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 internal memo discussing the design and rating of springs in steering tubes.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\L\Jan1924-March1924\ Scan172 | |
| Date | 1st March 1924 | |
| ORIGINAL TO HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} SECRET. R2/M7. 3. 24. Copy to CJ. RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} PN.{Mr Northey} DY.{F R Danby} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} A.{Mr Adams} C. X9450 ~X9430~ SPRINGS IN STEERING TUBES. Your memo. passed mine in the post. I am not entirely in favour of balanced springs one against another. It is rather too slack a control. I want a set-up spring perhaps less set-up than our recent experiments, and perhaps slower rating, & ample clearance. Supposing we take the pressure exerted when the balls are 1" nearer together with a shock. The Hispano case would be 440 lbs from your figures, therefore in effect the Hispano tube is - (Diagram of a force-displacement graph showing a triangular shape, labeled 'Q', '1"', and '440') (Try and find out on bad potholes how much movement there is.) Supposing we say we want 1" of clearance, which should be ample for any shock, could we leave our steering ball a work-ing fit, and make our rating thus - (It must have setting up & controlling bolt, but can be adjusted to give 30 lbs on ball.) Any desired amount, say 30 lbs. (Diagram of a force-displacement graph with opposing triangular sections, labeled 'x', '1"', '300', 'V' and an up-arrow.) If it is done at both ends then the same rating on .5" would be right. Such a scheme would direct the car more accurately, but the greater shocks would be felt less severely, unless even the greater ones do not require so much clearance. I do not really think for reasons of wear that the ball should have so much constant friction as our 40/50 and the Hispano. This is what I have been trying to do for years but we have never found the correct quantities. Therefore ample clearance, lower rating, set up to relieve wear in ball, and control car better. I think better at rear end of tube only for simplicity and less weight on quickly vibrating end. DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} should give designs - HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} should test temporarily. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||