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).
Spring-loaded ball location for the 1st speed wheel in Spectre and Wraith gearboxes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 94\1\ scan0045 | |
| Date | 13th October 1934 | |
| 14694 328 To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} and RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} from HDY.{William Hardy} HDY.{William Hardy}4/HP.13.10.34. C.c. to?-by Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} & Mr. [Illegible] [Signature: GRY{Shadwell Grylls}] SpectreCodename for Phantom III and Wraith Gearboxes. N. Sch.4224 herewith shews a spring loaded ball for the location of the 1st speed wheel when in neutral. There is necessarily some endwise slack in the location of the 1st speed wheel by the actuating mechanism when in neutral and consequently the wheel is free to move fore and aft under the influence of the spiral splines whenever there is any oscillation of the 3rd motion shaft as was observed in the test rig. We are not sure whether this will cause any trouble on the car but we think that provision should be made as we show but that the box should be run without the ball in place until it is found necessary to have it. Will you kindly provide an alternative spring of half the strength. Will you kindly scale down this scheme to .850 approx. for the Wraith. HDY.{William Hardy} | ||