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).
Testing of a free wheel clutch on a 12 HP Austin and its potential application on a 20 HP gearbox.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 6\2\ 02-page023 | |
| Date | 4th November 1927 | |
| √523 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c.c. to BJ. Nor. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/L04.11.27. Particulars in original file FREE WHEELS ON TRANSMISSION. We recently tested a 12 HP. Austin fitted with a free wheel at the rear of the gearbox. The results from it are what one would anticipate. It makes it delightfully easy to change gear and does away entirely with the overrun vibrations which on the small 4-cyl. cars are generally very bad. It had the usual disadvantage of the engine racing when picking up the drive. On this car they had two free wheel clutches, one was operated by a lever and in order to reverse it is necessary to lock the freewheel. This can also be used for descending steep hills. The chief point of interest is the form of free wheel which is used. We are send a small model of this to UW. This free wheel was primarily got out for the Constantinesco torque converter which is a very high duty for a free wheel. The Humphrey Sandburg people have offered to supply us with a sample unit suitable for the rear of the 20 HP. gearbox. We consider it is useful for us to keep in touch with this development because free wheel cars may become popular. Attached to R's copy of this note is a technical description of the freewheel. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||