IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STOPPING, OR REVERSING STEAM OR OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Donkin and Bryce Gray Nichol, both of the
Town and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Engineers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR STARTING,
STOPPING, OR REVERSING STEAM OR OTHER ENGINES."
Sealed the 4th February 1879, and dated the 10th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Donkin and Bryce
Gray Nichol at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August
1878.
"
GEORGE DONKIN and BRYCE GRAY NICHOL, both of the Town and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Engineers. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STOPPING, OR REVERSING STEAM OR OTHER ENGINES."
This Invention has reference to improvements in steering apparatus, and in
apparatus for starting, stopping, or reversing steam or other engines by the use or
application of a body of water to augment and transmit the pressure of steam
acting upon the surface of the water, and in hand steering gear in combination
with and auxiliary to the same.
According to one method of carrying out our Invention we propose to construct
a chamber, in the lower part of which are two cylinders open at their inner ends,
which are fitted with stuffing boxes and glands. The upper part of this chamber
forms two reservoirs separated from the cylinders, except when communication is
made by the opening of valves hereafter to be described.
In the two cylinders works one ram, having on the middle part of it (which does
not work into the glands) between the open ends of the cylinders, either cast upon
or fixed to it, one or a pair of toothed racks. Gearing into this rack (or racks) is
a spur pinion (or pinions) keyed on an axle or spindle working in suitable
bearings, and carrying on its outer end a friction or other clutch sliding on a key
upon the axle, and engaging with a corresponding clutch upon a second axle or
spindle, which carries also keyed upon it a spur wheel and the messenger or chain.
wheel of an ordinary bridge hand steering apparatus, the spur pinion of which is
thrown out of gear with the spur wheel by the same movement which throws the
Prine Gd1

page_text: clutches into gear with each other, and so connects the chain or messenger wheel
with the steam steering apparatus.. The chain passing round or over the messenger
wheel leads by ordinary guide pullies to the "tiller" head.
Between each of the cylinders and the upper parts of the chamber or reservoirs
is a valve box fitted with a valve which is kept shut by a spring or other appliance,
except when opened by a lever handle worked by the steersman.
Upon one or both of the reservoirs is fitted a valve which admits steam from
the boiler to either of the reservoirs to act upon the surface of the water contained
in it, and, through the medium of the water, to force the ram out of one cylinder
and into the other:
The two cylinders being filled with water behind the ram as well as the reservoirs
up to a certain level (the ram being now in its middle position), the steam valve
being opened to either reservoir, the communicating valves are opened by the same
movement. The steam pressing upon the surface of the water in the reservoir to
which it is admitted forces the water through the communicating valve into the
cylinder, where it acts upon the ram forcing it out of that cylinder and into the
other, the water in which is displaced and escapes through the communicating valve
into the reservoir. When the ram has reached the end of its stroke the toothed
rack (or racks) acting through the pinion (or pinions) will have rotated the chain or
messenger wheel until the "tiller "has moved to hard-over, to starboard or port, as
the case may be. Steam being admitted to the other reservoir the reverse action
takes place, the ram being forced into its extreme position on the opposite side.
When the ram reaches the end of its stroke either way automatic tappit gear
attached to it releases the communicating valves (which are instantly closed by
their springs), shuts off the steam, and the ram remains locked in that position
until the steam valve is opened to the opposite end by the steersman moving the
handle. In any intermediate part of its stroke in either direction the ram is
locked the moment the handle is released by the automatic closing of the communi-
cating valves confining the water in both cylinders.
To guard against the sudden shocks of the rudder being struck by heavy seas,
relief valves are provided at each end of sufficient area and loaded with springs or
other appliances to give the requisite elasticity when the ram strikes suddenly upon
the solid body of water.
The hand steering gear proposed to be used consists of an ordinary steering wheel
upon an axle or spindle, the other end of which carries a pinion which moves into
and out of gear with the spur wheel upon the axle of the messenger or chain wheel,
and this pinion being put into gear by a hand lever the same movement disengages
the clutch on the main spindle of the messenger wheel, which is then operated by
the land steering wheel independently of the steam steering apparatus.
When applied to steam or other engines for stopping, starting, or reversing, a pin
or stud may be attached to the ram and connected to an arm on a weigh shaft
which is in connection by draw bars with the reversing link; or a rod attached to
the ram and working through a stuffing box on the end of the cylinder may be
connected to the arm on weigh shaft.
To apply hand motion in case of necessity it is proposed to use a small hand
pump, by which water can be forced into either cylinder to act upon the ram as is
now adopted in some other arrangements.
The arrangement of parts may be modified to meet special requirements, as, for
instance, when the steering power is to be applied direct to the tiller, in which case
the ram may have a rod attached to it projecting through the end of the cylinder
(which will be fitted with a stuffing box and gland), and having a cross head with
connecting links or draw bars to the tiller. Or one cylinder only may be used
fitted with a piston or plunger; but in all cases the principle of the Invention
consists in the application of steam pressure acting upon a body of water to give
motion to rams, pistons, or plungers.
JA

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Donkin and Bryce Gray Nichol in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th February 1879.
GEORGE DONKIN and BRYCE GRAY NICHOL, both of the Town and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR STARTING, STOPPING, OR REVERSING STEAM OR OTHER ENGINES."
This Invention has reference to improvements in steering apparatus, and in
apparatus for starting, stopping, or reversing steam or other engines by the use or
application of a body of water to augment and transmit the pressure of steam
acting upon the surface of the water, and in hand steering gear in combination
with and auxiliary to the same.
According to one method of carrying out our Invention we propose to construct
a chamber, in the lower part of which are two cylinders open at their inner ends
which are fitted with stuffing boxes and glands. The upper part of this chamber
forms two reservoirs separated from the cylinders, except when communication is
made by the opening of valves hereafter to be described.
In the two cylinders works one ram having on the middle part of it (which does
not work into the glands) between the open ends of the cylinders, either cast upon
or fixed to it, one or a pair of toothed racks. Grooving into this rack (or racks) is a
spur pinion (or pinions) keyed on an axle or spindle working in suitable bearings,
and carrying on its outer end a friction or other clutch sliding on a key upon the
axle and engaging with a corresponding clutch upon a second axle or spindle, which
carries also keyed upon it a spur wheel and the messenger or chain wheel of an
ordinary bridge hand steering apparatus, the spur pinion of which may be thrown
out of gear with the spur wheel by the same movement which. throws the clutches
into gear with each other, and so connects the chain or messenger wheel with the
steam steering apparatus. The chain passing round or over the messenger wheel
leads by ordinary guide pullies to the "tiller" head.
Between each of the cylinders and the upper parts of the chamber or reservoirs
is a valve box fitted with a valve which is kept shut by a spring or other appliance,
except when opened by a hand wheel or lever handle worked by the steersman.
Upon one or both of the reservoirs is fitted a valve which admits steam from
the boiler to either of the reservoirs to act upon the surface of the water contained
in it, and, through the medium of the water, to force the ram out of one cylinder
and into the other.
The two cylinders being filled with water behind the ram as well as the reservoirs
up to a certain level (the ram being now in its middle position) the steam valve
being opened to either reservoir the communicating valves are opened by the same
movement. The steam pressing upon the surface of the water in the reservoir to
which it is admitted forces the water through the communicating valve into the
cylinder, where it acts upon the ram, forcing it out of that cylinder and into the
other, the water in which is displaced and escapes through the communicating valve
into the reservoir. When the ram has reached the end of its stroke the toothed
rack (or racks) acting through the pinion (or pinions) will have rotated the chain or
messenger whicel- until the "tiller "has moved to hard-over, to starboard or port, as
the case may be. Steam being admitted to the other reservoir the reverse action
takes place, the ram being forced into its extreme position on the opposite side.
When the ram reaches the end of its stroke either way, or any determined inter-
mediate position, automatic tappet gear attached to it releases the communicating
valves (which are instantly closed by their springs), shuts off the steam, and the
ram remains locked in that position until the steam valve is opened to the opposite
end by the steersman moving the hand wheel or handle. In any intermediate part
of its stroke in either direction the ram is locked the moment the handle is released
by the automatic closing of the communicating valves confining the water in both
cylinders.

page_text: To guard against the sudden shocks of the rudder being struck by heavy seas,
relief valves are provided at each end of sufficient area and loaded with springs or
other appliances to give the requisite elasticity when the ram strikes suddenly upon
the solid body of water.
The hand steering gear proposed to be used consists of an ordinary steering wheel
upon an axle or spindle, the other end of which carries a pinion which may be.
arranged to move into and out of gear with the spur wheel upon the axle of the
messenger or chain wheel, and this pinion being put into gear by a hand lever the
same movement disengages the clutch on the main spindle of the messenger wheel,
which is then operated by the hand steering wheel independently of the steam
steering apparatus.
When applied to steam or other engines for stopping, starting, or reversing, a pin
or stud may be attached to the ram and connected to an arm ou a weigh shaft
which is in connection by draw bars with the reversing link; or a rod attached to
the ram and working through a stuffing box on the end of the cylinder may be
connected to the arm on weigh shaft.
To apply hand motion in case of necessity it is proposed to use a small hand
pump by which water can be forced into either cylinder to act upon the ram, as is
now adopted in some other arrangements.
The arrangement of parts may be modified to meet special requirements, as, for
instance, when the steering power is to be applied direct to the tiller, in which case
the ram may have a rod attached to it projecting through the end of the cylinder
(which will be fitted with a stuffing box and gland), and having a cross head with
connecting links or draw bars to the tiller. Or one cylinder only may be used
fitted with a piston or plunger; but in all cases the principle of the Invention
consists in the application of steam pressure acting upon a body of water to give
motion to rams or plungers.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings (on which the same letters refer to the
corresponding parts on each of the Figures) shews one method of carrying out our
Invention.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of our apparatus; Fig. 2, a side elevation; and
Fig. 3, a transverse section of the same as applied for steering.
A, A, are two chambers, each containing in its lower portion a cylinder B, B,
open at their inner ends, which are fitted with stuffing boxes and glands. The
upper portion of each of the chambers forms a reservoir for water separated from
the cylinders, except when communication is made by opening the valves C, C. In
the two cylinders B, B, works a ram D having a rack E bolted on its upper side
(between the cylinders' ends), gearing into which is a spur pinion F on an axle G
working in carriages, and having on its outer end a friction or other clutch H.
This clutch H engages with a corresponding sliding clutch J upon the shaft K of an
ordinary "bridge" hand steering gear, the "messenger" wheel L of which carries
the chain leading by ordinary guide pullies to the "tiller."
When the clutches H. and J are engaged the apparatus is worked by the steam
power, but when disengaged the rudder is operated by the hand steering gear in the
usual way.
The communicating valves C, C, are actuated by springs which keep them shut,
and are opened by an arrangement of bevil wheels and sliding cams worked by a
screw which is revolved by the hand wheel M. These valves are also actuated
automatically in certain positions of the rain D, determined by the distance through
which the hand wheel is rotated.
Steam is admitted to act upon the surface of the water contained in either
reservoir by ordinary slide valves placed upon the covers of the reservoirs and
worked by suitable hand gear.

page_text: To gear against sudden shocks by the rudder being struck by heavy seas, relief
valves N, N, loaded with springs are provided which open when the ram strikes
against the solid body of water in either cylinder.
In applying our Invention to starting, stopping, or reversing steam or other
engines we propose to carry out a similar arrangement of working parts, the ram D
being either attached direct by draw bars to the reversing links or to an arm or
lever upon a weigh bar, the draw bara of the reversing links being attached to the
ends of arnis or levers upon the same weigh bar.
The rack E, pinion F, clutches Hand J, and hand gear shewn as applied to
steering will be dispensed with when the apparatus is applied for starting, stopping,
or reversing steam or other engines.
When steam pressure is not available we propose to use a small hand pump, by
which water will be applied to work the ram or rams in the cylinders.
We do not bind ourselves to the particular arrangement of parts shewn on the
Drawings, as we may use two cylinders with separate rams, or three or more
cylinders arranged round a shaft and each fitted with a plunger or trunk ram,
What we claim as novel is,
First. The application of steam pressure acting upon the surface of a body of
water to transmit motion to rams, pistons, or plungers for the purpose of operating
the rudders of vessels, substantially as described.
Second. The application of steam pressure acting upon the surface of a body of
water to effect the starting, stopping, or reversing of steam or other engines by
giving motion to a rani or rams, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Donkin and Bryce Gray Nichol, have
hereunto set our hands and scals, this Eighth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
GEORGE DONKIN. (LS.)
B. G. NICHOL.
(L.s.)