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).
Methods for reducing the weight of the Bentley chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\3\ scan0112 | |
| Date | 5th February 1935 | |
| x258 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lss. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Std. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/FJR. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Cts.{C. Trot Salt - Carburation} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Brtz. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} Bentley Weights. We are proposing to get some weight off the Bentley chassis. Attached is a copy of a report which indicates what can be done. Most lightening jobs are in our own hands because we can make the necessary parts and prove them out on the bumper. We therefore want everyone to tackle their own section to see what contribution they can make towards lightening the car. Considering the various sections of the chassis :- Brakes. We understand that both E.R.A's and M.G's have used Electrone brake drums and steel liners with marked success in races during the past year. We also know that 12 years ago Hispanos used an aluminium alloy drum with a cast-iron liner. Particulars of this are in the file, together with its weight. We are not much in favour of magnesium for the brake drum because this is a poor material at high temperatures, but we think that aluminium, particularly a forged alloy, ought to be able to do the job quite satisfactorily. We must get together all the available information on the subject and decide what we want, and then get some on test. M.G's produce a racing petrol tank which weighs 2 lbs. per gallon only. We think our petrol tanks are unnecessarily heavy, and we should supply the Designers with enough information to produce a lighter one. We have to remember however, that the front of the tank is battered by stones, and a guard may be necessary if we go to a thin gauge. We should proceed with the Hardy Spicer propellor shaft and get it ready to run the next 10,000 miles with the correct axle. | ||