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).
Steering box design, efficiency, improvements, and a proposed friction-based damping device.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\April1926-June1926\ Scan26 | |
| Date | 17th April 1925 | |
| ORIGINAL SECRET TO DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} & HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} C.c. to CS. ES. FG. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} HM.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} (All struck through) E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} A.{Mr Adams} C. STEERING. R1/M17.4.25. X8430 Y4214 (Struck through) So far as I know nothing has been shewn to be wrong with EAC. steering box. I believe this is a good design and of good efficiency, rather better than the best we know of, because with all the known improvements - (1) lever bolted together, (2) short roller and ball bearings, and (3) strong bronze nut whitemetalled, it should give better results than Hispano, and the standard American double nut type (Buick), and unless a fault can be proved I think this cannot be a cause for complaint. It has been shewn by the investigations that our average speed of steering is considerably greater than Hispano, whereas we might expect to be slightly slower, say 5%. The largest steering wheel should be used. This has been small much longer than I realised as WW. car was changed long ago. We cannot introduce special devices (such as HM.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} and others suggest) on the vertical pivots unless we prove that the weight generated friction cannot be relied upon due to road vibrations. I cannot believe there is any difference except that it is possible the rough road permits the lubrication getting in, but in any case such a scheme does not help us materially from heavy steering. Nothing ought to be simpler than the weight of the car generating the damping friction. A device that should supply damping from steering wobbles and also permit of easy steering, is the scheme I suggested of damper and set up spring driven pendulum lever. This I believe has never been tried though it is quite an old suggestion - (see sketch). [Sketch of a mechanical component with labels] Friction Exactly same in effect as those found suitable in longitudinal tube. No springs here. It would need a limit to the movement same as in the longitudinal tube: it might be exactly like half time damped spring drive with stiffer springs and smaller angle. You will see that longitudinal springs will not be wanted; the longitudinal tube must be rigid like new straight tube. Damping can be ample and does not enter into ordinary steering. I have just seen Mr. Salamanca here: he spontaneously suggested our steering should be slower, without any reason from me. R.{Sir Henry Royce} (CDE) | ||