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).
Outlining a list of urgent design work and improvements for various car components.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\U\2January1930-September1930\ Scan128 | |
| Date | 20th May 1930 | |
| RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} F.A. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ) Copy to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Copy to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} F.{Mr Friese} DESIGNING WORK. LIST IN ORDER OF URGENCY. CARS. PETROL PUMP. To simplify system and reduce cost (P.2.) and avoid effect of autovac on carburation (25HP.) DOUBLE CARBURETTER. Since Derby reports the increase of torque at slow speeds. The reason why we must make our own is to be exclusive, and to provide a mixture strength control, also we can quickly take advantage of improvements. Add to this long duration cams with slightly increased compression ratio, and we get 15% more power at all speeds. CHANGE GEAR. We must at least have a more easily obtainable 3rd. gear. The Maybach scheme is already within our immediate reach, but I have turned down schemes which apply to one gear only as being insufficiently perfect for any length of time, so we are working (DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/HDY{William Hardy}) on our own epicyclic. This makes the performance better intraffic, acceleration, and hills. HYDRAULIC SHOCK DAMPERS. (a) I have always thought these should be one way to some extent, probably 50% up to 100% down - i.e. at the moment the down should be increased. It is just possible that radiator jellying would be much less if the up were reduced. Test this at say 5% of down. (b) From time to time we have suggested soft centring by valves or spring connection. Recently Mr. Hardy suggested a small air chamber for the same. Our schemes were better than some which have been adopted, but we have not heard of any results. We have also suggested driver control by pneumatic or hydraulic means. Some of these may be what are needed, and are no doubt valuable ideas that should not be lost. It is so expensive and such an upheaval to make changes that they must be sufficiently well done to be lasting, but for the standard of perfection we aim for, and our clients have to pay for, we cannot afford to let our productions fall much below the best the world produces - i.e. the new creations must of necessity often be in advance of our ancient designs, so we must continually be in the march of progress by reconsidering the design of all our productions, say every 5 yrs., and expect and allow for changes - i.e. new creations should be many years ahead. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||