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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).
Standard method for measuring steering friction in pivots and linkages on axles.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 12\1\  01-page023
Date  10th September 1926
  
To DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
c. to EY.
c. to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AJL.

Handwritten: X7420

Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}7/LG10.9.26.

STEERING. Handwritten: X7420, X7430 (crossed out)

We have adopted a standard method of measuring friction in the pivots and friction in the linkage on axles.

(A) To measure the friction in the pivots, high pressure straight-sided tyres are fitted inflated to 50 lbs/sq.in. placed on smooth well-greased steel plates. The tangential load at the periphery of the steering wheel required to start the wheels moving on a lock is then measured.

(B) The friction in the linkage is obtained by repeating the test with the front wheels jacked off the ground.

Previous figures we gave were taken on the rim of the wheel on the iron plate.

Figures for axles we have tried on 12-EX taken by the above method, which we find more consistent are :-

Test (A).
1. Standard axle - 13 - 14 lbs.
2. New type axle - 11 - 12 lbs.
3. New type axle, extra friction plate in both pivots - 17 - 18 lbs.

Test (B).
In each case arranged by ball end load to give 4.5 lbs.

Friction required in test (B) to give best results with new axle, no extra friction plate, with 6.75" tyres at 40 lbs/sq.in. is 7 - 8 lbs.

Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}
  
  


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