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).
Secret internal memorandum discussing three design issues: patents, steering shocks, and a heated dynamo.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\1\ Scan118 | |
| Date | 23th February 1924 | |
| 4214 To RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} S E C R E T. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} A.{Mr Adams} C. X.9770 X.4214 X.9940. You will see by my telegram that we seem still in trouble to get EAC.3. satisfactory, in spite of my intended thoroughness. Three troubles appear to be ahead. If this is so how shall we get clear of them? (1) Patents. Hispano brake operation - i.e., foot assisted, slow speed, ratchet driven servo. Is Hispano a master patent for this, and is it sound? (2) Shocks to steering due to increased inclination of pedals. (Compromise for minimum all round trouble seems our only course as telegraphed, because we have to consider so many things such as soft roads, deflated tyres, unequal braking, etc., steering wobbles, out of balance wheels. Fortunately we have Hispano for reference.) (3) Heated dynamo from exhaust pipes. It is suggested this will be a great trouble but I hope not so bad as anticipated. The only thing is to try at once if this is serious. I have suggested that a possible way of clearing the patent is to go on with my semi-servo. I fear Mr. Rowledge's suggested scheme is not clear and obvious enough when compared with say Hispano. Moreover we must have a scheme by which you can shunt a car to an inch with the foot brake on rough and inclined surfaces. Nothing less should suit us. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||