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).
Improvements for cone clutches, focusing on oil retention, suitable oil types, and the practice of propping clutches out.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\1\ Scan018 | |
| Date | 13th July 1914 | |
| R.R. 235A (150 H) (W.W. 438. 17-6-14) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 0638. To By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Copy to Na.{Mr Nadin} Hy{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} 15/7/14 R11/P 13. 7. 14. COPY. Clutches. Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/Mcr6/L25614. In addition to Mr. Ionides' experiment with our present cone clutches, I should be pleased to know if we have done anything towards the simple lip arrangement that I suggested for retaining the oil, as the present clutches require oiling rather too frequently owing to the rapidity with which they lose the oil. We have also demonstrated that much thicker oil can be used on the clutch than the engine oil. Will the Experimental Dept. please confirm this, testing various materials, even to a greasy black lead. I, however, think that a thick gear box oil that will always be fluid would be found perhaps the best. With reference to devices for holding the clutch out, I think if we use the right oil, and retain the oil better, there will be no need to recommend customers to prop out their clutches. I have always understood that we do not do so at the Works, but it is the practice of the Sales Dept. to do so with their cars, otherwise they say they get poor results. So far as I have seen them, I do not like any of the devices suggested for this purpose. They are rather inclined to add to the complication and perhaps to the danger of acting, when they ought not to do, and since we do not seem to quite agree that it is necessary to prop out the clutch, it would seem inadvisable to fit such a device. R.{Sir Henry Royce} X872 | ||