AN IMPROVED RUDDER ATTACHMENT
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN DAMPIER HICKMAN, of Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, in the County
of Surrey, Cycle Manufacturer and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "AN IMPROVED RUDDER ATTACHMENT," to be as follows:―
The object of my invention is the introduction of an improved method of
attaching a rudder to its stern post.
The rudder is hung, in any convenient way, upon a bar which either slides in a
groove formed on, or in, the stern post, or upon a bar projecting therefrom.. The
groove, or bar, is always made to slope outwards at the top, at a sufficient angle to
prevent the rudder, with its attachment, from being floated out of position, while it
will slide upwards on coming into contact with an obstacle.
A projecting stop is provided under the attachment to prevent it from dropping.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, JOHN DAMPIER HICKMAN, of Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, in the County
of Surrey, Cycle Manufacturer and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved method of attaching the rudders of boats,
and similar craft to their stern posts, and consists in connecting the rudder to a bar
which slides in a groove formed in, or on, the stern post of the boat, or upon a
bar projecting therefrom This groove, or bar, slopes outwards at a sufficient angle
to render it impossible for the rudder to be floated upwards, at the same time the
rudder can easily rise on coming into contact with an obstacle.
In order that my invention and the means by which the same can be carried
into practical effect may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe the same
in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part
of this specification, and read therewith, and in which like parts are marked with
the same reference letter.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the stern of a boat fitted with my invention.
Fig. 2 is a sido elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a rudder fitted with my invention.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rudder connected to the stern of a boat.
Figs. 5 and 6 are plans of my rudder attachment shewing two of the sections of
tube I find suitable for the same.
A is a groove fixed firmly in any convenient way to the stern and as close thereto
as possible.
The advantage of this arrangement will be obvious for as no dead water can
occur between the stern post and the rudder and the full effect of the maximum
steering way is obtained. This groove is of regular cross section throughout its
length.
B is a bar corresponding in section with the groove, and capable of sliding
casily therein.
C is a rod fixed in the bore of a tube D, which is cut away to receive the
knuckles of the rudder straps E.
The tube is made in one piece with or brazed, or otherwise rigidly attached to
the bar B.
F is a strap shown as formed on the top of the bar B. It is for the purpose of
preventing the rudder from dropping, and might, therefore, be on the bottom of the
groove A with equal effect..
Fig. 7 is a front elevation shewing a rudder attachment constructed as described
above but fitted with an automatic detent.
Fig. 8 is a detail sectional elevation of the above.
Before a boat can be hauled over the rollers at a lock its rudder if hung in the
ordinary way must be unshipped to prevent its being damaged. With a rudder
hung according to my invention, no actual unshipping is necessary.

page_text: The rudder is pulled upwards and the detent G engaging in a notch in the T bar
holds the rudder out of harms way. When the rollers have been passed the catch
is released, and the rudder drops or pushed down,
I would have it understood that this detent in no way alters the automatic
action of the slide as the rudder would move still higher up on meeting with any
obstruction sufficient to raise it so high.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation illustrating a modification of my invention, according to
which the tube D is dispensed with, its place being taken by oyes H, which are
rigidly connected to the T bar B. Corresponding eyes I, are fixed to the rudder
and the connection between rudder and boat is completed by passing a pin J
through the eyes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a rudder attachment the combination of the compound tube D, central
pin C and T-bar B capable of sliding in a groove on the stern post, substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In a rudder attachment the combination of an automatic detent G capable of
engaging with the T-bar B and holding it when the rudder is raised high enough
to pass over the rollers at a lock or over any other obstruction such as towing over
shallows or the like substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a rudder attachment the combination of pairs of eyes I and I, angle bar
sliding in a groove, and pin J substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of January 1886
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.