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).
Article from 'The Motor' magazine describing a new integrated rapid jacking system for motorcars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 76\4\ scan0019 | |
| Date | 18th June 1919 | |
| June 18, 1919. 633 The Motor MAKING MOTORING EASY. Interesting Road Experiences with the Latest Form of Rapid Jack Incorporated as a Unit of a Rolls-Royce Car. The Hood Lifter, New Tyre and Detachable Wheel. [Column 1] WITH many recollections ocurring to the mind of aggravating experiences with ordinary jacks in awkward places, and remembering the haunting dread that has assailed us at that critical moment—between the removal of a wheel and the replacement of the spare lest a movement of the car should overturn the jack, the first impulse at a demonstration of the latest form of Rapid jack is to exclaim—“How simple! Surprising it was not thought of before!” A really clever invention invariably prompts this remark because inventive ingenuity, rightly inspired and applied, should aim at simplicity. Certainly Mr. Rapson is to be congratulated upon providing a method of jacking all four wheels of a motorcar with a minimum of trouble and complication and a maximum of efficiency. Originally, as readers will recall, the Rapid jack as previously described was operated by engine power. This was an extremely clever idea very ingeniously worked out, and its only defect was that it involved too great an outlay. The inventor then set out to simplify the original idea, and he now makes the jacks integral with both front and back axles. The two front jacks are neatly clamped to the H-section front axle in a way that renders them not in the least unsightly. Brackets surrounding the axle casing secure the rear jacks. When not in use the jacks rest firmly locked in a horizontal position, and the illustration [Column 2] of the front of the car will show how inconspicuous they are when in this position, detracting in no way from the appearance of the car. Mr. Rapson recently provided us with an opportunity of observing the operation of the jacks at a demonstration. The car was a large Rolls-Royce. With a rod and crank one turn unlocks the jack, releasing it from the horizontal to a vertical position and locking it rigidly in place. Then, with an ease that is surprising, due to a slow pitch thread, the jack is extended and the wheel is quickly lifted from the ground, the operation of the rod being so easy that it can be accomplished with one finger on the handle. The car stood on a fairly well cambered road outside our offices, and when the wheel was well clear of the road, Mr. Rapson violently shook the car, but the jack held the heavy vehicle quite rigidly. As we operated the jack ourselves, the recollections of many an unpleasant enterprise with an ordinary jack came to our mind. When one remembers, for instance, the difficulty usually experienced in getting a jack properly situated in the first place for successful operation and its proneness to shift directly the jack rod is applied, the great advantage of having the jack always firmly located exactly in the desired position and forming a permanent fitting will be obvious. It is always ready for immediate action, and simplicity is the keynote of its operation. Nothing n13 [Caption for top image] In this illustration the two front jacks are shown firmly locked in the horizontal position which they occupy when not in use. The jacks are neatly clamped on to the H section front axle. In the rear they are secured by brackets surrounding the axle casing. [Caption for middle image] Here the jack is seen in the first stage of adjustment. A turn of the jack-rod has released the locking mechanism and the jack has been swivelled to a vertical position and automatically locked. The rod has been transferred to the squared socket of the lowering mechanism and the jack is ready to be extended by turning the handle. [Caption for bottom image] In this view the jack has been extended and the wheel is well raised from the ground. The slow pitched thread renders this operation remarkably easy, the handle of the lever being easily rotated with one finger. | ||