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).
Technical memorandum discussing transmission slack in compound epicyclic gears and the role of fluid flywheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\1\ img290 | |
| Date | 28th January 1933 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM HDY.{William Hardy} GRY{Shadwell Grylls} ORIGINAL HDY{William Hardy}/1 - 28.1.33. See me HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} COMPOUND EPICYCLIC GEARS. When the top gear is obtained by means of clutch at the forward end of the gears, as on the Wilson, and as proposed by us, there is inevitably more slack in the transmission than with direct coupling. We shall be without two features which reduce the effect of the slack at low speeds on a Lanchester or Daimler car, viz: the fluid flywheel, and the friction between the annuli due to the top gear clutch end thrust passing through all the annuli. We cannot be certain that the friction is sufficient to be of much value. In view of the fact that the slightest additional slack in the transmission is noticed on our cars (as on the Peregrine extension shaft), we should be glad if all that is possible could be done to determine beforehand whether we shall be able to tolerate the slacks with no fluid flywheel. Is it possible to lock up the flywheel on the Lanchester car you have? The only way we know to avoid the slacks is to place the top gear clutch at the rear of the box where it gets full engine torque instead of only a quarter when at the front. HDY.{William Hardy} | ||