An Apparatus for Steering Steamships and other Vessels Automatically by the Aid of Electricity and the Mariner's Compass.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Steering Steamships
and other Vessels
Automatically by the Aid of Electricity and the Mariner's
Compass.
I, FREDERICK EDWARD ADAMS, 104 Park Road Bolton, Lancashire,
Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention consists of two parts, I and II.
Part 1 is shown on Sheet I of the accompanying drawings. Part II is shown on
Sheets II and III of the drawings:
Part 1 comprises that portion of the apparatus which is in immediate connection
with the ship's compass. It consists essentially of two pairs of electric poles
attached to the edge of the compass bowl, each pair forming the gap in an incomplete
electric circuit, which is connected with Part II in the manner hereinafter
described, and is furnished with a source of electric power at some point in its
course. By the apparent motion of a needle attached to the compass card (but in
reality by the actual motion of the ship when deviating from her course) the pair
of poles on the side to which the needle apparently deviates become connected by
the contact with them of a bulb of conducting material borne at the end of the
needle, and thus the electric circuit at that side is completed.
The electric current which then passés through the completed circuit acts upon
the helm through the medium of the apparatus comprised in Part II of the
invention.
Part II consists of a transversely placed horizontal steam cylinder, having a
piston rod projecting therefrom at both ends. This rod curves upwards on either
side, the curve beginning some distance from the cylinder covers, and is then
directed inwards so as to form, with the portion of the rod at the opposite side, a
continuous transverse bar above, and parallel to the axis of, the cylinder. This
transverse bar is connected with the helm in a manner hereinafter described.
Steam is admitted to the cylinder, at either end, by a valve which is operated upon
by an electro magnet connected with the electric poles in Part I at the compass
bowl. The motion of the double ended piston rod under the influence of the steam
pressure, is cominunicated, through the transverse bar above the cylinder, to
the helm.
=
Sheet I, Fig. 1 (plan), Fig. 2, (side view).
The needle A. is fitted upon a pivot at the centre of the compass card B. It is
moveable by hand on the pivot, so that its extremity may be directed to any point
of the compass.
The needle bears at one extremity a bulb C of conducting
material, the surface of which ground so as to accurately fit to the surfaces of
the electric poles on either side, when brought into contact with them by the
deviation of the ship from her course. DD and EE are the terminal poles of two
incomplete electric circuits, placed one on either side of the bulb C. When the bulb

page_text: comes into contact with the pair of poles on either side, owing to the deviation of
the ship from her course, the-electric circuit at that side is completed, and the
electric current thus permitted to pass acts upon one of the electro magnets in
Part II. FF are two blocks of ivory, or other non conducting material, which
bear the two pairs of electric poles D D and E E. They are moved by the action
of the screw G in such a manner as to cause them either to approximate, or recede
from each other, as may be required. By these motions of FF the distances
between the bulb C and the poles DD and EE may be regulated, so as to secure
"fine" steering or the contrary, as circumstances may require. H is a plate of
brass, or other suitable material, which is moveable, backwards and forwards, upon
the plate beneath, by the action of the rack and pinion I, so as to preserve the
accurate fit of the bulb C to the surfaces of the poles on either side of it, when it
comes in contact with them after the adjustment of FT has been altered by the
action of the screw G. J is a double plate of brass or other suitable material
provided with a hinge at K, so that the upper portion may be raised from the lower
(as a book is opened) carrying with it H and FF. J, H, and FF are secured to
the rim of the compass bowl L by the clamp and screw M, which permit J, H,
and FF to be moved to any point of the rim of the bowl desired.
N is a block of glass containing four cisterns or cups 0000, partly filled
with mercury, into which the poles DD, and EE dip. The glass block N is
secured to the rim of the gimbal P. (outside the compass bowl) by the clamp. and
screw Q. DD and E E may be raised by the action of the hinge K, from the
cups 0000, when moving the glass block N to any other point of the rim of
the gimbal desired. The wires RRRR form the continuation of the circuits from
the poles DD and E E to the electro magnets in Part II. These wires in their
course to Part II pass through the nave of the ordinary steering wheel in such a
manner that, when the wheel is moved by hand, Part II becomes entirely
disconnected from Part I, and the whole apparatus ceases to act..
PART II.
Sheet II Fig. 3 (elevation, or view from front).
Sheet III Fig. 4 (plan, or view from above)...
A is a steam cylinder placed transversely on the deck of the vessel, immediately
in front of the helm B (Fig. 4). C is a piston rod projecting from both ends of
the cylinder A. The rod curves upwards on both sides to form the transverse
bar D, which is connected to the helm by a semicircular collar E (Fig. 4) which
is fitted to the vertical stud F on the end of the helm. The collar E is vertically
moveable on the bar D, so that when the helm is moved by the ordinary steering
gear beyond a certain point, the collar becomes detached from the helm; dropping
by its own weight, and leaving the helm free. Gis a rod connected with the bar D,
and moving with it. It is provided with a moveable but H on either side, which,
when the bar D is moved beyond a certain point, shuts the steam valve land thus
prevents any further movement of the helm. J J are two electro-magnets in
connection with the poles DD and EE in Part I. When either of the electro-
magnets is brought into action by the completion of one of the circuits at DD
or EE (Part 1) the "three way steam tap M is opened so as to admit steam to
the cylinder A at one end. The steam pressure causes the bar D with the rod G,
and the helm B, to move until the supply of steam is shut off at the valve I, by
the action of the out H. The nut H is moveable upon the rod G, so that the are
through which the helm is moved, before the steam is shut off at the valve 1, may
be regulated in accordance with the steering qualities of the ship. When the
electro-magnet J ceases to be acted upon by Part I, L is released, and returns to
its original position by the action of the spring N, the steam escapes through the
central passage of the "three way" tap M and thence by the exhaust pipe O, and
the helm returns to its position amidships. At the same time the valve I is opened
by the withdrawal from it of the nut H and the action of the spring Q, permitting

page_text: steam to travel again through the steam pipe P as far as the "three way
tap M.
تنف
39
An Apparatus for Steering Steamships and other Vessels
Automatically by the Aid of Electricity and the Mariner's
Compass.
I, FREDERICK EDWARD ADAMS, of 104 Park Road, Bolton in the County of
Lancaster Doctor of Medicine, do, hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to apparatus for steering steamships and other vessels
automatically by the aid of electricity and the mariner's compass, the compass
serving to control automatically electro-mechanical appliances whereby the valve
or other control-apparatus of a steering-engine is operated. A steering engine
adapted to be electrically controlled in the manner above indicated forms part of
the apparatus of my invention,
to
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1. is a plan of a portion of a compass card with appurtenances according
my invention,
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section, of the apparatus shown in
Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a plan of an alternative construction of a detail of the apparatus,
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 5, 5 of Figure 3,
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further alternative construction of a detail,
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic front elevation and
Figure 7 a diagrammatic plan of a steering engine also constructed according to
my invention.
Like letters. indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, A is an arm fitted upon a pivot A¹
which is secured at the centre of the compass card B. It is movable by hand on
the pivot A', so that its extremity may be directed to any point of the compass.
The needle bears at one extremity a bulb C of conducting material, the
surface of which is ground so as to accurately fit to the end surfaces of electric
contacts D. E. when brought into contact with either pair of them. The
contacts D and E are secured to the edge of the compass bowl B' and are the
terminals of two electric circuits, indicated by the leads D' D' E' E' there
being normally an interruption of these circuits at the gap between the terminals
of each pair. A source of electric current such as the battery E³ hereinafter
referred to is included in each circuit. When the bulb comes into contact with
either pair of terminals the electric circuit in which those terminals are included
is completed, and the electric current thus permitted to pass, acts upon the
steering engine in the manner hereinafter explained. F. F are tivo blocks of
ivory, or other non-conducting material, which bear the two pairs of terminals D
and E.
G is a screw journalled in bearings G¹ on a plate H so as not to be able to
move endwise and provided with right hand and left hand threads which engage
with the blocks F and F respectively so that by rotating the screw the blocks
can be caused to approach or recede from cach other to move the terminals nearer:
to or further from the bulb... The plate Hrests on a block I on which is journalled
an adjusting spindle J which carries a pinion geared with a rack on the underside

page_text: f the plate H so that by rotating the spindle the plate H is adjustable on the
plate 1 to enable the terminals to be so adjusted, relatively to the curved surface
of the bulb as to make a good electrical contact therewith.
The block I is divided horizontally into two parts I and I' hinged together at
I so that by turning the top part 1 about its hinge the outer ends of the
contacts D and E can be raised for a purpose hereinafter explained. The plate I
is provided with lugs I having a set-screw 1° passed through one of them. The
block I and the parts carried thereby can be adjusted to any part of the rim of the
bowl B¹ and retained by tightening the screw I in the position to which it is
adjusted.
K is a block of glass or other non-conducting material containing four cups K'
partly filled with mercury into which dip the outer ends of the terminals D and E
that is to say the ends furthest from the compass card. This block is secured to
the rim L of one of the gimbal rings, outside the compass bowl by the lugs L'
and by a screw L²; it can be moved to and secured at any part of the circum-
ference of the rim. The outer ends of the terminals D and E may he readily
raised out of the cups K' by turning the part 1 of the plate I about its hinge Is
when it is desired to momentarily sever the electrical connection between the
terminals and the mercury in cups K' to enable the plate I and block K and the
parts connected therewith to be re-adjusted on the bowl and gimbal respectively;
and by turning the part I down again the connection can as readily be
re-established.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the ends of the leads D' D'
are secured on a disc M and those of the leads E¹ E' on a disc N the leads being
themselves of such dimensions as to be capable of twisting axially under the
application of a small force. These discs are placed one on each side of the bulb.C
and when the latter is in contact with any one of the leads, this lead can readily
adjust itself so as to ensure a good contact between the companion lead and the
bulb.
Or the terminals might as in Fig. 5 be the free extremities of easily displaced
resilient wires DE each firmly held at one end and free at the other end so as
to make good contact at the latter with the bulb C. In the apparatus shown in
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the terminals would be mounted on adjustable carriers on the
compass bowl, electrical connection between these carriers and the battery circuit
being established by flexible connections.
With reference now to Figs. 6 and 7 Q is a steam cylinder, preferably fixed to
the deck in proximity to the tiller with its axis athwart-ship.
R is the piston rod of a piston which is in the cylinder Q; extensions R¹ of this
rod carry a jaw R2 in which is received a pin S on the tiller T so that when the
piston rod moves in either direction in the line. of the cylinder axis the helm is
put over correspondingly.
The jaw R is rotatable vertically upon the extension R¹ and normally rests on
the top surface of the tiller, but if the helm is moved over beyond a certain point
the pin S on the tiller will. pass out of the jaw, which thereupon will be turned by
gravity so as to hang vertically from the extension and clear of the tiller the
object of this arrangement being that there shall be no interference with the
working of the ordinary steering gear under circumstances of emergency such as
imminent collision etc. To further explain this feature of my invention it may
be pointed out that if the jaw R were fixed upon the extension R' it would
become free from the pin S at a certain point of the arc of movement of the
tiller, and on the tiller returning again towards its midship position the pin would
foul R and become jammed. R2 is therefore adapted to drop away from the path
of the tiller end in an emergency and when the emergency is past it would have to
be re-adjusted. It is to be observed that the hereinafter described device for
securing the automatic disconnection of the leads by the operation of the hand:
steering wheel is designed with the same object in view.
U is a rod connected by the arm U' to the extension R' of the piston rod so as

page_text: to move with the same; Us Us are nuts adjustable on screw-threaded, portions U
thereof. The rod. U slides in guides Q fixed to the cylinder QV is a pipe by
which steam is supplied to the ends of the cylinder Q. V is a three-way cock in
a casing Vs with which the steam-pipe V and an exhaust pipe V
V³'are connected
and which communicates with one end Q of the cylinder. A similar casing. V.
with a similar cock, V. and pipe connections VV are provided for the other
end Q of the cylinder as shown. "VV are cocks in the steam pipe V the
handles V of which are provided with springs V tending to maintain them always
in the path of the nuts U³ U³.
:
W. Ware electro magnets; W W are the armatures thereof, which are each
slotted at W to engage with a pin V on the plug of each of the three-way.
cocks VV W' are springs each secured at one end to a lug on the valve casing
and at the other end connected to the armatures WW as shown these springs
are in tension so as to tend always to keep the valves Ve Vin positions in which
the ends of the cylinder Q are open to the exhaust.
The electro-magnet W is in the electric circuit;D D²of the terminals D,,the
electro-magnet W being in the circuit EE of the terminals. E. E is a battery.
which is electrically connected to both these circuits so as to be able to supply:
current to either electro-magnet. For instance when the gap between the
terminals D is. bridged by the bulb C current flows from the battery through the
electro-magnet W and by the lead D' to one terminal D thence through the bulb C.
to the other terminal D and thence by the lead D back to the battery. When
the gap between the terminals E is similarly bridged current flows from the.
battery E³ through the electro-magnet W and by the lead E' to one terminal,E.
through the bulb C to the other terminal E and thence by the lead El back to the
battery.
1
.}
I will now proceed to describe the operation of the apparatus, premising that;
wherever motion of the compass card is hereinafter referred to I mean the apparent
angular motion occasioned by the movement of the ship and the, compass bowl
relatively to the. compass card which latter is assumed for the purpose of this
description to have no real angular motion.
.
The ship being put upon her course the terminals D E are adjusted on the
compass bowl B to within the desired distance of the end of the arm A, or,.
assuming the terminals to be first fixed in position the arm A may be adjusted.
so that the bulb C is midway between them. If "fine" steering be desired the.
terminals are so set by means of the screw G that a very small deviation of the
vessel brings one or other pair of them against the bulb C, but if greater
deviation from the course be permissible the terminals are set at a greater distance
apart.
The bulb C coming into contact by reason of a deviation of the ship from
her course, with say the terminals C completes the circuit Es D³ D D' W¹ E³
and energises the electro-magnet W₁ wherein which moves the armature W³
against the resistance of the spring. W' and thereby causes steam to be delivered
by the valve V2 to the end of the cylinder, thus moving the piston-rod R,
extension R and tiller T in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7.
The nut U² on the rod U which latter as aforesaid moves with the piston-rod
and tiller, comes into contact with the spring-controlled lever V of the stop
valve V when the tiller has moved through a predetermined angle and shuts
off the steam supply by closing that part of the pipe V which leads to, the valve
chest Vs. The angle of helm at which the steam is thus shut off may be regulated
in accordance with the steering qualities of the ship by adjusting the nuts U U
on the rod U. When the electro-magnet W' ceases to be acted upon by the
current, which occurs as soon as 'the ship returns to a course within the prescribed
limit of deviation, the armature W is caused by the spring W to resume its
original position and to open the end Q of the cylinder to exhaust by way of
the valve Vs and pipe V³.
At the same time the stop valve V is reopened by the withdrawal from the,
I

page_text: stop-välve lever V³ of the nut Us which occurs as the rod U returns with the
tiller às the latter swings to, amidship, permitting steam to fill the steam pipe
-again as far as the valve V.
From the foregoing it will be obvious, that a similar operation is performed
by the electro-magnet W to cause the steering engine to move the helm in the
Téverse direction if the bulb C closes the gap,at the terminals E.
"The leads D' E' are connected to a single wire D3 which is in electrical con-
nection with a contact X adjacent to the boss Y¹ of, the hand-steering wheel Y.
An angle lever or switch Z Z connected by a lead Z2 with the battery. Es is
pivotted adjacent to the boss Y' so that its conducting arm Z may make contact
with X while its arm Z, which need not be of conducting material, is adapted to
engage with a recess in the boss Y. This position shown in full lines in the
-drawings would be that occupied by Z 'Z' during the electrical control of the
steering gear, when," say for example, in an emergency, it is desired to control
the steering gear by hand the
-electrical connection between mere rotation of the steering wheel Y breaks the
battery E³ and the leads DE by throwing
the switch Z Z¹ into one or other of the positions represented in dotted lines,
in which position it may be retained by a suitable detent until re-adjusted by
hand.
Other means may of course be adopted for readily disconnecting the same
--circuits when desired. Although I have described the terminals D E and arm A
-as being both adjustable it will suffice if desired to make only the arm adjustable
or to fix the arm to the card and adjust the pair of terminals to suit a change of
- course.**.*:
:
Moreover I may use any type of steering engine which may have any type of
-valve or control mechanism and I am therefore not limited to the use of the
particular arrangements hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the: same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
2
:
1. In automátic stęering apparatus for vessels the combination with the compass
and the steering-engine of an electric circuit normally interrupted, between certain
terminals a circuit-closing device for the gap at those terminals operated by the
compass and electro-magnetic mechanism included in the circuit substantially as
and for the purpose described.
2. In apparatus such as is claimed in Claim, 1 the combination with the compass
or compass-card of a contact: maker adjustable relatively thereto substantially as
and for the purpose described.
3. In apparatus such as is claimed in Claim 1 means for readily adjusting the
position of the terminals relatively to each other and relatively to the compass
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In apparatus such as is claimed in Claim 1 the combination with the
terminals DE of a hinged support therefor and mercury cups K substantially as
and for the purpose-described.
5. In apparatus such as is claimed in Claim 1 terminals at the gap in the electric
circuit and means for adjusting them constructed arranged and operating sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
6. In apparatus such as is claimed in Claim 1 terminals at the
-circuit constructed arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose
in the electric
gap
described and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
7. In apparatus such as is claimed in Claim 1 the combination with the hand-
steering wheel Yof contacts so arranged as to prevent the electric circuit from
being closed, when the hand-steering wheel is in gear with the steering apparatus
substantially as described.

page_text: 8. In apparatus such as is claimed in Claim 1 the combination with the hand-.
steering wheel Y of devices such as X Y and Z Z' substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In automatic steering-apparatus for vessels the combination with the power
cylinder of supply and exhaust pipes valves V1 V6 or equivalents, electro-
magnetic mechanism controlling the valves VV a rod U adjustable tappets U' U*
and stop valves V V' with springs W substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
10. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a complete automatic
steering-apparatus for vessels substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1895.
F. E. ADAMS.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.