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).
Unsuitability of the Bendix pinion for the Neptune Electric Starter and proposing an alternative design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M1\9\ img002 | |
| Date | 15th December 1921 | |
| R.R. 235a (500 T) (S.D. 408. 26-4-17.) Bm. 2/158/13. ORIGINAL R5/15.12.21. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. EFC. Ey. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} X3779 re Neptune Electric Starter. X3584 X4168B In thinking over the above matter I have come to the conclusion that the Bendix pinion is not ideally suitable for a large engine. I believe it might be made to work with 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 reduction and perhaps a magnetic drag on the pinion, but I think that what is wanted for this big car is magnetic operation of switch and pinion. I should therefore say that we adopt a double reduction gear and sliding pinion with magnetic control, possibly one working in the sequence suggested by me some few months ago. This might be tried on the 40/50 U.S.A. type starter which ought to give silent operation, independent of careless operation which we have. I have already asked Mr. Clarke to test the scheme with the present 40/50 equipment. To some extent this is confirmed by U.S.A. Westinghouse using for their equipment de luxe magnetic operation of pinion. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||