Patent GB-468058-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to the automatic steering of ships
IPC: G05D1/02
Filed: 1935-09-19
Abstract: 468,058. Automatic control systems. SPERRY GYROSCOPE CO., Inc. Sept. 19, 1935, No. 25987. Convention date, Sept. 19, 1934. [Class 38 (iv)] [Also in Group XXXIII] Steering.-Automatic ship-steering gear comprising a reversible electric motor controlling the rudder directly or indirectly includes an on-and-off controller for running the motor in one or other direction at will. The control may be transferred from a steering wheel or automatic pilot to this controller in order to limit the angle of rudder or rate of turn. Indicating means are provided for showing course, ships heading, position of rudder, relative wheel position and rudder follow-up. The rudder motor 1, Fig. 1, is automatically controlled from a compass actuating a repeater motor 35 and may be manually controlled by pilot's trick wheel 17. A hand clutch 24 may be operated to disconnect the compass control. The trick wheel 17 may be optionally coupled to a clutch member 6, whereby electrically aided hand steering is effected, or to a member 5 for hand steering. The control of the rudder motor is effected by a main contactor 15 which is actuated through a differential gear 20 connected on the one hand to the clutch member 6 and on the other to an auxiliary motor 27, which is operated from an auxiliary controller 36 driven by the repeater motor 35. According to the invention the on-and-off auxiliary controller 80, Fig. 2, may interrupt the continuous movement of the steering motor when changing course as soon as a desired rate of turn of the ship is produced. When the ship is on its course it may be steadied by this controller and /or restored to automatic control. The reversing circuits of the motor 1 include contacts 56, 57 of the main contactor and switch 81 actuated by pulling out the controller 80 for the purpose of limiting the rate of turn. By turning the controller 80 left or right the rudder motor may be directly controlled to steady the ship. (Fig. 2 shows a single unit control system wherein the rudder motor 1 drives the shaft of the steering wheel 17'). Indicating means comprise a course indicator 60 which is carried by a shaft 38 driven by one member of the differential 20, of which another member is coupled to the clutch member 6, and the remaining member is driven by the motors 5 except when the clutch 24 has disconnected the automatic steering, when it may be locked. The course indicator 60 co-operates with compass points on a card 61 frictionally driven from a connection to the clutch member 6 and independently adjustable by a hand wheel 65 assisted by a fixed lubber line 72. The indicator 60 also shows wheel position by an index 76 and the rudder follow-up may be observed by comparison with a zero 77<1> on the scale carried by a segmental card 75 on a sleeve 9 driven from the rudder. The amount of wheel turn is shown by reading 76 on the scale and rudder position may be shown by reference to a lubber's mark 79. The shaft 38 and the sleeve 9 carry respective elements of the main contactor 15 controlling the rudder motor shown in plan in Fig. 5. The member 53 on sleeve 9 carries two contacts 56, 57 and engages the central portion of a rocker 54 carrying contact rollers 10, 10<1> maintained in engagement with two cams 16 carried by the shaft 38, so that relative movement between shaft and sleeve produces contact between a spring arm 55 on the rocker and one or other of the contacts 56, 57 according to the direction of relative movement. The auxiliary compass-actuated controller 36 and an alternative form of the main contactor are also described but form the subject matter of Specification 467,966. Specification 214,215, [Class 114], also is referred to.