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).
Goshawk steering issues, discussing flexibility, friction and proposed experiments.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\4\ Scan289 | |
| Date | 19th July 1922 | |
| X.4264. To Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R. {Sir Henry Royce} R6/119.7.22. RE STEERING X.4264. We are extremely anxious to know whether the extra flexibility in the Goshawk steering longitudinal tube reduces the snatching on the steering wheel, and whether the plain thrust in addition to this feature entirely overcomes all objections to this steering gear. It may be necessary with the semi irreversible thrust arrangement to make the steering pivot as free from friction as possible. At the moment Sales are suggesting there is insufficient friction in the steering system of No.4-Goshawk but I understand we are using plain thrusts on both of the vertical pivots, and it is difficult to see a way of creating more friction which is legal. You have also an experiment to use radius rods on a front axle of one car - a very old suggested experiment. I also think it would be easy to anchor the back end of a front spring on Goshawk-11 to see if this improved the steering, fitting a shackle to the. front dumb iron. R. {Sir Henry Royce} | ||