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).
Meeting report on testing cars with different gearboxes and clutches, including Maybach and Wilson types.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\2January1931-April1931\ Scan062 | |
| Date | 13th March 1931 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Dl. c. to Hdy.{William Hardy} PN.{Mr Northey} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/AH.13.3.31. X. 2924. X. 2200. X. 432. MEETING AT ST.{Capt. P. R. Strong} ALBANS MARCH 12 TH. 1931. A meeting was arranged at Bignall's Corner near St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} Albans. The object was to try 14-KK, car with Maybach type of clutch for third and top speed. Also to try a Daimler car fitted with a Wilson gearbox and fluid flywheel. Those present were SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}, PN.{Mr Northey}, E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}, Ds., Hdy.{William Hardy}, Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey}, and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 14-KK. car has the old Phantom 1 gearbox fitted with a double helical third. The Maybach clutches had been applied to this box. The change to top and third works equally as well on this car as on the Maybach car. One could either change by using the clutch or by pre-selecting the gear. The load on the jaws was sufficient so that if the gear lever was moved nothing would happen until the accelerator pedal was released. This arrangement therefore gave us a very good approximation of how the Maybach would work with a vacuum control. The car was handled by everyone and the general opinion was that the change with the Maybach clutches was satisfactory. A certain amount of intelligence has to be used, the engine speed must be allowed to slow down sufficiently for the jaws to engage before the engine is opened out. It was shown the possibilities of what might happen if the Maybach clutches are used with a neutral position and it was agreed that it would not be safe to think of selling cars arranged in this way. The Daimler car was a 25 HP. 6 cylinder car. The engine and chassis were not of much interest - it was noisy and souless. The gearbox, however, worked very well indeed. For a complete epicyclic box one could not imagine anything working better. The general view held, however, was that it was unnecessary to have an easy change for the lower gears, and that it would meet our requirements if we have a silent easy change third speed. We also had there a 25 HP. car (18-S4) which was fitted with an engine unit having the cast iron crankcase fully balanced crankshaft, and the lightened and stiffened flywheel. The feature of this car is that it is exceptionally smooth at top speeds. A separate report will be sent along. | ||