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).
Technical report on gearbox and steering technologies, comparing competitor features like synchromesh and flexible shackles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 181\M9\ img062 | |
| Date | 31th March 1931 | |
| -2- Gearboxes. With reference to the gearbox problem, one is immediately struck by the number of cars exhibited in which some form of improvement has been made. This impression is further manifest by an examination of the Autumn issue of the S.M.M.T. private car specification; 59% of the car manufacturers are offering some form of gearbox improvement, either automatic change, synchromesh, free wheel, or other device which improves the gear-box; all these incorporate silent gears, whatever class of car they appear on. From these results it does not appear that the problem of manufacturing silent gears is necessarily troublesome or expensive. The same remarks apply to easy gear change methods. An outsider must be struck by the fact that our cars, one of the most costly in the Show do not have any of these features. Of the various methods of obtaining easy gear changes exhibited, synchromesh appeals most, because of its simplicity and because it is not necessary to do other manipulations than one does on the orthodox gearbox. It does not appear to have any drawbacks. Steering. From the fact that quite a number of cars are fitted with a flexible shackle to the offside front spring, it is logical to conclude that it is helpful in damping out steering shocks and joggles; tests we have carried out recently on 20-L tend to confirm this. Inquiries made at the stands on which these cars were shewn did not produce any helpful information. All agreed that it was a great help but none could give any useful information. On some makes it was noticeable that the spring counter-acting the rearward movement of the axle was stronger than the opposing spring, on others they were the same. The following cars were noticed with the shimy shackle fitted : Stutz - 8 cyl. chassis, flexible shackle at rear of spring. Stutz - 6 cyl. chassis 27.34 HP. flexible shackle at rear similar in construction to RR. type N.B. The type used on the 8. cyl. Stutz is described as patent anti-shimmy device, the specification of the 6.cyl. does not allude to the shackle as being patented. Buick. 8.cyl; Cadillac V.12; Darracq 22 HP. | ||