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).
Potential modifications to the Phantom chassis, including steering, ignition, and pistons.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\1\ scan0040 | |
| Date | 18th May 1926 | |
| X7770 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to BJ. RG.{Mr Rowledge} RE PHANTOM CHASSIS, X.8770, X.8040, X.7770, X.8430. The Word "New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I" might now be simplified to "Phantom" only, "New" being unnecessary and undesirable. I understand that EAC.8 now awaits nothing as it is fitted with a cast dash, and is therefore satisfactory in the support of the column. It is assumed that this steering should be as perfect as any known but still might be liable to high speed wobbles if running with any type of tyres which are partly deflated, unless fitted with our hydraulic shock dampers giving effective damping, probably in both directions, in the neighborhood of 80 and 40 lbs. I have suggested that this ratio shall be 50% and that the rebound shall be kept over 60 lbs. Low speed steering wobbles are met by increased friction in the system, and avoiding excessive lean in the pivots. I have suggested that we should have spring loaded balls on both the cross steering tube and the longitudinal steering tube, each ball contributing something towards the damping. Lignum vitae and lead bronze should be tried so that these balls are not liable to seize if the lubrication is neglected. X.8685. X.8680. Regarding ignition we have suggested one or two little modifications to the ignition relay which could be tried, and if found successful could be applied to this chassis with a view to standardisation. It consists of an all metal piston instead of leather, certain modified features to make even the leather piston more reliable, some slight modifications to the balance lever between the governor and the relay to facilitate erection, and adjustment, and some slight modifications to the springing of the governor with a view to simplification and reliability. There is to be a double oil seal and a gas seal from the ignition tower, improved ventilation of the distributor, and modification to the return springs for the whole ignition, so as to reduce the required oil pressure to operate the advance, which also reduces the leakage from the oil relay etc. There are 3 types of pistons we are sending. They are intended to fit the present engine and give 4.3 compression which we think it would easily bear. They are hollow | ||