Patent GB-191414473-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Apparatus for Signalling and Recording the Course Steered by a Vessel.
Inventor: O'NEIL RUDOLPH STUART
Filed: 1914-06-16
Granted: 1915-02-11
Abstract: 14,473. O'Neil, R. S. June 16. Rudders, signalling position of; semaphore and lamp signals; pneumatic signals.-A device for signalling the position of a ship's rudder is normally controlled by the movement of the rudder post, but may be controlled by hand, and comprises a pair of semaphore arms attached to the mast and drop shutter or coloured lamp indicators in the wheel house. A recording-drum is also arranged to give a continuous record of the rudder movements. In the form shown in Fig. 2, the semaphore arms 32, 33 have counterbalance weights 61 connected by adjustable links 60 to levers 57 actuated by pistons 55 working in cylinders 50 connected by pipes 48 through hand-controlled valves 46 and rudder-controlled valves 34, 35 to a fluid-pressure supply 40 or to exhaust 43. The rudder valves are in the form of slide valves having a negative lap over the ports 38, 39 so that in the straight-ahead position of the rudder both actuating cylinders are connected to the exhaust 43 and both semaphores maintained in their lowered position. The valves are actuated by rods 52 coupled to a rocking lever 54 attached to a rod 2 secured to the rudder post 1. The hand-actuated valves comprise a pair of spring- loaded lift valves 68, 69 interconnected by a handlever 63. The hand-lever is acted on by a spring to open the valve 68 to connect the pipes 48, 44. When the hand-lever is depressed, the valve 68 is closed and the valve 69 is opened to connect the pipe 48 to a pipe 76 connected to the fluidpressure supply. According to the Provisional Specification, the semaphores may be actuated by a pump of the type described in Specifications 12,574/09 and 9402/10, [both in Class 102 (i), Pumps &c.], the stroke of the pump being controlled by the rudder acting through a solenoid and the actuating-cylinders being provided with relief valves for discharging the excess pressure to the inlet side of the pump. The semaphore arms may be actuated electrically. To render the semaphore arms visible at night, they are provided with tubular electric lamps adapted to be illuminated when the semaphore arm is moved into the raised position. The lamps 79, preferably coloured, are secured in slots in the arms 32 by holders 80 and sliding clamps 82. Each lamp is connected to a source of supply through a switch 90 which has a pair of terminals 88, 89 adapted to be connected by a contact 87 pivoted to a flexible arm 85 actuated by a cam 92 on the semaphore counterbalance weight. The wheel-house indicator is controlled by a multi-way switch on the rudder post, and comprises a box 114 having two rows of five apertures 115, 117. The upper apertures, which are used during the day time, are provided with a series of drop shutters actuated by electro-magnets acting through counterbalanced levers and links 121, 123, 125. The lower apertures are fitted with electric lamps, the centre and end lamps being white, while the remaining two are respectively red and green. A multiple-way switch comprising an insulating-drum 128 provided with contacts 130 adapted to contact with spring-pressed terminals 110, 111, 135 is fitted between the two rows of apertures for alternately connecting the lamps and the indicators to the rudder switch. Additional terminals 113 may be fitted for controlling the semaphore lamps. In the straight-ahead position the central lamp is illuminated, and when the rudder is put to port or starboard the central lamp is extinguished and the red or green lamp lighted, but should the rudder be put hard over, the corresponding outer lamp is lighted in addition. In one arrangement of circuits, the whole of the lamps are controlled by the rudder switch, while in a modified arrangement only the white lamps are thus controlled, the other lamps being arranged in parallel with the semaphore lamps and controlled by the semaphore switches. In a further arrangement in which the semaphores are actuated electromagnetically, the intermediate lamps are arranged in series with the actuating-solenoids. The recording-gear comprises a pencil 21 mounted on a lever 15 and adapted to be moved over a recording- drum by a screw 3 on the rod attached to the rudder post acting through adjustable lever mechanism. In a modification, the pencil is mounted on a reciprocating slide having a pin-andslot connexion with the lever 15. The chart may be wound from one roller on to another, provision being made to compensate for the varying diameters of the rollers.