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).
From R. to H.S. requesting an investigation into front road spring breakages and steering gear flexibility.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\1\ Scan041 | |
| Date | 30th November 1923 | |
| To HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} 4214 R4/M30.11.23. RE. FRONT ROAD SPRINGS AND STEERING GEAR. X. 2628 X. 4214 X. 3441 FRONT SPRINGS. Can you ascertain whether a freer movement of the ends would result in less spring breakages? I do not know how you could ascertain this better than by fitting radius rods temporarily, and the rubber shackles suggested from the States, or some other temporary arrangement for which you have materials at hand. I should also like to know whether springs stiffened by 25% last better than the present strength, and also whether a thicker upper plate would break more quickly, or less quickly ? It will also be of interest to know whether these will stand better when they are lengthened as suggested for the EAC.111. STEERING GEAR. Regarding the steering gear you will notice that the Hispano use buffer springs very similar to our present std. practice, giving quite an amount of freedom and flexibility between the road wheels and the pendulum lever. The more frequent breakages you have lately experienced on the bump test are I believe in combination with set up springs and the straight steering tube, and therefore considerably less flexible. I am also not quite sure whether there is even set up flexibility in both directions. Anyway, unless you find to the contrary, the Hispano has given us pluck to continue the use of our long practice of flexibility in the longitudinal steering tube, and its consequent reduction in the stresses of the steering gear. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||