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).
Letter from Rolls-Royce of America discussing suggested design changes to overcome steering wobbles on the right-hand steering pivot.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 80\1\ scan0111 | |
Date | 7th October 1920 | |
X 3791 Oct. 7. 1920. OyG-G71020 Enc.B/P. Mr.Claude Johnson, Managing Director, Rolls-Royce Ltd. London, England. CC. Mr.Belnap Mr.Burton Mr.Nadin Mr.Keim Mr.Manning. Attention:- Mr.F.H.Royce. Dear Sir:- X 3791 Re Suggested Changes of Design X 3614 Mr.Royce has cabled us that for overcoming steering wobbles he strongly recommends the device used experimentally at Derby, by which a plain steel thrust washer is substituted for the ball thrust washer on the right hand steering pivot. From a report of Mr.Hives which has just come to hand, it would appear that what was done experimentally at Derby was to substitute for the upper ball thrust washer a plain washer with a thickness of fibre between this and the lower ball thrust washer, the latter having been previously ground flat. We have not thought that Mr.Royce desires us to produce this on imported cars or American cars in the form described by Mr.Hives, because we feel that there is a strong tendency for the upper thrust washer to twist under the nut on the top of the pivot pin, and there is also a tendency, though a less marked one, for the pivot pin to turn in the front axle and for the lower thrust washer to turn in the stub axle F-6921 Z, both these parts having been found to work loose on cars which have been in service several years. We therefore send the enclosed design, which we think overcomes these objections. The pivot pin is fixed in the front axle with a small Woodruff Key, and the lower thrust washer is fixed in the stub axle with a similar Woodruff key. The upper thrust washer is fastened to the steering pivot by our standard V serrations, having a 75° angle and a depth of engagement of .050". The nut at the top of the pivot has an integral collar and is screwed down against the shoulder at the end of the pivot. We would be obliged if Mr.Royce would cable us his criticism or approval of the enclosed modification so that we might start producing it for the American cars and in limited quantities for imported cars. Very truly yours, Rolls-Royce of America, Inc. Per M.Olley. MO/G | ||