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).
The features and advantages of a transmission system with free-wheeling and clutch capabilities.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\R\2October1927-November-1927\ 88 | |
| Date | 11th November 1927 guessed | |
| - 3 - Change to a lower gear can be made at any road speed, the car overrunning until the engine is accelerated sufficiently to take up the drive. (2) Automatic "free wheeling" during normal running resulting in considerable fuel economy, absence of noise when overrunning and a general sense of freedom and refinement when driving. (3) The device can be fitted without alteration to the existing gear box, the only alteration being a shortening of the propeller shaft and the torque tube. With new design it could be embodied within the gear box housing. (4) The reverse clutch is controlled so as to ensure smooth slipping engagement. When it is "in" the car becomes a normal "fixed wheel" one and can be manoeuvred backwards or forwards, and the engine used as a brake in all gears. (5) If the reverse clutch is engaged when moving forwards the control may be arranged to prevent sudden shock to the transmission and to give a gradual braking effect. (6) When free wheeling down hills the engine is slowly ticking over. Thus there is no chance of oil being sucked past the piston rings as occurs in an ordinary car when moving at speed under low throttle openings, and carbinisation of cylinders and oiling up of plugs are avoided. (7) General saving of wear and tear on the transmission as a whole by avoiding reversals of stresses. (b) As a main clutch between engine and gear box. (1) Lubricated slipping engagement allows smooth starting, especially in the case of heavy vehicles, where an appreciable period of slip must occur between first engagement and the point at which the vehicle has | ||