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).
On delays and proposed schemes for applying front wheel brakes to the 'Swallow' chassis.
| Identifier | Morton\M1.A\ img009 | |
| Date | 22th November 1921 | |
| FWB & SWALLOW DESIGN WORK To C.J. From R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to F.H.R. " " [strikethrough text] " " HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} " " [strikethrough] Messrs. claremont Haynes & Co. ORIGINAL (Stamp) RECEIVED NOV 25 (Stamp) X.4428 X4405 RE FRONT WHEEL BRAKES, AND DESIGN WORK ON "SWALLOW" ETC. We have been considerably delayed in Mr. Day's department by considering the application of front wheel brakes to the present chassis. We do not know whether you consider this work should take precedence of the "Swallow", but for many days it has been crowding it out. We have now pretty clearly seen through part of the problem concerned with the front axle, and that we can apply Perrot's operating mechanism fairly satisfactory, but we cannot operate the four brakes with sufficient energy for them to be really successful without some relay or servo system, and this is the part which is now absorbing attention. Since writing the above I have decided to try to work out one of the following schemes:- Knowing the shortcomings of the systems so far produced, and the difficulties of application to our existing chassis, we have schemed the following. Part of the first one is covered by a patent handed to our solicitors some time ago. (1) On the engine or chassis is mounted an air compressing pump which can be used as a tyre pump as well as for the brakes. The cost of this pump therefore, need not be entirely charged to the brake system. (2) The pump is made by schemes already in hand to work quietly and with extra reliability, and is used to pump up a reservoir of about 500 cu.ins. This latter is quite a small and inexpensive affair. (3) Normally the front wheel brakes can be operated by the pedal direct (one equaliser) and the back wheel brakes operated by the side (hand) lever (or vice versa) so that quite usual and reliable operation can be obtained if (Contd.) | ||