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).
Visit to Burman & Sons Ltd. concerning the steering column and box for the 'Myth' project.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 110\3\ scan0095 | |
| Date | 14th February 1941 | |
| To: Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions} C. EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions}1/RR.14.2.41. 750 1080 Visit to Burman & Sons Ltd. re Steering Column and Box for Myth - 12.2.41. I saw Mr. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Burman and also Messrs. Briggs, senior and junior, of the D.O. Mr. Burman had apparently the idea that we should want a quantity of boxes and when I had explained that we wanted one only, he suggested that we should have their improved type of box developed for fitting on 1940 models and tested on a number of cars. The main feature of this box is that the leverage increases towards the lock and is the same on both locks. The nut has a projection sliding in a groove in the box and is thus prevented from turning and a recess in which sits a ball. The rocker shaft arm in the box, has a radial groove in which this ball fits and the result is that the moment arm for the force due to the nut acting on the rocker shaft is constant, whereas the moment arm of the steering tube will reduce as the pendulum lever swings round, giving the increased leverage on lock already mentioned. They apparently have a further development where everything is adjustable, including work backlash, and which is also more efficient, but this is in the experimental stage only and they gave me no more details. As we require one box only, they are prepared to do anything we want to suit our application. I accordingly raised the question of a stationary tube so that we could have the possibility of a hand throttle control on the column, and also if desired, a trafficator control. They can provide this without increasing the diameter of the outer tube and they are accordingly doing this. I had taken with me the unfinished scheme of the Myth cross steering layout, and I agreed to their taking a print of this to give them an idea of the space limitations. I also gave them some other figures (weight, caster angle etc.) to let them work out the probable lightness of the steering. I am quite convinced that there is no danger of leakage of information or I would not have done this. We shall have the drawing of the box about the week-end and I have promised to let them have as soon after this as possible, the length of column we require. They will then be able to go ahead with the manufacture of the column and box. EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/DB.{Donald Bastow - Suspensions} | ||