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).
Methods to reduce faults by increasing frame rigidity, improving clutch couplings, and testing shaft alignment.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 25\3\ Scan030 | |
| Date | 14th October 1911 | |
| (2) To decrease this fault, the frame should be increased in rigidity by increasing its depth or trussing as suggested for decreasing body, and by increasing the length of coupling as is done in a design of plate clutch with the universal joint inside the clutch, for which I believe we have a patent. (By the way, I asked for a tracing or print of this plate clutch to be sent to me, don't send the original drawing for fear it should be lost). If some slight elasticity proves effective on a chassis which the alignment is just enough out to cause over-running noise, then we will try to prepare a good coupling which includes this feature. Don't forget that the two shafts are quickly thrown out of alignment by any change of load on the chassis, and also by changing the position of the load on the chassis. I don't think we have any very satisfactory means of testing if the axes of the two shafts are parallel. The best thing I can think of at the moment, is an arm to clamp on the gear box shaft, and to reach to the largest diameter of the flywheel, the distance of the arm from the face of the flywheel to be measured at four points by turning the crankshaft and gear box shaft together, to avoid any error due to want of truth of the flywheel. From the point of view of over-running noise, this test is of great importance. | ||