IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEERING APPARATUS, ADAPTED FOR SHIPS AND SUCH LIKE NAVIGABLE VESSELS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Tenwick, of Clarendon Street, (Albion
Foundry,) Portsmouth, Hampshire, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEERING APPARATUS, ADAPTED FOR SHIPS
AND SUCH LIKE NAVIGABLE VESSELS."
Sealed the 8th June 1860, and dated the 9th December 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Tenwick at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
December 1859.
I, JOHN TENWICK, of Clarendon Street, (Albion Foundry,) Portsmouth,
Hampshire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEERING APPARATUS, ADAPTED FOR SHIPS
AND SUCH LIKE NAVIGABLE VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in so constructing steering apparatus as to afford
perfect control of the rudder from any part of the deck of the vessel instead of
from one part only (namely, the stern,) as heretofore practised. The following
is the construction of the apparatus which I propose to employ for effecting
the object of this Invention, that is to say, upon the head of the rudder I fix a
worm wheel, which gears into a worm mounted on a shaft placed crosswise of
the ship, and supported by its ends in suitable bearings. The aforesaid shaft
is formed square at its centre, upon which the aforesaid worm fits loosely, so

page_text: as to be capable of moving laterally against two helical springs of metal, or
other shaped springs of suitable material other than metal, said springs being
kept in position upon the aforesaid shaft one at each side of the aforesaid
worm, and between the ends thereof and the supports of the shaft, or other-
wise; each extremity of the aforesaid shaft has a pulley fixed thereon, over
which is passed an endless rope or chain, and from thence is carried along any
convenient part of the upper deck to the forward part of the ship, from thence
it is returned back to the stern part, and is finally passed around a barrel fixed
on the axis of the steering wheel, so that either by imparting motion to the
steering wheel, or by pulling the rope from any part of the deck, the worm
will receive motion, and impart same to the worm wheel and the rudder on
which said wheel is fixed. An important feature in this Invention consists in
the use of the before mentioned springs at each side of the worm, as they
allow the rudder to yield on its being suddenly struck by a heavy sea, or
otherwise.
Another feature in this Invention consists in constructing steering wheels of
wood and metal combined in a new manner, so as to obtain lightness with
strength.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Tenwick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
June 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
TENWICK, of Clarendon Street, (Albion Foundary,) Portsmouth, Hampshire,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Tenwick, Her special licence that I, the said John Fenwick, my ex-
ecutors, administrators and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Fenwick,
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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEERING
APPARATUS, ADAPTED FOR SHIPS AND SUCH LIKE NAVIGABLE VESSELS," upon the

page_text: condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Tenwick, 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 Tenwick, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in so constructing steering apparatus as to afford
perfect control of the rudder from any part of the deck of the vessel,
instead of from one part only, (namely, the stern,) as heretofore practised.
The following is the construction of the apparatus which I propose to employ
for effecting the object of this Invention, that is to say:-Upon the head of
the rudder post I fix a worm wheel, which gears into a worm mounted on a
shaft placed crosswise of the ship, and supported by its ends in suitable
bearings. The aforesaid shaft is formed square at its centre, upon which the
aforesaid worm fits loosely, so as to be capable of moving laterally against two
helical springs of metal, or other shaped springs of suitable material other
than metal, said springs being kept in position upon the aforesaid shaft one at
each side of the aforesaid worm, and between the ends thereof and the
supports of the shaft, or otherwise; each extremity of the aforesaid shaft has
a pully fixed thereon, over which is passed an endless rope or chain, and
from thence is carried along any convenient part of the upper deck to the
forward part of the ship, from thence it is returned back to the stern part, and
finally passed around a barrel fixed on the axis of the steering wheel, so that
either by imparting motion to the steering wheel, or by pulling the rope from
any part of the deck the worm will receive motion, and impart same to the
worm wheel and the rudder on which said wheel is fixed. An important
feature in this Invention consists in the use of the before mentioned springs at
each side of the worm, as they allow the rudder to yield on its being suddenly
struck by a heavy sea, or otherwise.
Another feature in this Invention consists in constructing steering wheels
of wood and metal combined in a new manner, so as to obtain lightness
with strength.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of Drawings

page_text: thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved steering apparatus adapted for
a ship of war; Figure 2, a top plan view thereof; Figure 3, an end view, in
section; Figure 4, a detached view of a portion herein-after particularly
described and referred to; Figures 5 and 6 are two sectional views of my
improved steering wheel. At each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar
letters of reference to denote corresponding parts in so far as such parts
appear, or can be seen at each of such said Figures respectively.
A, A, is the rudder, upon the post whereof a worm wheel B is securely
fixed or connected by a pin or key C; D is the ordinary normal head, which,
if necessary, may be used for actuating the rudder by withdrawing the pin or
key C; E is a worm taking into the worm wheel B, this worm fits loosely
upon the square part a of the shaft G, said shaft being mounted in suitable
bearing pieces b, b, fixed to the deck of the ship; H, H, are barrels fixed on
the ends of the shaft G, around which endless ropes or chains I pass, and
from thence over guide pulleys c, c, to the winding barrel K, which may be
fixed to any convenient part of the upper or other deck; L, L, are helical, or
they may be convolute steel springs passed around the shaft G, and between
the ends of the worm E and nuts or collars M, M, screwed on to the shaft G,
or otherwise connected thereto, so as to be capable of being moved either
backwards or forwards for adjusting the power of the springs L, L, as may be
desired. I would here remark, that an important feature in this Invention
consists in the endless ropes or chains I, I, being so wound or passed around
the drums or barrels H, H, and K, as that there is no "slack" either when in
or out of action. I propose to cross the ropes or chains as at X, Figures 1
and 2, by which I obtain a double purchase on the worm shaft G. In
adapting this Invention to merchant ships or pleasure yachts, the winding
drum K and its appurtenances may be placed immediately over the worm E;
N is a steering wheel, securely fixed upon the axis of the winding-on drum or
barrel K. I propose to construct this wheel of wood and metal combined
together, in the manner exhibited at Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying
Drawings, by which I obtain lightness with strength. At Figures 5 and 6,
A is the nave or boss of the wheel made of metal; B, the rim, formed hollow,
and open at one side to receive the handles and spokes C, which are also
formed of wood in one piece; D is a ring fixed to the rim D by screws a, a,
which keep the handles and spokes in proper position; by thus constructing

page_text: steering wheels, should a spoke or handle break, it may easily be replaced by
a new one, at same time I obtain lightness combined with strength. The
operations of the above described improved steering apparatus are as
follows: Suppose the rudder to be out of action, the effect of imparting
motion to the steering wheel N will be to transmit such motion to the worm
and worm wheel, by which the position of the rudder will be changed in either
direction according to the direction in which the steering wheel is moved.
And suppose the rudder to be struck by a heavy sea, or otherwise, one or
other of the springs will allow the rudder to yield to the shock, the worm
sliding upon the shaft G and collapsing the spring. Under ordinary cir-
cumstances the power of the springs is sufficiently strong to keep the worm
steady sideways during the steering of the ship, and it is only when the rudder
receives a sudden shock or blow that the aforesaid springs yield, and thus
destroy or sufficiently lessen the effect of such said shock or blow to prevent
injury to the rudder or parts in connection therewith.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my
Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of Steering Apparatus
adapted for Ships and such like Navigable Vessels," together with the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion, that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in,
an I claim,-
First, an apparatus of the construction above particularly described, set
forth, and represented by the illustrative Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and especially I claim the ropes or chains for working the screw shaft G.
Secondly, the springs L, L, for preventing injury to the rudder, as above
stated.
Thirdly, constructing steering wheels of wood and metal combined, in the
manner above described and represented at Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Tenwick, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
IETATTזו זזז