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).
Letter from the American office describing the features of a new single-plate clutch developed by the Russel Mfg. Company.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\2\ scan0002 | |
| Date | 29th December 1927 | |
| X2200 XH94 ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. RECEIVED JAN 7 1928 OY5.R.12.29.27 December 29th, 1927. Mr. E.W. Hives, Rolls Royce Ltd., Derby, England. (Copy for attention Mr. R.W.H. Bailey) Dear Mr. Hives: RE CLUTCH SECTION 6000 An exceedingly interesting single plate clutch is being developed by the Russel Mfg. Company and is close to adoption by Reo, Franklin and others. We are trying to obtain full particulars, but these will not be available for a week or two. Meanwhile we should like to describe the four interesting features of the clutch. (SeeSK 173.) (1) GRADUAL ENGAGEMENT To overcome the typical "grabbing" action of a plate clutch, without using spring-loaded plates, "wavy" discs, etc., an arrangement has been made to get gradual engagement in the way shown in the small chart on SK 173. From a road-test we should say that the clutch engages far more like the S. Ghost cone clutch at its best than like a plate clutch. For instance the car was coasted down-hill in reverse at perhaps 8 miles an hour and the clutch let in without particular care, causing the car to pull up and start back up the hill without "jagger". (Buick sedan.) A possible way in which this engagement may be arranged is indicated in the sketch of the lever. We do not understand yet whether this is exactly the mechanism of the Russel clutch. (2) CONSTRUCTION OF DISC A fabric disc is built up as indicated in sketch. (Continued) | ||