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).
Design considerations and weight reduction opportunities for various vehicle components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\3\ scan0109 | |
| Date | 1st February 1935 | |
| -4- (6) Rear Axle complete with Prop. Shaft. Our prop. shaft weighs 27 lbs. The Graham weighs 15 lbs. We think our propellor shaft can definitely be lightened by design. We have recently added 1½ lbs. in the form of rings for balancing, out of this material, seldom more than 3 oz. is removed. The need for balancing is largely due to the swaged shaft. Hardy Spicer have produced a shaft for us that weighs less than 20 lbs. The propellor shaft damper is a nasty lump but it has enabled us to take an equivalent piece off the flywheel so that we are all square on the deal. We hope, however, to be able to lighten it. Considering that our front axle is a hundredweight lighter than the Graham, we ought to be able to get something off the rear axle by design. We feel that the hubs could be lightened quite a lot. Of course some of the rear axle weight is attributable to the brake gear. (7) Tool Kit. This is the Exp. Dept. responsibility and we must go over it again. (8) Petrol Tank. We think here again some weight might be saved. (9) Steering. The Peregrine steering brings us to the Pontiac weight. Now that Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} is going to lower the ratio slightly, this steering should be available shortly. (10) Shock Absorbers. Originally developed for the Phantom, these may be too heavy for the Bentley but they are so vital to road holding that we do not think we can save much. | ||