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).
Secret memo discussing the performance and potential improvements for a new steering box.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\3\ scan0291 | |
| Date | 11th February 1924 | |
| X. 9430 To HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} SECRET. R3/M11.2.24. DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to CJ. BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} NEW EAC. STEERING BOX ETC. X. 9430 I am pleased to infer that it is now thought that this new box was not much to blame for the heavier steering. My first impression was that we ought to reduce the load to be driven rather than increase the efficiency of the steering, because there would be less danger if we could get light steering with an irreversible gear, and hence a slower and less efficient gear should give increase in safety with equally light steering. Can we not therefore keep the box as at present (with the slower worm) and not use the ball and roller bearings? When we are able to make this box satisfactorily it should be a stronger, better and safer one than we have ever had previously. Mr. Hardy and I spent much time on this job, and there is great credit due to Mr. Hardy for his helpful work. In conjunction with this matter we were going to try floating bushes on the pivots, and also self lubricating bushes but I do not know if any tests of relative values have been made. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||