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).
Rear axle control and engine design, comparing various Continental and American cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\1\ scan0029 | |
| Date | 11th October 1927 guessed | |
| contd :- -5- REAR AXLE CONTROL. The general practice on Continental cars appears to be to fit a torque tube with semi elliptic rear springs. Amongst others - Delage, Hispano, Panhard, Peugeot, Voisin, Fiat, Itala, Talbot and Ansaldo adopt this system. The majority of the torque tubes appear to be of very light section. The American cars at the Show chiefly had Hodg-kiss drive. The Continental cars using Hodgkiss drive frequently fit some form of torque control. Thus Itala has a shock absorber torque control fitting on the rear axle which is exceptionally neat as will be seen from the attached sketch. The Bugatti run a very light pressed steel torque arm from the front universal joint to the back axle, the front end being supported by a fabric shackle. ENGINE DESIGN. Novelties in this direction were lacking. The Buick have adopted balance weights on their crankshaft. The rockers on the Itala and other cars are of practically knife section. Some engines are suspended at two points at the front of the crankcase on silent-block bearings the third point being behind the gearbox. The Salmson has the two points located contd:- | ||