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).
Letter critiquing an invention proposal for a bonnet and wing, detailing its mechanical weaknesses.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 119\4\ scan0075 | |
| Date | 21th December 1937 | |
| c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 1026 XXXXXX 2424 21st.December 1937. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}30/N. Leslie C.Jones,Esq., Tai Yuan, Loom Lane, Radlett. Dear Sir, We thank you for giving us the opportunity of reviewing your Bonnet and wing invention, particulars of which were addressed to Mr Hives, who has asked us to reply. We feel that the proposal is applicable only to a mass produced car, and therefore is of no interest to us. On technical grounds the scheme as a mechanical structure appears to have some fundamental weaknesses. Since the structure you propose is not attached to the body scuttle, we suggest that there is nothing to prevent the parallelogramming of the rear armature, or the whole structure from torsional deformation about its longitudinal axis. The proposal pre-supposes a short wing terminating at the scuttle, which may not be universally acceptable. The cantilever wing-stays which have to carry the weight of the wing have their fixed ends on the lower longitudinal side member of the structure which one would find difficult in making rigid enough to take the applied torque. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED. Car Project Office. | ||