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).
Design improvements for a steering box mechanism.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\3\ scan0093 | |
| Date | 10th March 1925 | |
| To DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} & BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} From R.{Sir Henry Royce} X8430 S E C R E T. RI/M10.3.25. c. to CJ. BJ. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} RG.{Mr Rowledge} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} VERY URGENT - E.A.C. STEERING BOX. X.8430 HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} reports that the above, with the addition of the Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence flange and bolts so that both levers which are driven by the steering nut must be correctly synchronised and free from slack under all conditions, removes the friction (and inefficiency) found in this box. We thought that the serrations would be satisfactory even if they were slightly slack provided the levers were timed correctly. It has now occurred to me that since we are obliged to have the flanges we might forge one lever on the shaft and so avoid the serrations entirely, and save some work, slack and weight, making a better job for less money. My own way would be, to have oval flanges and 2 bolts only of large size taper, fine thread, and locked with plate washers so that there is no temptation to leave them slack. You will see that this is the same scheme as we use for fastening the levers on he stub axles, thus :- The nuts can be next the solid side. SEE ORIGINAL FOR SKETCH. This must bear with safety the maximum and reverse torque by hand of a strong man on the steering wheel, especially at the ends of the steering motion. It would also seem as though the worm and probably the steering nut also are too short. It must have enough thread still engaged not to be damaged by the strongest torque. The worm can easily be longer. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||