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).
High load required on the 'SS' steering system and requesting a spring design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\3\ Scan376 | |
| Date | 23th April 1929 | |
| x7430 To DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn{Mr Robinson}4/LG23.4.29 'SS{S. Smith}' STEERING. x7430 x7425 We have been carrying out a considerable amount of work on the SS.{S. Smith} steering. We find that with the larger balls in the cross steering tube we require 1500 lbs. load from the spring on the ball in order to give us the necessary friction. We believe there are two reasons why we require this high load on the S.S. : (1) Moving the wheel out of centre-point has definitely made the steering much lighter for shunting on the S.S. compared with any car we have previously had. (2) The centrepoint lubrication scheme and the grooved pads for the ball lubrication provide a constant film of oil on the ball which naturally reduces the co-efficient of friction at this point. We do not think there is any chance of the ball pads picking up under this load, but are of course running tests to prove the wearing qualities here and in France. The 1500 lbs. load does not spoil the self centreing of the car. We should be obliged if you will let us have a design for a spring giving this load. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||