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).
Past accident involving a broken steering wheel, a subsequent lawsuit, and component improvements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\1\ scan0283 | |
| Date | 25th April 1939 | |
| - 2 - This incident does not stand alone, in CJ's time a certain customer in Paris had a very serious accident, the car turned over, and two or three people were seriously injured. The steering wheel was broken, and the customer, who incidentally was suing the Company for a very large sum of money, stated the wheel broke off in his hands and caused the accident. CJ. asked me to investigate the matter, I sent for the wheel, examined the fracture, broke a number of steering wheels to see whether my views were correct, went to Paris where Colonel Hawkins met me saying all was lost, won the case out of Court by meeting client's Solicitors, and what is more important we have never had a broken wheel again under the circumstances suggested by the customer. Immediately I heard of the shaft'twisting' reported in Sr/Va.1/AD.7.7.38. I instructed the Works to alter the material from which the shaft was made from S/ZN. to S/ZNX. giving an increase of strength of 50%. This was confirmed in my memo BY.2/G.15.7.38., copy attached, sent to Sr. C. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} and Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} Again when I knew of actual failure on Faroux's car I instructed everyone that we must increase the diameter of the shaft to give an increase in strength of 60%, the maximum which could be obtained without a new steering box, and which with the improved material, giving an increase of 2 1/2 times over the original shaft and material. As to whether all shafts are to be changed, this is a matter for the Administration, and is up for consideration at the Chassis Conference. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} By | ||