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).
Letter discussing clutch performance, torsional vibration, and a proposal to test a Buick car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\3\ scan0003 | |
| Date | 16th February 1916 | |
| Count Carlos de Salamanca. -2- R1/G24618. Contd. of clutch either dry, or lubricated, does not take up its load as sweetly as our standard fabric lined cone clutch, used for many years on our cars. The phenomenon which we (and we believe others) have failed to get over, is caused by the difference between friction at rest, and friction in motion, and the result is that just before the clutch starts the car on a difficult grade there is a torsional vibration. I suggest that you endeavour to get an opportunity to take this Buick car on to a steep incline, and start it from rest, using such a gear that it requires nearly the full power of the engine to start the car, then, if this torsional vibration exists, it will be found to be most manifest under these conditions. We will try also to get hold of a car here, and make a similar test. It should be remembered that the duty of a good clutch for car work, is one that will take up the torque (load) sweetly and that with an engine that will carburate and distribute well at extremely slow speed, there is no need to continuously slip the clutch. We have always endeavoured to make our engines run as slowly as is desired to drive the car without touching the clutch. Yours very sincerely, R.R. 235 A (400 T.) (S.C.) 538. 16-2-16 G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 1646. | ||