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).
Letter from Bijur Motor Appliance Company describing an automatic gear engaging device.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 40\5\ Scan068 | |
| Date | 16th December 1921 | |
| X.3587 BIJUR MOTOR APPLIANCE COMPANY, Hoboken, New Jersey. Paris, Dec. 16th. 1921. Automotive and Aeronautical electrical equipment. Rolls-Royce Ltd., Nightingale Rd., Derby, England. Your reference - Wd{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead}4/NJ14.12.21. Dear Sirs, Replying to your letter of the 14th.inst., I take pleasure in sending you herewith our blue-prints Nos. SE-100 and SE-101 which show the outline dimensions of the Bijur automatic gear engaging device. The construction and operation of this device are fully explained in the following description and in the enclosed cross-sectional sketches. The question of test samples of this apparatus is covered in a paragraph at the end of this letter. CONSTRUCTION. Referring to the enclosed Sketch No.1, which shows a cross-section of the device in the disengaged position, the starter shaft 1 is fitted with an externally threaded sleeve 2, which is held in place by means of the pin 3. On the starter shaft 1 is also mounted a pinion 4 which has a smooth bore, and may rotate and slide on the shaft in all directions. The pinion 4 is keyed to the barrel 5 through notches of this barrel which register with the pinion teeth. The pinion and barrel will therefore rotate together, but the barrel may slide longitudinally along the pinion teeth. At the other end of the barrel 5 are cut six slots about 1/4 inch deep into which fit corresponding external splines of the steel plate 6. Between this plate and the flange "A" of the pinion member 4 is a spiral spring 7 which is slightly compressed and applies the plate 6 against the washer 8. This washer, which is of a special cork composition and forms part of a friction clutch as will be shown later, is held on its other face against the flange face of an internally threaded nut 9. The flanged nut 9 rides on the threaded sleeve 2. The barrel casing 5 is closed by means of a cover 10, which is held in place by a spring lock ring not shown in the sketch for simplicity. The dished washer 11 is slightly compressed and forms a small friction clutch which facilitates operation under certain conditions, its slipping torque is low, and its function an auxiliary one, so that it will be disregarded in the following explanation. contd:- | ||