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).
Decision against using a servo brake on the Phoenix model and evaluating alternative braking systems.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 111\3\ scan0173 | |
Date | 6th May 1937 | |
806 SECRET. 1044 E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Ey. c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}10/R.6.5.37. It has been decided that we shall not use a servo on Phoenix. The Americans have built a moderately self-wrapping brake with some success, so that there does not seem to be any justification for the weight and complication of a servo on any car which weighs less than 35 cwts. We want to get some of these brakes schemed out quickly, so that we can get some preliminary tests running on a Bentley. We are proposing to use mechanical linkage in view of the fact that the Hydraulic brake transmission made in this country is not at present sufficiently well manufactured to give us any degree of confidence. The fact that we couple mechanical linkage to American brake shoes may land us into trouble. As an alternative, we are investigating the Vauxhall system where they have a double master cylinder. Our own opinion is, that the American self-energising brake has given the hydraulic brake mechanism a very much easier time, and that with these shoes the failures which have taken place on the Lockheed brakes in this country will not be reproduced. Attached is report from Martindale on the Chevrolet brakes. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||