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).
Previous experiment on a lighter clutch and proposing further modifications for weight reduction.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\2\ scan0252 | |
| Date | 25th March 1919 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} From EH. c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X.3439 Chassis EH4/LG25.3.19. 25th. Mar. 1919. With reference to your memo to try a lighter clutch member. Some years before the War we carried out this experiment and at that time we went as far as to take the fabric off the clutch member and fix it to the clutch ring portion of the fly-wheel. The same aluminium member was used but it was cut down to the last degree in lightness. The results of the tests made with this was that there was no marked difference in the ease of changing gear, one still had to double-clutch. The tests were carried out on a 3-speed gear-box. We can, of course, if you wish, repeat the tests but I think if we do that it would be a good idea to fix the fabric in the clutch ring as this removes a considerable portion of weight and reduces the diameter. EH. | ||