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).
Visit from Mr. Pilkington of Leylands discussing synchromesh gearboxes, fuel pumps, oil engines, and brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 140\3\ scan0141 | |
| Date | 25th January 1938 | |
| 1175. also 325 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Kg. c. to Wd.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls}1/AP.25.1.38 VISIT OF MR.PILKINGTON - CHIEF ENGINEER OF LEYLANDS. Mr.Pilkington visited us to try the synchromesh operation of a P.III. car. Leylands have been experimenting with a two layshaft synchromesh box which is very heavy to operate. The primary object of synchromesh on a 'bus is to enable the starting gear to be engaged while stopping so that a get-away is subsequently made without delay. Leylands are going to fit a P.III. box in one of their chassis and the results of this test will be very interesting. On other matters: Leylands have also had trouble due to steel gearbox bushes seizing. A gear running on top of splines, steel to steel, has given no trouble. FUEL PUMPS. In hot countries they have had vapour lock complaints and have overcome it by driving the A.C. pump off the gearbox layshaft where it is under a head of petrol from the tank. OIL ENGINES. If their customers would accept the fuel consumption they would use nothing but petrol engines. Oil engines give them far more troubles, such as bearing failure, crankshaft failure and breakage of main bearing cap studs. He hoped to convince customers that the reduced weight and size of the petrol engine for a given performance was what mattered, and was in reality more economical to run. BRAKES. Pilkington said a new experimental Bendix brake in which both shoes are wrapping and coupled by a linkage that ensures equal wear is giving good results. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} | ||