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).
Proposal to fit a flexible shackle to a car for a 10,000-mile test to improve steering performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179\2\ img281 | |
| Date | 28th February 1931 | |
| -2- EB/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey}2/MA.28.2.31.Contd. our own. It appears that a more nearly irreversible steering than ours is generally used, the flexible shackle in combination with quite flexible steering rods is sufficient to safeguard the steering box from shock stresses. We are quite sure that an experiment on these lines would prove of value; the joggling question is becoming so persistent that we are forced to take notice and do some-thing. We propose to fit a flexible shackle on 19-EX to be run on the next 10,000 miles tests. Unfortunately this car would not be expected to suffer unduly from steering troubles because it is fitted with continental type high rating road springs. The shackle to be fitted to this car will be arranged to give the same rating and load at the spring eye as is employed on the Buick Viz: approx 2,000 lbs in rating, 1000 lbs load. This is the only way we know of improving the steering until such time as we can try a good column friction scheme and more irreversible steering. There are not very many Americans cars now turned out without a flexible shackle. EB/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey} | ||