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).
Brake design improvements, patenting a new ratchet drive, and engine issues, with a comparison to a Renault model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\1\ Scan163 | |
| Date | 28th August 1924 | |
| X4214 [Handwritten and struck through] To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} and DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} RG.{Mr Rowledge} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} S E C R E T. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} A.{Mr Adams} C. R1/M28.8.24. X.9770 X.4214 X.9550 X.1013. I think you did well in finding the short-comings of our and Hispano brakes at close quarters. Regarding vacation I am sure CJ. and we all appreciate your and those at WW's wisdom and goodness in putting off your extra holiday until a little later. I have all along thought that the close braking for shunting and traffic was the great point that these and especially DES.60. was weak in. It was not in original conversion scheme. One now rather feels that we must try the ratchet where it will make the distance lag least, and where it can have many pairs of pawls. This is the scheme I sent through yesterday, and I send herewith sketch of pawls section carefully milled to shape and sawn off say .35 wide lengths for 6 or 12 pawls of tough alloy steel, which was at one time in hand. Fortunately any of the schemes experience is shewing necessary are easily applied to existing servo etc. with inexpensive modifications, except my double ratchet drive, (which would not be Hispano free if their patent is good) which goes further than Hispano, and can have high speed drive backwards which would be a great improvement. I am not proposing we do anything further than provisionally patenting it at present, but when time permits it might have a test made as we could get over the patent question. I presume that some of the work you propose to do before you go away applies to EAC, engine as regards :- (1) Over-running vibrations. (2) Detonations. Michelins are now visiting Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence, and I have let them put two 40 HP. Renaults in our garage - one of these (1922 model) has front wheel brakes which the driver thinks fine - separate gearbox and servo) This one especially is very like RR. 40/50 but they have long stroke, so should be worse than our EAC. I thought we must have effective direct foot pressure but you now say if servo acts it must act [struck through] promptly. Renault has magneto ignition only, overhead inlet valve enclosed valves, but no loose head. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||