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).
The causes and potential solutions for heavy steering issues on the 40/50 and EAC models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 38\1\ Scan160 | |
| Date | 27th April 1925 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} 43465 S E C R E T. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} A.{Mr Adams} C. STEERING. X:8430 X.3465 X:4864 It has now been found that the feature of heavy steering also occurs on the 40/50 but it has been more frequent on EAC. because it has not been a production job. The reason is almost certainly a feature of the correct alignment of the nut with the steering column. (1) In the 40/50 this has been obtained by packing the box face where it joins the column. (2) The Hispano efficiency from calculations is much lower than ours: it is somewhat difficult to see how this box avoids a similar twist to ours, unless carefully made and fixed. (3) We hope to modify the design so that the box does not need fitting to any exact alignment; this will be a new feature for 'X' series. (4) We propose to fit the whitemetal nut and the roller bearing, but we are not sure that these are needed, but they will have a slight general improvement in efficiency. (5) In the 40/50 scheme the frame fitting at the base of the box is less vigorous in its control, and may permit the column to control the location of the box, and therefore be less inclined to quarrel. (6) If we support the box with a sphere on the rocker bearing sleeve, and a link to take the worm torque, the steering column cannot quarrel with the box mounting. This seems to be the best at once available, and should give better satisfaction than the 40/50, each starting with a properly fitted box, (7) One of the EACs. brought to WW. last week was all that could be desired. (8) To facilitate correction for the various errors about the nut, shaft, and box, many suggestions were made including whitemetalling the nut in a jig with its own rocker levers carrying the nut, or before reaming the bolts joining the two nut carrying levers the alignment should be tested, and the levers set in a suitable jig. (9) How are the nut trunnion holes made true right angles off the thread? because the rest seems easy to produce and check, it only being necessary to adjust the nut central with the column by the end position of the rocker shaft: this should have no end play. (SEE ORIGINAL FOR SKETCH) R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||