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).
Inquiry to Vandervell Products Ltd. regarding a bearing issue with the 25/30 HP steering pivot pin.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 9\7\ 07-page111 | |
| Date | 11th January 1938 | |
| 650 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}4/MH.{M. Huckerby} 11th. January 1938. Messrs. Vandervell Products Ltd., Western Avenue, Park Royal, London, W.3. For the attention of G.A.Vandervell, Esq. Dear Sirs, We are having some trouble due to picking up on the lower journal bearing of our 25/30 H.P. steering pivot pins. This bearing is at present a hardened steel pin in a hardened steel bush and is 1.125 dia. and 1.000 long. The load under normal conditions is 1080 lbs. The picking up is most liable to occur on straight smooth roads when the bearing is subjected to the above load continuously in one direction and the angular movements are very small, perhaps 1° either way. We wish to find a combination of materials which will not pick up under these conditions. The objections to the picking up is not that it causes wear but that the friction is increased with the result that the steering becomes heavy. We were wondering whether you have a bearing material for the bush which you believe would overcome our trouble and if so we should be glad to try this. Yours faithfully, for ROLLS-ROYCE LTD. | ||