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).
Use of a universal ring to improve the smoothness of the Phantom III clutch.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 93\3\ scan0214 | |
| Date | 8th December 1936 | |
| 312 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} --- C. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} E/HDY.{William Hardy}1/HP.8.12.36. Phantom III Clutch. ------------------- We send herewith prints of detail drawings RS.{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary}368 to 374 for the parts of the universal ring to equalise the load on the pressure plate levers as shown by N.Sch.4958. It appears to us that this device should help to improve the smoothness of take-up in two ways:- (1) The static distribution of load on the pressure plate is equalised regardless of the setting of the levers. Uneven warping of the pressure plate cannot upset the general distribution of load. (2) The general distribution of load is equalised when engaging the clutch even although the clutch disc is not uniform in thickness initially or when under load. When slipping with a large difference in relative speed between the flywheel and the clutch disc the inertia of the pressure plate may not allow the universal action to be effective. However the troublesome condition is that when the flywheel and clutch speeds are nearly equal and we do not think that inertia will have any appreciable effect then - In the event of this scheme being found to be beneficial we can incorporate it in the design now in hand for a revised Phantom III clutch. In this design the universal ring for the thrust bearing is deleted so we should have to replace it but in front of, instead of behind the thrust bearing. E/HDY.{William Hardy} Hdy{William Hardy} | ||