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).
With a diagram proposing a design modification for a steering lever, replacing serrations with a solid-forged lever and taper bolt flange.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M3\M3.2\ img016 | |
| Date | 9th May 1925 | |
| TO D.A. & E.V. FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} ON MY VISIT TO ENGINEERING DEPT. MAY 5. 25. Copy to S.A.C. STEERING BOX / 48T30 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} reports that the above, with the addition of the Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence flange and bolts so that both levers which are driven by the steering nut must be correctly synchronised and free from slack under all conditions, removes the friction and inefficiency found in this box. We thought that the serrations would be satisfactory even if they were slightly slack provided the levers were timed correctly. It has now occurred to me that since we are obliged to have the flanges we might forge one lever on the shaft and so avoid the serrations entirely, and save some work, slack, and weight, making a better job for less money. My own way would be to have oval flanges and 2 bolts only of large size taper, fine thread and locked with plate washers so that there is no temptation to leave them slack. You will see that this is the same scheme as we use for fastening the levers on the stub axles, thus:- The nuts can be next the solid side. All these are forgings. Taper bolts tightly driven in. Locking plate washer. Section of lever. This must bear with safety the maximum and reverse torque by hand of a strong man on the steering wheel, especially at the ends of the steering motion. It would also seem as though the worm and probably the steering nut also are too short. It must have enough thread still engaged not to be damaged by the strongest torque. The worm can easily be longer. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||