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).
Assembly issues and potential redesign of the Wraith steering column and box.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 9\7\ 07-page060 | |
| Date | 25th June 1937 | |
| SECRET. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/Cy. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/PJH. 650 E/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}4/M.25.6.37. WRAITH STEERING COLUMN AND BOX. In RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/Cy.3/LS.3.6.37, addressed to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} and of which you do not appear to have received a copy, it is reported as follows concerning the adjustment of the position of the cam relative to the cam wheel:- "FW.149/154, 650/1, 687/90 Adjusting Washers. Although the nominal thickness of adjusting washer required at the lower end of the cam is .050", it is possible, should the required thickness fall below this figure, and necessitate an assembly of washers for the thinner ones to fall between the end of the sleeve FW.904 and the end of the box FW.903, if advantage is taken of the limits when these pieces are machined. A bad fault with the assembly which will prove costly in production, is that to adjust the cam from the lower end it will necessitate the complete dissembly of the box, i.e., the steering column and the rocking shaft entirely. This can only be remedied by re-designing the box to allow for an end cover or alternatively to make some external adjustment. Both will, however, add to the cost. On similar pieces now in production it is necessary to adjust the lower washer as many as four or five times to get an equal run either side of the cam centre." We would be glad to know whether the Experimental Dept. are in agreement with the remarks concerning the difficulties of assembly, and whether they have any suggestions for overcoming them without modifying the design of the box. We do not wish to make the lower end of the box detachable for reasons of clearance with respect to other parts of the chassis in close proximity, and also for fear of loss of rigidity and oil leaks. Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} | ||