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).
Description of a unique free wheel clutch and its application in motor vehicles and locomotives.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\R\2October1927-November-1927\ 87 | |
| Date | 11th November 1927 guessed | |
| - 2 - areas of the rollers and surfaces, (b) both rollers and surfaces tend to retain their correct form and (c) wear is a minimum and is automatically taken up. In this respect the clutch appears to be unique; all other free wheel clutches which have hitherto been designed always make contact at each engagement at the same place on one member at least; so that wear is concentrated on this member, its true form is gradually destroyed and the clutch will sooner or later cease to function. 6. The inner member of the clutch can be made very much smaller in diameter than in any other form of clutch, thus enabling the moment of inertia of this member (which may be either driver or driven) to be kept exceedingly low. 7. The relative axial movement of the two members from neutral to full engagement is small and easily controlled. APPLICATION TO MOTOR VEHICLES. (Including internal combustion engined locomotives). (a) As a "free wheel" and easy gear changing device. Two clutches having opposite directions of engagement are fitted to the propeller shaft between the gear box and the back axle. One clutch is for forward driving and is automatically controlled by springs; the other is for reverse driving and engine braking and is operated at will by a positive control allowing of slipping engagement. Both clutches are contained in a housing bolted to the back of the existing gear box or in front of the back axle. Advantages obtained are - (1) Easy gear changing. When the accelerator is released and the main clutch disengaged, both main and lay shafts in the gear box come practically to rest, allowing of silent and easy change. | ||