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).
State, issues, and proposed improvements for the Phantom steering system.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\Q\April1927-June1927\ 56 | |
| Date | 3rd May 1927 | |
| TO HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} SECRET. ORIGINAL R4/M3.5.27. X8430 X7430 X5430 X235 C. to BJ, WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} " DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}, CWB. " BY, PN.{Mr Northey} PHANTOM STEERING - 7-EX. As you know this car has run 10,000 miles in France, therefore the steering should have worn itself into a state of perfect freedom. Dodd however reports that he considers the steering quite satisfactory for any speed. Since then I have criticised it on the good English roads, and I got the impression that I should not know how to improve it because I could not detect in what direction it had any shortcomings. This I understand is the standard steering we are sending out, but I am not sure whether the good impression has been created by the extra friction of the cross steering tube ball ends which I understand on this car are at present 1200 lbs. each. You will remember that we are endeavouring to find you modifications such as - (1) Decreasing the reversibility by a larger worm. (2) Fitting friction to the steering column shaft. (3) Fitting spring return to the steering column shaft. And you have - (4) The hydraulic damper. (5) The friction damped pendulum lever still to experiment on. We are also altering the characteristics of the geometry of the 20HP. and EAC.7. to the same as at present on Phantom, where the chief imperfection is confined to the bump, and the rebound is kept as near as possible to the minimum. We have written to you asking about the relative importance of - (a) The direct road action. (b) The want of perfection in the geometry. (c) The gyrostatic reaction on the unsteadiness of the steering. We are designing an improved front axle for the 20HP. on the lines of the lighter and better Phantom. We are making an attempt at a design of an axle so as to give a parallel lift to the front road wheels, with the object of avoiding the gyrostatic reaction, and preventing some of the scrub of the tyres on the road. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||