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).
To Mr Johnson about issues with axle periods and jaggering clutches.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\3\ Scan055 | |
| Date | 17th February 1914 | |
| Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/Hy{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer}20/L17214. Mr Johnson. February 17th. 1914. X 1146 Re Axle periods & Jaggering Clutches. With reference to your recent correspondence with Mr Platford on the above subject, the axle period in question certainly exists but is not pronounced enough to justify the fitting of a damped spring drive coupling. This coupling is expensive, heavy, and in my opinion not reliable enough to expect good results from them all over a long period of use. I have quite recently taken one of these couplings to pieces after being in use for some time and found no less than 9 of the 16 springs broken. I have heard of these springs very often being found to be smashed. The damper is also likely to vary in its action. In Mr Platford's note to you of Feb. 7th.1914 on "Jaggering Clutches" he says that "it appeared essential that the spring coupling must be properly damped". Mr Platford had to take the coupling and adjust it himself to make sure it was properly damped. This rather impresses one that the device is not as reliable as it ought to be on a car. With regard to the improvement to jaggering clutches by fitting a spring drive damped coupling, I do not approve of applying the coupling for this purpose. I am of the opinion that the remedy would be much worse than the disease. | ||