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).
Secret internal memorandum discussing an investigation into a steering binding issue.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\3\ scan0115 | |
Date | 9th April 1925 | |
X. 8430 To DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} S E C R E T. R3/M9.4.25. c. to CJ. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} A.{Mr Adams} C. STEERING. It seems beyond belief that the above steering is wrong by some inefficiency in the box, (Binding up.) I have telegraphed that Mr. Hardy should go, and stay at Derby until the mystery is found. I cannot think it is nut distortion, and we give Derby credit for it not being simple to find, (such as tube clearance, inside and out). The Goshawk nut should make a difference as the controls are wider and the levers have no torsion, but common slackness should have freed the whole, especially did-not-shew-anything-bu if amply clear in the thread dia. The test of efficiency did not shew anything but it was not made on the chassis. I have instructed short rollers for the pendulum shaft and assumed that tests are being made with all the improvements suggested - i.e. bolted levers. We were told that these gave a marked improvement, then I heard still wrong, but no further word about bolted levers. I should put together dry, with red-raddle to see if friction could be seen. I cannot see how the ball thrust can be failing to carry the load on the balls, and assuming that everything is in proper order it would seem that the nut twists. Unfortunately, it is controlled by the length of the nut and the trunnions, which naturally somewhat disagree at the ends of the stroke when under stress, but this seems the same in all models, but it is this point I have always suspected, hench the bolting together, but still there may be such differences as diametrical clearance in old nut, and none in EAC. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||