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).
Oil leakage, movement, and weak bolts on the Marles Steering Box for the Phantom III and 25-30 HP Chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\1\ scan0252 | |
| Date | 20th December 1935 | |
| X350 E.7/HP.20.12.35. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RHO. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Marles Steering Box - Phantom 3 and 25-30 HP. Chassis. Referring to memo Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}6/KW.20.12.35, and to our conversation with GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} we have formed the opinion that the bolts holding the two halves of the steering box together are too weak. In practice the oil leakage and movement appears to extend around the bolt bosses themselves although naturally showing to a somewhat larger extent between. We should, therefore, like an existing box altered, possibly the one on 21-G-IV and drilled out to take larger bolts as shown on N.Sch.4717. All particulars for carrying out this modification are given on this scheme, and if this experiment can be made quickly the result will guide us in what is ultimately required to be instructed. It is somewhat difficult to envisage the forces that are causing the movement visible when the steering is loaded by turning the steering wheel in either direction, but it does appear that the reaction endways from the cam on the rocker shaft is parallelogramming the two halves of the box sideways. There is apparently insufficient friction in the joint between the two halves of the steering box to resist this modification with the preloading incorporated in the assembly. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||