date | 7th September 1931 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} RG.{Mr Rowledge}) C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} RECEIVED 31 SEP 8 ORIGINAL R2/M3.9.31. Sent off 7.9.31. DESIGN WORK IN PROGRESS AT WW., ALMOST ENTIRELY J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} 3. 83993. x5770. Some considerable progress has been made and BY.should now have enough J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} 3. work to keep his office busy. The last few days we have greatly improved the following items so that they will be less expensive to get to our standard of lasting perfection: (1) The pump and ignition drive and its accessories. (2) The front engine and radiator support in inexpensive sheet metal work. (3) The camshaft bearing and covers. (4) The back axle tube, and brakes, and spring supports, much simpler and more reliably robust, saving such features as collars and threads and other inexpensive parts. (5) The battery support to avoid the tube right across, and its ill effect on the rear cushions - (lowers floor & seat.) Most of this work will leave by the weekend. OTHER WORK. The steering is working out at the improvement in lock by: Right - 37o against the present 33.5o. Left - 41o " " " 39.5o. The geometry in the design is irreproachable, being the very best possible. But speaking generally we do not know how to make the steering better than at present. It will be realised that we are now trusting to the body for torsional stiffness of the frame, even rather more so than heretofore. Are we doing wisely? CRANKSHAFT. The J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} 3. engine need not be entirely balanced, because it has rear timing wheels and extra bearing to isolate the crank-shaft vibrations from the flywheel. I should prefer our original amount of crankshaft only for convenience in the Works, and not lowering the master period too much. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||