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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).
Steering column ball bearing housing slack and potential design modifications.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 38\1\  Scan076
Date  4th October 1920
  
COPY.

Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} From By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}

By4/P4.10.20.

X.3465.

CHASSIS - STEERING COLUMN.

X.4301.

In Q/11/G1920, Mr. Olley raises the question that the ball bearing housing in the steering box nearest to the pendulum lever develops slack, apparently due to the very bumpy roads over which the cars are used. He states that in a matter of 20,000 to 30,000 miles running, both the ball bearings and the housings become slack, particularly the one referred to above. He then raises a further issue as to what we consider the best method of effecting a repair and suggests that possibly a thin steel liner might be used.

It does not seem to me that a liner of this description will materially alter the strength of the car, as the boring out of the housings will weaken the housing itself definitely, while the bush which is put in can not be looked upon as a real reinforcement.

I would like to know whether it is considered desirable -

(a) to reinforce the bearing housing by increasing the amount of material on the outside diameter.

(b) to modify the design to the same end.

An enquiry in the Repair Department does not show excessive wear at the point indicated by Oy. Apparently in this respect American conditions are certainly different from European.

By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}
  
  


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