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).
Letter from Leyland Motors discussing synchro-mesh gearbox arrangements, drawings, and test results.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 140\4\ scan0299 | |
| Date | 18th October 1940 | |
| Leyland Leyland 1175 BY APPOINTMENT TO THE LATE KING GEORGE V.{VIENNA} LEYLAND MOTORS LIMITED, Head Office and Works, Manufacturers of Motor Vehicles. ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMPANY AND NOT TO INDIVIDUALS TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: LEYMOTORS, LEYLAND. TELEPHONE: LEYLAND 81400 (16 Lines) LEYLAND, LANCASHIRE. CUSTOMERS' VEHICLES DRIVEN AT OWNERS RISK ONLY . . . YOURS Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/SML. IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE: OURS CE/VWP/HK.{Col. T. Harker - Sales} Tel: Ext: 97. PERSONAL. 18th October, 1940. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham Esq., Rolls-Royce Ltd., D E R B Y. Dear Robotham, Mr. Spurrier has advised me that he has received a letter from you in which you state that you are awaiting some information from me in regard to the synchro-mesh gearbox. As arranged, I am enclosing herewith a drawing of the clutch spinner, from which you will be able to assess the moment of inertia as compared with the usual practice in cars, also detail drawings of the combined shaft and pinion and representative gears, together with details of the cones. A copy of the arrangement drawing is also being included, from which you will see the general disposition of the locking device, etc., for cone operation. You were advised that it was found necessary, as a result of test in Research Department, to arrange for pressure feed to the cone faces, and should you like to have details of this arrangement these will be forwarded. As soon as we have made arrangements for the modified dogs to be fitted in the gearbox which you saw on test, the whole unit will then be transferred to a service bus for the purpose of establishment of drive-ability, driver reaction, etc., to this type of transmission. At the same time, of course, we will obtain some figures of durability in regard to cones. A further box is being assembled which will be fitted into an experimental chassis with a fluid flywheel, but in this case only a very light clutch unit will be fitted, as we are of the opinion that by dissipating the starting energy in the fluid flywheel a comparatively small clutch only will be necessary | ||