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 design of the Wraith II Side Steering Tube, comparing it with other models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 9\7\ 07-page003 | |
| Date | 23th June 1936 | |
| To EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Copy to Bar. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} RMO? F.J.H. Wraith II Side Steering Tube. On N.Sch.4791 herewith we send the design of the Wraith II side steering tube. The size of the rear ball is intermediate between that of the Bentley and that of the 25/30 H.P. while the foward ball is slightly smaller than Phantom III. Both front and rear balls are held in position by means of castle nuts, and the positioning washer has been deleted on the front end only. This cannot be done on the rear end because the oil-way in the ball has to be positioned. On the front end we do not think this positioning washer should be necessary for preventing the ball from turning when tightening up the nut as if the screw thread has the reasonable degree of tightening the friction obtained by lightly driving the ball pin taper into its socket should be enough to prevent it turning. The length of the side steering tube will be shown on the side steering layout which will follow shortly. At one time the Expl. Dept. and ourselves thought the peculiar characteristics of friction on the front joint of the Phantom III to be due to the top pad being able to revolve would be detrimental. We understand that an experimental scheme preventing this pad revolving has been tried on Phantom III, and no change in the steering characteristics has been experienced. We have therefore shown on the main scheme for Wraith II the Phantom III type of joint. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Att: N.Sch.4791. | ||