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).
The lubrication system, frame, and steering gear of a vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\5\ Scan134 | |
| Date | 16th September 1929 guessed | |
| (5) LUBRICATION. The chassis is fitted with a special system which reduces the labour of lubrication to a minimum. It consists of a pump mounted on the dash and operated by the foot, whereby oil is sent in correctly measured quantities to every bearing of any importance on the chassis, except the front and rear axles, and propeller shaft. The pedal of the pump, which is accessibly situated, is operated by simply pressing it down against the stop about once per 100 miles. The pump is self filling from a reservoir arranged around it, and the replenishment of this reservoir at long intervals is the only attention the system needs. On the front and rear axles and the propeller shaft the bearings and joints have been designed to be oil retaining, and do not require such lubrication, and thus require lubrication only at very long intervals of time. When it is required an Enots type of oil gun is applied to a single point only on each axle, all bearings thereby being replenished with oil. The two axles have not been included in the central system because to do so involves the use of tubes or similar flexible connections which RR Ltd. consider would have a life insufficiently long, and is an impractical scheme. In addition, the bearings on the axle do not require lubricating as frequently as the road spring and shackles. FRAME. The frame has been brought much lower without impairing the ground clearance, thus improving the stability of the car, and conforming to modern ideas of appearance. The side channels of pressed nickel steel are upswept over the front as well as the rear axles to give adequate clearance for spring deflection, while allowing the body floor to be low. As on Phantom a system of tiebar under the side channel gives extra strength and rigidity against bending, while six cross members of the tubular type provide sufficient torsional rigidity. STEERING GEAR. This is of the type now standard on Phantom, but some improvements have been effected. The rocker shaft now passes through the frame side channel, this avoids cutting the bonnet, etc. The steering wheel has been increased in dia., with a thinner rim. The controls above the wheel have been reduced in height, and bulk. Improvements have been made in the side steering tube joint to obtain greater selectivity under normal conditions, while heavy shocks can be absorbed without corresponding increase of load. | ||