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).
Success and implementation of a new synchromesh gearbox with a silent third gear.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 6\2\ 02-page193 | |
| Date | 1st January 1931 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.R. C. to ST.{Capt. P. R. Strong} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} HIC. X523 R/1428.A.31. CAR GEARBOXES - SYNCRO MESH. WITH SILENT 3rd. (New arrangement) X.523 X.7316 X.5310 X.4027 This seems to be an unqualified success, and we must thank HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} for inducing us to make it. I did not think that the patents were available to us. Our design, combined with the fact that we have a 4 speed gearbox, and a very free clutch, appears to work better than anything we have before tested. We think the design that we have adopted is better than that of either Warner or Cadillac. We have the impression that it is the first time this has been applied to spiral gears. The spiral gears, though admittedly hardly perfect were far better for silence than the 3rd. gears we have been using. There is a little doubt that they would wear still more silent. The utility is greater than anything we had anticipated, and there is little doubt that it will fill the buyers' require-ments for some time to come. I have not much fear of its reliability, and its extra cost is well within reason. I was pleased to hear that DR. and HIC. were favourably impressed with the scheme and design generally. We decided yesterday that we would ask DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/HWV. to make the necessary arrangement drawing for P.2. especially noticing its application to the L.H. chassis. It is also considered that this will be available for "Peregrine" The stock of parts of other gearboxes should be slowed up as much as ever possible. I was very pleased to agree that the back axle ratio could be increased at least 10%. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||