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).
Investigation report into the failure of a Phantom III steering column.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0217 | |
| Date | 10th September 1937 | |
| W/S. 361. To SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} & Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} C. c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. to La.{L. A. Archer} MX.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} FJH{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/Cy.3/LS.10.9.37. RE FAILURE OF PHANTOM III. STEERING COLUMN. ex CHASSIS No. 3-BU-96. A.HARTLEY. We have investigated the complaint on the above car, and examination of the steering box reveals that in one race supporting the Cam Roller, 7 Rollers have broken up into small pieces. The cause of this breakage is rather obscure as no visible evidence is available of external damage, such as a blow received in an accident. It may be that one roller only cracked and broke up, and this would soon result in disintegration of the other rollers. To find this particular roller is impossible as the fragments are of microscopic size. It will be necessary in further pursuance of the failure to carefully examine all details for sizes and hardness, and have a laboratory analysis of the fragments of the broken rollers and of the remainder of the sound ones. A further report will be issued after the Laboratory investigation. RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/Cy. [Signature] | ||