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).
Page from 'The Motor' magazine discussing an automatic road signalling system, steering gear, and a removable dash lamp.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\3\ scan0043 | |
| Date | 15th December 1920 | |
| December 15, 1920. 1041 The Motor O.P.V.—Contd. First of all it is far easier in operation than even the most costly and perfectly made worm steering, and, secondly, it's the only form of steering gear on the market to-day which never develops backlash. One frequently hears people complain that there is a terrible lot of backlash in their gears, and that they are everlastingly having to refill with grease and oil in order to keep the gear in even a tolerably useable condition, but they never seem to regard this as anything but quite natural and inevitable, whereas the simple fact is that if they fitted a Marles gear the lubrication would be a matter to be attended to at extremely rare intervals, and they would have a gear which was quite consistent day after day and year after year, and which is so beautifully free in action that even after a 300 mile run the driver comes in with arms untired. I believe that it would astonish nine motorists out of ten if they were to investigate the details of their steering gears. B. DAVIS. Swansea. Automatic Road Signalling. The one object aimed at in inventing this apparatus has been public safety. It is intended to be erected at dangerous country cross-roads and corners, where the bend or sweep of the corner, or corners, is so acute or obscured that it is impossible for anyone to see approaching traffic until they have actually rounded the corner. The device may also be used with great advantage at points of danger in every city, town or village, although my original intention was to design something to take the place of a policeman at points of danger on the highways. It is entirely automatic in its action, and the only attention necessary is for a man to inspect it about once a week. If the man is provided with a bicycle, then he could quite easily look after an entire district. The apparatus consists of a "signal box" and a "road box," the means of communication between the two being accomplished by an electric cable. The "signal box" will be erected in the most advantageous position at a road junction or corner, the exact position of which being one from which it can easily and clearly be seen at a considerable distance. The "road box," which may be of any length, or laid in sections sufficiently wide apart for the wheels of vehicles to pass over, is intended to be installed about 100 yards from the signal box and on the left side of the road. Whenever vehicles approach dangerous cross-roads or corners they are compelled to pass over the road box, and by so doing they operate certain simple mechanical devices. This has the effect of causing the signal, through the action of electricity, to oscillate, thereby warning any vehicles which may be approaching in an opposite direction. [Image Caption] One of the automatically-operated signals in position at a dangerous corner. The face of the signal box is automatically lit up by night, giving it an appearance very similar to a large illuminated clock dial. For cross-roads two signal boxes are used, one painted with a red ring and the other with a green ring; the signal box with the red ring will signal only when vehicles are approaching from the left, and the one with the green ring will only signal when vehicles are approaching from the right. By night red and green lights are employed to indicate the direction of a vehicle's approach, these lights being automatically regulated in such a manner that they give a series of flashes whilst the signal remains at danger, i.e., whilst it continues to oscillate, which will be for a period of about 30 seconds. In case of fog, a siren is employed which is also automatically regulated to work in conjunction with the signal whilst at danger. In conclusion I might add that the chief points aimed at throughout the designing of this apparatus have been efficiency, simplicity, and economy, and I claim that by the use of my invention, accidents at dangerous cross roads and corners will be reduced to a minimum, and in all probability entirely eliminated, due to the fact that vehicles approaching from one direction will be able to give ample and clear warning to those approaching from another. E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} BADGER. [Diagram Caption] This signalling scheme is based on the rule of lighting adopted at sea, a green light being carried on the starboard (or off) side and a red light on the port (or near) side. Fig. 1.—Signals and cars in position at cross-roads. Fig. 2.—The signal. Figs. 3 and 4.—Green and red lights on car. Removable Dash Lamp. In to-day's Motor the very interesting article entitled "Driving in Darkness" refers to the value of an extra light for adjustments and investigations at night or for seeing signposts, etc. May we refer in this connection to the useful feature in all standard Jordan cars, viz., the dashboard lamp complete with its metal shield, which is removable, and when the 6 yd. length of flexible wiring is slipped into place, the driver has a light which is available for any part of the car. JOSEPH A. {Mr Adams} MACKLE, LTD. D33 | ||