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).
Proposed improvements to the Bentley chassis for increased rigidity and other updates.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\6\ 06-page217 | |
| Date | 21th July 1934 | |
| X4553 To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} From E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} re Bentley. We have appreciated for some time that the most urgent improvement we should like to act on the Bentley chassis is a more rigid chassis frame. We have lately instructed an additional dropped front crossmember to N. Sch. 4/2/4 which is intended to couple the frame sides between the mudguard brackets, and has for its object to reduce the lamp and wing movement, but this is only a mild palliative compared with what we think is necessary. We have given this matter some consideration and have come to the conclusion that the quickest way in which we could introduce an improvement would be to fit an independently mounted gearbox which would allow us to incorporate a cross in the frame and box the side channels up to the front dumb irons. Incidentally this would enable us to mount the engine very flexibly and solve some of the difficulties at present encountered in connection with this problem. There arises however the necessity of finding a suitable gearbox, and in this connection we have in mind the scaled down SpectreCodename for Phantom III gearbox, the schemes for which are going ahead in conjunction with our work on the Wraith chassis. This gearbox would also introduce the second speed synchromesh and silent first gear. The Bentley chassis is one that calls for a rigid frame more so perhaps than any of our other models, and this scheme would enable us to introduce the desired improvement in the minimum of time as well as bringing the Bentley into line in connection with the other points enumerated. I have discussed this matter with Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and he is entirely in agreement with the policy recommended. Another point that arises also and which we have verified on the drawing board is that the engine can be pushed two or three inches further forward without altering | ||