Improvements in Telemotor Apparatus, or Apparatus for Working, Steering, Telegraphing, Indicating, and other Apparatus from a Distance.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1889-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telemotor Apparatus, or Apparatus for Working,
Steering, Telegraphing, Indicating, and other Apparatus from a
Distance.
I, ANDREW BETTS BROWN, of Rosebank Iron Works, Edinburgh, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said Invention has for its object by means of improved telemotor apparatus
to transmit movements through a distance in connection with, steering, telegraphing,
indicating, and other analogous apparatus.
In carrying out my Invention I cause the movements to be transmitted by means
of water, or other liquid in pipes, which may be arranged between the points of
transmission and reception in whatever manner may be most convenient in each
case, thereby avoiding the inconveniences and difficulties inseparable from the
employment of rods, chains, geared shafting, or similar mechanism hitherto generally
employed for like purposes.
The movements are effected by causing one or more pistons to act on the liquid
in the pipe or pipes at the transmitting station, and the liquid acts on one or more
pistons at the receiving station, such piston or pistons communicating the movements
to the valve lever of the steering engine or to the equivalent part of telegraphing,
indicating, or other apparatus.
The present Invention consists principally in constructing telemotor apparatus of
the kind referred to with appliances for securing exact correspondence between the
transmitting and receiving pistons and which corrects any temporary want of corre-
spondence that may be caused by leakage of liquid past any piston or otherwise. In
applying the improved apparatus in connection with a steering engine the engine may
be at the ship's stern and the transmitting station on the bridge or in any other
convenient position. In one modification of the parts a steering wheel on the bridge
is by means of a pinion and rack made to move a long piston having packed ends
working in cylinders which communicate with two transmitting pipes. The pipes
communicate at the receiving end with similar cylinders having in them pistons fixed
at opposite ends of a bar which is connected to a lever connected to the valve gear of
the steering engine. The said lever is fast on a rocking spindle which has also fast
on it a lever hereinafter termed the correcting lever; and which is acted on by springs
or by pistons pressed by fluid under pressure in a manner to move it to a central
position when it is free to move. Whenever the steering wheel is turned into its
middle position, so as to move the transmitting piston or pair of pistons into the
middle position, a communication is opened between the two transmitting cylinders,
and then if the correcting lever does not happen to have been brought also to the
central position the springs or pistons acting on it will force it to that position the
liquid in the pipes and cylinders being then free to adjust itself by moving from one
cylinder to the other as may be required. The parts will in this way be brought into
exact correspondence every time the steering wheel is turned into its middle position.
The pipes and cylinders are kept full of liquid by means of one or more inlet check
valves communicating with one or more reservoirs; and safety valves are provided to
allow of relief if the internal pressure becomes excessive from any cause.
The position of the rudder may be indicated at the bridge by apparatus for trans-
mitting movements from it to an index at the bridge and like that hereinbefore.
described for transmitting movements from the bridge to the steering engine.

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telemotor Apparatus, or Apparatus for Working,
Steering, Telegraphing, Indicating, and other Apparatus from a
Distance.
I, ANDREW BETTS BROWN, of Rosebank Iron Works, Edinburgh, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion 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 :-
My said Invention has for its object by means of improved telemotor apparatus to
transmit movements through a distance in connection with steering, telegraphing,
indicating, and other analogous apparatus.
In carrying out my Invention I cause the movements to be transmitted by means
of water or other liquid in pipes, which may be arranged between the points of
transmission and reception, in whatever manner may be most convenient in each case,
thereby avoiding the inconveniences and difficulties inseparable from the employment
of rods, chains, geared shafting, or similar mechanism hitherto generally employed
for like purposes.
The movements are effected by causing one or more pistons to act on the liquid in
the pipe or pipes at the transmitting station, and the liquid acts on one or more
pistons at the receiving station, such piston or pistons communicating the movements
to the valve lever of the steering engine, or to the equivalent part of telegraphing,
indicating, or other apparatus.
The present Invention consists principally in constructing telemotor apparatus of
the kind referred to with appliances for securing exact correspondence between the
transmitting and receiving pistons; and which corrects any temporary want of
correspondence that may be caused by leakage of liquid past any piston or otherwise.
In applying the improved apparatus in connection with a steering engine, the
engine may be at the ship's stern and the transmitting station on the bridge or in
any other convenient position.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append seven sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing examples of apparatus made according to my
Invention.
Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the drawings is a diagram of a simple arrangement of the
improved apparatus, various parts being shown in section. Figure, 2, on sheet, 2, is
an elevation of transmitting or sending apparatus for operating on a steering engine,
having combined with it apparatus for indicating the position of the rudder. Figure, 3,
is a horizontal section of a part shown in figure, 2. Figure, 4, on sheet, 3, is a side
elevation corresponding to figure, 2. Figures, 5, and 6, on sheet, 4, are enlarged
vertical and horizontal sections of different parts of the transmitting apparatus.
Figure, 7, is a general plan, on a reduced scale of the main receiving apparatus near
the rudder and of the transmitting apparatus by means of which the position of the
rudder is indicated. Figures, 8, and 9, on sheet, 6, are elevations of parts of the
apparatus shown in figure, 7. Figure, 10, on sheet, 7, is a sectional diagram showing
another modification of the general arrangements. In these drawings the same
reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they
are repeated.
In the arrangement shown in figure, 1, a steering wheel, A, which may be on the
bridge, is by means of a pinion, 11, on its spindle or shaft and a toothed rack, 12,
made to move a long piston, B, (on which the rack is formed) the ends of which are
packed and work in cylinders, C1, C2, which communicate with two transmitting
pipes, D¹, D. These pipes communicate at the receiving station with similar
cylinders, E¹, E, having in them pistons, F1, F2, fixed at opposite ends of a bar, G,
which is connected to a lever, H, and a small lever, H', moving therewith is connected
by a rod, H³, to the valve gear of the steering engine (not shown). The lever, H, is

page_text: fast on a rocking spindle, 13, which has also fast on it a lover, J, hereinafter termed
the correcting lever, and which is acted on by springs, K1, K2, (or it might be by
pistons pressed by fluid under pressure) in a manner to move it to a central position
when it is free to move. Whenever the steering wheel, A, is turned to its middle position
so as to move the transmitting piston or pair of pistons, B, into the middle position
a communication is opened between the two transmitting cylinders, C', C, and then
if the correcting lever, J, does not happen to have been brought also to the central
position the springs, K, K², acting on it will force it to that position, the liquid in
the pipes, D, D, and cylinders, E¹, E², C', C², being then free to adjust itself by
moving from one cylinder to another as may be required. The parts will in this way
be brought into exact correspondence every time the steering wheel, A, is turned to
its middle position. Various devices may be used for effecting a communication
between the transmitting cylinders, C₁, (², that shown in figure, 1, comprising
passages indicated by dotted lines formed in the piston, B, from the ends to separate
ports in one side of the piston at its middle, and a cavity, 14, formed in the side of the
cylinder, this cavity putting the two passages in communication when the piston is in
its middle position. The pipes, D', D2, and cylinders, C', C, E, E², are kept full of
liquid by means of inlet check valves, L, I, communicating by pipes, L³, with a
reservoir, L, and safety valves, L, L, which are suitably loaded by springs, are
provided in connection with the pipes, D1, D2, and the reservoir, LA, to allow of relief
if the internal pressure becomes excessive from any cause.
Of the general arrangement of apparatus shown in figures, 2, to 9, the parts shown in
figures, 2, to 6, are those placed at the steering station at any convenient distance from the
stern of a ship. These parts are shown as carried by a pedestal or standard, and
comprise a steering wheel, A, on its shaft, A', which is connected by bevil wheels, A²,
with a vertical shaft, A3, to be actuated when desired by a steering wheel at a higher
level. The steering-wheel shaft, A¹, extends through a stuffing box into a casing, (³,
which has the transmitting cylinders, C1, C2, formed at its ends, the inner end of the
shaft being formed into a pinion, 11, and gearing with the rack, 12, formed on tho
long piston, B, as seen best in figures, 5, and 6. In this example the communication
between the transmitting cylinders, C, C, is by pipes, 15, 16, connected to a stop-
cock the plug, 17, of which has fixed on it a forked piece, 18, to be acted on by a
tooth, 19, formed or fixed on the piston, B, at the middle of a groove, 20, formed
along the piston. The stopcock plug, 17, is open when the forked piece, 18, is put
into the middle position by the piston tooth, 19, but is instantly closed by the action
of the tooth on the piston being moved by the steering wheel, A, in either direction
from its middle position. The filling and relief valves, L, L³, L, L, are attached to
the ends of the cylinders, (, C, but the connecting pipes and reservoir (L³, L') are
not shown. Parts of the pipes, D1, D2, by means of which the movements are
transmitted to the steering apparatus are shown in figures, 2, and 4; and the other
ends of these pipes are shown in figures, 7, 8, and 9.
The transmitting pipes, D1, D2, are connected to the receiving cylinders, E¹, E'
(figures 7, 8, and 9) and their pistons like those, F1, F2, of the hereinbefore described
arrangement shown in figure, 1, act on a lever (H) which is inside of a casing, E³,
having the cylinders, E¹, E², fixed to it, and which is fast on a spindle or shaft, 13,
extending through stuffing boxes upwards and downwards through the casing, E³.
The lower end of the shaft, 13, has fast on it a lever, J, acted on by centering
springs, K1, K2, (as in figure, 1). The upper end of the shaft, 13, has fast on it a
lever, H¹, by means of which the movements are communicated to the steering
apparatus. Centered loosely on the shaft, 13, above the lever, H', there is a bellcrank
lever, N, N', which when the hydraulic telemotor apparatus is working is connected
to the lever, H', by a pin passing through the arm, N, and that lever. The other
arm, N', is shown as connected by a joint pin (which is removed when the hydraulic
telemotor apparatus is working) to a link, P, jointed to a lever, P₁, which is fast on a
vertical shaft, P. On the bottom end of the vertical shaft, P', there is a worm-toothed
sector, P³, having in gear with it a worm on a horizontal shaft, P4, which extends to
any convenient position near the ship's stern, where it is geared to a steering wheel

page_text: i
(not shown) provided for use in the event of the hydraulic telemotor apparatus being
out of order. The bellcrank arm, N¹, is connected by a link, Q, to a lever, Q', which
is at its middle jointed to the spindle, Q2, of the valve controlling the steering engine
or apparatus.
The steering apparatus of which parts are indicated in figures, 7, 8, and 9, is of the
kind in which two hydraulic cylinders, R, and rams, R, are employed for moving the
rudder. The cylinder and ram, R, R', for one side is indicated by dotted lines in
figure, 7. The cylinders, R, have connected to them pipes, S', S2, which proceed
from the valve box, Q3, containing the controlling valve, to which valve box are also
connected pipes, S³, S¼, communicating with the hydraulic pressure producing
apparatus employed to work the steering apparatus. When the rudder moves in
obedience to the controlling valve it by means of a rod, T moves a lever, T¹, which is
connected by an adjustable rod, T, to a lever, T³, centered loosely on the vertical
shaft, 13, of the telemotor receiving apparatus. This lever, T³, is connected by a
link, T, to one end of the controlling-valvo lever, Q, and by the consequent action on
that lever the controlling valve is moved back to its middle position. The lever, T³, is
also made with an enlarged centre part in the underside of which are fixed pins, T³,
projecting down on each side of the bellcrank arm, N, and serving to limit the
relative movements of the parts.
The lever, T, moved by the rudder is also used to actuate the telemotor indicating
apparatus, being fixed on a shaft, A4, which, inside of a casing, C+, such as is shown in
figure, 3, by a toothed sector moves a piston or pair of pistons in transmitting
cylinders, C, C, which by pipes, D3, D4, communicate with receiving cylinders, E³, E³,
at the steering station, figures 2, and 4. The piston or pistons in the cylinders, E, ES,
by means of a rack acting on a toothed sector, U, figure, 3, turn a shaft, U', which
has fixed on it an index arm, U2, to show the position of the rudder. It may here bo
mentioned that there is also provided an index arm, V, to show the position in which
the action given to the steering wheel, A, should place the rudder when the apparatus
works correctly. The index arm, V, is shown as fixed on a helical spindle, V',
which is acted on by an internal helix in a block V2, raised and lowered by a screw
thread on the vertical shaft, A³.
For centering the pistons in the indicator receiving cylinders, E, E³, helical springs
(not shown) are applied in the cylinders themselves in a manner to act on either
piston when moved from the middle position. And to allow of the centering action
taking place, the lever T, moved by the rudder, is arranged by means of a tooth, 19,
fixed on it to act on a forked piece, 18, on the spindle and plug, 17, of a stopcock,
which by pipes, 15, 16, puts the indicator transmitting cylinders, (, C, in com-
munication with each other whenever the lever, T', and the rudder are in their middle
positions. The indicator receiving cylinders E, E³, have in connection with them
filling and relief check valves in valves boxes, L', L, Lº, L10.
In the modified arrangement shown in figure, 10, a comparatively short trans-
mitting or sending cylinder, C, is employed, with a single piston, B, which in its
middle position, as shown, uncovers the end ports of a passage, 14, to allow of the
centering of the receiving parts. The piston B, is moved by a rod, W, which extends
through a stuffing box and is screwed at its outer part to be acted on by an
internal screw at the centre of the steering wheel, A. The receiving cylinder, E,
is also shortened and fitted with a single piston, F, and the centering springs, K¹, K²,
are placed in the cylinder to act in opposite directions on the piston. The piston, F,
has fixed to it a rod, X, passing out through a stuffing box, to be connected,
externally, to the controlling valve of the steering engine or other apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In apparatus for transmitting movements by means of liquid in pipes for working
steering, telegraphing, indicating, and other apparatus from a distance, the liquid
being acted on by a piston or pistons moved by hand or hand gear, and acting on a

page_text: piston or pistons,—applying a piston or pistons acted on by one or more springs
or weights, or applying a fluid pressure, to put the transmitting and receiving parts
of the apparatus in exact correspondence or to correct their relative positions whenever
the transmitting parts are moved into or through the middle or other predetermined
position the said transmitting parts then opening a communication or communications
to allow of the passage of liquid from one part to another if required to effect the
correcting action, all substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Fifth day of July 1889.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.