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).
Experimental work and solutions for a transmission vibration and rattle complaint.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\4\ img028 | |
| Date | 19th April 1932 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Gr.{George Ratcliffe} for. Rk. c. to PN.{Mr Northey} SP.{Mr Spinney} 20/25 - TRANSMISSION VIBRATION. Replying to F.1/214.4.32. A considerable amount of experimental work has been done in connection with this complaint, and reports have been circulated. As will be seen from these reports (copies attached), all the tests go to prove that the cause of this rattle is variation of the piston inertia. We know that we can overcome it with a flexible joint between the gearbox and the axle. We think the job has arrived at the position when it is for the designers to choose the best means of overcoming it. In the case of F.2 and J.3 we have flexible couplings between the gearbox and engine, therefore this fault will not arise. We must not, however, think that the fabric coupling is an unmixed blessing, for they are always giving trouble. The last quarterly complaint sheet shows that 92 were replaced on Phantom cars during the previous six months. The Experimental position is that we are forced to take some action. The Repair Dept. have a customer's car returned to them with a definite complaint of this rattle. They do all they can in replacing parts, but the rattle is still complained of and we have to agree that it is a definite fault. The Repair Dept. then ask the assistance of the Experimental to find a cure which will satisfy the customer. We have no designs which allow for fabric joints between the engine and gearbox and therefore we have to look to other means which can be applied to existing cars. In the one car to which this damper has been fitted we have since heard from the customer in which he expressed himself satisfied that we were at last able to overcome this trouble. There has never been any intention of making this fitting standard on all cars. The reason for sending the standardisation sheet round was because we were receiving no help from the design and we know that to ask them to sign a standardisation sheet generally produces an answer. This position should not arise now that we have E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} at Derby. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copies of - (Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}1/MJ.29.5.31, Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}5/RT.9.6.31. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/MA.15.2.32, Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/AD.24.2.32) attached to R.{Sir Henry Royce}, E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}, & Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}'s. copies only. X5310 | ||