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).
Technical discussion regarding modifications to control levers and the steering column assembly.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\1\ scan0230 | |
| Date | 16th October 1935 guessed | |
| -2- levers are bending. On the main scheme we show a modified forging of the end of the sheet metal lever which lowers the ball. The ball we wish to use is that shown on the view in the bottom right-hand corner, and is .062" larger in diameter than at present, and has a circular groove like that on the ball used on the 'Silver Ghost'. The gap between the steering wheel and the control cover has been reduced to .225". With this dimension the lever just rubs the Xylonite on the top of the steering wheel boss when the teeth on the lever are disengaged with those on the quadrant. The positioning of the control head was shown on LeC 4601 as being effected by a distance washer under the boss of the control head. We understand that it is our approved practice to position the control head by means of a taper collet at the base of the steering column and adjustable shims. We agree to continue with this scheme provided that when erecting the steering columns the size of the gap between the control cover plate and the wheel is gauged to the dimension given. On the cars already made the circular ridges on the control cover plate have had their edges very much eroded during the process of buffing and so the architecture of the whole scheme has lost some of its characteristics. We notice that this difficulty does not seem to be present on the Bentley, and we presume that it is a matter that can be overcome in the Works. On cars already built the height and distance out of the centre of the control lever ball of each lever are greater than shown on our drawing LeC 4601. On this scheme we have called attention to the fact that we wish the balls to be as close in as possible, only allowing the minimum clearance to enable the control cover plate to be passed in position. With the balls close in the danger of trapping the finger between the ball and the steering wheel spoke is reduced to a great extent. Steering Column. It is desired that the whole of the outer portion of the steering column should be chromium plated. We show a modified external appearance of the top of the column to blend with the shape of the wheel boss and a standard Oilite bush held in by a cage which is a press fit. A packing washer is necessary owing to the inability to machine an Oilite bush to an adjustment for length. | ||