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).
Gearbox design options, specifically the placement of a freewheel and jaw clutch and the merits of straight versus helical gears.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\5\ Scan341 | |
| Date | 1st October 1932 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} X7310 R5/M.1.10.32. C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} GEARBOXES. X5310 Regarding the silent 2nd. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and myself are not quite in agreement as to the better place to put the freewheel and jaw clutch - that is - whether on the lay-shaft or on the 3rd. motion shaft. The reason we do not agree is that we attach different importance to different parts of the argument, my fear being that the seriousness of churning the oil with high speed tooth engagement is of more importance than the other items. This difference of opinion could be tested by fitting a box up both ways, but as we are so full up with other work, I think the matter should be in abeyance for a time until we find whether customers have any serious complaint against the straight gears on this 2nd. speed. One feels that, except for racing, there is no need to run the engine up to a high speed on 2nd. before changing to 3rd., and in our own getting away we change to 3rd. rather early. This can be quite well done except in the case of starting on a hill, or when the engine is cold, which are very rare occurrences. It should be noted that the change to helical will cost us something in both first cost, and efficiency - i.e. it is not all gain, and may not be really needed. We shall however learn if this is so at an early date. In the gear arrangement for the improved 40/50. - ("SpectreCodename for Phantom III") we may do many things that will alter the case entirely. This we will discuss later. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||