IMPROVEMENTS IN RUDDERS FOR STEERING Suine odEE
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John McGregor Croft, Doctor of Medicine, of No. 8,
Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RUDDERS FOR STEERING Suine od Vecerre
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RUDDERS FOR STEEPING Surns on Vese
"F
Sealed the 12th January 1866, and dated the 24th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John McGregor Croft at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th July 1865.
I, JOHN MCGREGOR CROFT, Doctor of Medicine, No. 8, Abbey Road, St.
John's Wood, County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RUDDERS FOR STEERING SHIPS OB VESSELS," to
be as follows:-
On an ordinary rudder I apply diagonal curved blades of metal or wood,
which are attached at either side of the shoulder of the rudder about the
water line. The blades stand out obliquely curved at the upper and after
part like wings. The rest of the blades is in contact with either surface of
the rudder. A rudder may be built up in this design.
The object obtained by these improvements are greater, quicker, and easier
steering power.
The accompanying Drawing and references thereon, forming part of this
my Provisional Specification, will show the full nature of the Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John McGregor Croft in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MCGREGOR CROFT, Doctor of Medicine, of No. 8, Abbey Road; St. John's
Wood, County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John McGregor Croft, Her special licence that, J, the
said John McGregor Croft, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as J, the said John McGregor Croft, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RUDDERS FOR STEERING SHIPS OR VESSELS,"
upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John McGregor Croft,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John McGregor Croft, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
To an ordinary rudder I apply a diagonally curved or oblique blade or blades
of metal or wood, which are attached at either or both sides of the shoulder of
the rudder at or about the water line. The blades stand out obliquely curved
at the upper and after part like wings. The remaining portion of the blades
is in contact with either or both surfaces of the rudder. A rudder may be
built up according to this design.
The object obtained by these improvements are greater, quicker, and easier
steering power.

page_text: The accompanying Drawing and references thereon, forming part of this my
Specification, will show the full nature of the Invention.
The said blades may be placed upon any portion of the rudder, according to
the purpose for which the ship or vessel may be used. Thus in war ships
they may be placed deep and out of shots way. In river steamers and
merchantmen or small boats, they may be placed about the middle of the
rudder, or in such a position as to command the dense water. The blades
may be fixed on in an inverted position in one or more pairs by any convenient
attachment, as bolts, screws, or otherwise. The said blades may be further
strengthened and secured by transverse bars of iron or other suitable metal.
To strengthen the curved blades, they may be continued upwards in a solid
piece, where they may be further strengthened by additional bolts and screws.
The rudder may in all cases be furnished with slots, so that the blades may
be slided into their position previously to be secured by bolts or screws, or if
preferred, the slots may be made in the blades. In cases where wooden
rudders are used and coppered, the blades may also be made of wood and
coppered likewise.
Having thus far explained the nature and object of my said Invention, I
shall proceed to describe the same more minutely, and in order thereto I shall
refer to the illustrative Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures of
referenco marked thereon respectively as follows; like letters and figures
denoting similar parts throughout all the Figures.
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of the stern of a ship with my blades or wings
applied to the rudder. A represents the hull of the ship; B is the rudder
post supporting the rudder C by the hinges H, H; S is the screw fitted on in
the manner usual in screw steam ships, and supported in its bearing boss T.
Now my Invention has reference especially to the blade of the rudder C,
and consists, as already stated, in arranging on each side of the flat part of
the blade one or more curved projecting blades or sheets.
The general contour of the curve which it is intended that these blades will
take is represented by the three views shown in the three Figures, Fig. 1
being a side view, Fig. 2 an end elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan. One or two
or more of these blades may be attached at either side in any preconcerted
order, but one may generally be found sufficient; these said blades may be
constructed separately of any material, and afterwards affixed to the sides of
the rudder by bolts or otherwise, or they may be built up of wood and coppered,
or they may be constructed with and form part of such rudder.
Having now fully described and illustrated this my said Invention, I claim
the use and application of curved blades, affixed to the sides or forming part

page_text: of the rudder blade for ships and vessels, shaped and constructed substantially
as in the manner herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John McGregor Croft, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JOHN MCGREGOR CROFT. (LS.)
Witness,
R. MARSDEN LATHAM,
71, Fleet Street, London.