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).
Patents for Marles steering gears and the implications for future production.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 147\1\ scan0296 | |
| Date | 10th November 1937 | |
| RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. BY/NW.{N. Walker - Patents} MARLES PATENTS. F.J. HARDY - 1247 The steering gear we are buying from the Adamant Co. is made under three patents, numbered respectively:- 196374, 411758 and 428728. No. 196374 covers the cam and follower roller as used, and lapses on January 21st 1938. This design, however, does not include an adjustment between the cam and follower roller to eliminate slack. Patent No. 411758, with some 12 years to run, covers the design of the "offset" follower roller by which in the Adamant gear slack can be controlled and eliminated in a correctly produced gear. Patent No. 428728 elaborates the scheme covered in No. 411758. The above means we will after January 21st. 1938 be at liberty to make and sell Marles gears, so far as the cam and follower roller are concerned. We can in fact start at once to obtain the necessary tackle and make the parts, but we may not sell without infringement before January 22nd. 1938, but as we are not at liberty to use the "offset" follower roller we will have to produce a design with eccentric bushings to enable the slack to be eliminated, as unless some such provision is made we know the gear is impracticable. I have written Mr. Olley and asked for information as to how they propose to avoid the still existing lateral control patent for the follower roller, but in the meantime have asked Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} to look into the question of using eccentric bushings, but this will demand some time for production of the Experimental part and a quick test of same. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} By | ||