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).
Potential improvements to the Phantom steering system, including strengthening a pendulum lever and adding a hydraulic damper.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\P\2October1926-December1926\ Scan040 | |
| Date | 6th November 1925 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ) TO DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ) C. to BJ. WCR. ORIGINAL PHANTOM STEERING [Handwritten] X84230 X235 Naturally the pendulum lever which broke should be strengthened; although it was not broken by fair means it shews the weakest part of the system, and it will pay for more metal at this weak spot. This should be done at once without waiting for a 10,000 miles trial, as an increase of strength cannot do anything but make it safer. Regarding the question of increased friction I do not agree with the idea of making larger balls, as I fear to increase the pressure on these unlubricated surfaces would not be wise. I think there is no doubt that we ought to fit a separate damper of the hydraulic or mechanical type, and I have every hope that the hydraulic one we have sent you will be exactly what you require, or can easily be made so. I do not believe in putting extra friction on the mechanical parts which are hidden away and lubrication may probably be neglected, whereas an external damper can we think be much more reasonably lubricated, examined, and adjusted. My first hope however is in the hydraulic damper, which should function for a long period without change, and is working in a very favourable position for retaining its oil. The third point about this steering is that we ought to have sufficient clearance, and probably set-up springs, to prevent excessive loads getting on the longitudinal steering tube. There are therefore three points for you to get right quickly, and it lies between DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} and HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||