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).
Letter to Burman & Sons Ltd. regarding the fitting of a Burman steering box to a 1939 model Austin 8 car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\4\ scan0116 | |
| Date | 28th July 1941 | |
| c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rem/GB. Rem/FWH. 1300 28th July, 1941. Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions}1/RH.{R. Hollingworth} Messrs. Burman & Sons Ltd., Ryland Road, BIRMINGHAM. 15. Attention of Mr.S.Burman. Dear Sirs, Confirming our telephone conversation of Thursday of last week, we are anxious to fit a Burman steering box to a 1939 model Austin 8 in our possession. The change from the standard Austin steering box is necessitated by the purpose for which this car is required by us. In carrying out the conversion, there are two main desiderata :- (1) Lighter steering, and (2) Improved geometry for up and down movements. We are enclosing with this letter, prints of two sheets of our drawing PL.787. These show respectively, the arrangement of the standard steering box in the car, and our suggestions for the revised installation. The lighter steering of (1) above should be obtained by a combination of the higher efficiency of your box as compared with the worm and sector of the Austin box, and the change from 1 2/3 turns lock to lock to our suggested figure of 2 1/4 turns. The improved geometry for up and down movements of (2) above implies moving the pendulum lever ball pin downwards and to the rear. In showing this on sheet 2 of PL.787, we have also shown the box with the rocker shaft below the column centre line, and in such a position that the lock angles on the box are equalised. The increased rocker shaft angle obtained, should reduce box loads. -Over- | ||