Improvements applicable to Steering Gear.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1893-Accepted 13th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements applicable to Steering Gear.
We, STEPHEN ALLEY and JOHN ALEXANDER MACLELLAN, of Sentinel Works,
Polmadie, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
This invention has for its object the application to steering gear of improved
devices for allowing of and controlling the yielding of any part of the gear when
the rudder is subjected to violent and sudden shocks, the improved devices being
applicable either directly to the rudder head or to any suitable or convenient part
between the rudder and the steering engine or steering wheel by means of which the
steering is effected.
In carrying out the invention when the devices are to be applied directly to the
rudder head, there is fixed on that head a boss made with spoke-like arms arranged
preferably at equal angles apart and more or fewer in number accordingly as the
rudder is larger or smaller. The outer ends of the arms are encircled by a ring
The steering
against the inside of which rollers bear which are fitted to the arms.
action is imparted to the ring by a worm gearing with teeth on the ring, or in any
other convenient way. The ring is made with inwardly projecting parts the same
in number as the spoke arms, which parts are midway in the spaces between
the arms when there is no strain between the parts. Helical springs are placed
on each side of each spoke arm between it and the inwardly projecting parts of
the ring; and these springs allow the spoke arms and rudder to yield in either
direction under excessive strain. Owing to the number of springs-of which there
may be two or more in depth-they may be individually comparatively small in
size, whilst their disposition at several points round the rudder head secures an
advantageous distribution of the strains.
Instead of the ring being in contact with rollers on the spoke arms it may be
formed with a disk or with spokes having a central eye or hub loose on the rudder
head or on the hub of the spoke arms.
Delhi Wi den of 1.1., 1905
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements applicable to Steering Gear.
We, STEPHEN ALLEY and JOHN ALEXANDER MACLELLAN of Sentinel Works,
Polmadie, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
that is to say :-
gear
when
This invention has for its object the application to steering gear of improved
devices for allowing of and controlling the yielding of any part of the
the rudder is subjected to violent and sudden shocks the improved devices being
applicable either directly to the rudder head or to any suitable or convenient
part between the rudder and the steering engine or steering wheel by means of
which the steering is effected.
In carrying out the invention when the devices are to be applied directly to the
rudder head, there is fixed on that head a boss made with spoke-like arms having

page_text: their outer ends encircled by a ring against the inside of which rollers bear which
are fitted to the arms. Helical springs are placed on each side of each spoke arm
between it and inwardly projecting parts of the ring; and these springs allow the
spoke arms and rudder to yield in either direction. The steering action is imparted
to the ring by a worm gearing with teeth on the ring. Instead of the ring being in
contact with rollers on the spoke arms, it may be formed with a disk or with
spokes having a central eye or hub loose on the rudder head or on the hub of the
spoke arms.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings,
to be hereinafter referred to, and showing our improvements applicable to steering
gear.
Figure, 1, is a sectional plan of one modification of the improved devices.
Figure, 2, is an end elevation of a spoke arm and some parts connected
therewith.
Figure, 3, is a vertical section corresponding to Figure, 1.
Figure, 4, is an end elevation of part of a second modification of the improved
devices.
Figure, 5, is a horizontal section of part of a third modification.
Figure, 6, is a vertical section of a fourth modification.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
When the devices are to be applied directly to the rudder head, there is fixed
on that head a boss, A made with spoke-like arms. B, arranged preferably at
equal angles apart, and more or fewer in number as the rudder is larger or
smaller. The outer ends of the arms, B, are encircled by a ring, C, against the
inside of which rollers, D, bear, these rollers being fitted to the arms. The
arms, B, are of box section and their ends are formed with curved recesses, E, in
which the rollers, D, fit and work. The steering action is imparted to the ring, C,
by a worm (not shown) gearing with teeth, F, formed on the ring, or it might be
in any other convenient way. The ring, C, is made with inwardly projecting
parts, G, the same in number as the spoke arms, B, which parts are midway in
the spaces between the arms when there is no strain between the parts. Helical
springs, H, are placed on each side of each spoke arm, B, between it and the
inwardly projecting parts, G, of the ring, C, the springs being fitted with conoidal
metal blocks, J, on their ends to bear in hollows or recesses in the inwardly
projecting parts and in the spoke arms. The springs, H, allow the spoke arms, B,
and rudder to yield in either direction under excessive strain. Owing to the
number of springs, H, of which there may be two or more in depth as shown in
Figure, 4, they may be individually comparatively small in size, whilst their
disposition at several points round the rudder head secures an advantageous
distribution of the strains.
In the modification shown in Figure, 5; there are substituted for the rollers, D,
bars, K, placed inside the spoke arms B, and each having one end abutting on the
boss, A, and the other end abutting, between snugs, L, against the inside of
the ring, C. The spoke arms, K, are formed so as to allow some lateral play to
the bars, K, when the springs, H, yield on the rudder head being subjected to extra
strain.
Figure, 6, shows another modification in which instead of the ring, C, being in
contact with rollers, D on the spoke arms, B, it is formed as the circumferential
flange of a disk, M, having a central eye working loose on the hub, A, of the
spoke arms, which is formed with facings, N, for it to rest upon. The ring, C,
and the disk, M, might be arranged, if desired, to work loose on the rudder
head instead of the hub, A, of the spoke arms, B; and the ring, C, might be
made with spokes having a central hub instead of the disk, M, with the
central eye.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
In steering gear, the improved yielding arrangement comprising a boss with
spoke arms the ends of which bear on springs which bear on projections on a ring,
through which ring the steering action is transmitted, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of March 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.