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).
Suggesting improvements for changing gear on a sliding type gearbox, using a subsidiary gear.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\5\ scan0008 | |
| Date | 4th March 1919 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from EH. c. to CJ. ORIGINAL EH3/LG4.3.19. 4th. Mar. 1919. Suggestions for improving changing gear. X.3342. I should like to make the following suggestions of a means to make changing gear on a sliding type of gear-box a fool-proof and certain operation. The idea briefly is to make use of a tiny change speed gear similar to what is used in the hub of a push-bicycle. One member of this gear is driven from a third motion shaft in the ordinary gear-box, the other member is driven from the side shaft. In the drive is also a small friction clutch. The scheme would be arranged so that in ordinary running the clutch on this subsidiary gear would be disengaged and the gear would be running round idle. It would be possible then, to select any gear in this subsidiary gear when the car was running. (The change gear on a bicycle is absolutely silent and certain and one can see no reason why it should not apply in this case). When the main clutch is disengaged or when the gear lever is in the neutral position, the clutch on the subsidiary gear would be engaged so that the 2 shafts would be made to run at the correct ratio to each other so that the gear could be put in silently. This subsidiary gear would relatively have very little to do because as soon as one gear is released it would take control and either speed the side shaft up or slow it down accordingly to requirements. The friction clutch would save the subsidiary gear from any shock. It would depend on the amount of friction how quickly the 2 shafts would arrive at the correct speed for changing. Contd. | ||