Improved Rudder, Serving also as a Course Retarding Device.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Rudder, Serving also as a Course Retarding Device.
I, HEINRICH BRÜNE EGGERS, of No. 8 Labusenstrasse, Verden of Aller,
Empire of Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The improved rudder according to the present invention is entirely rotatable on
its axis, whereas the arrangement of the rudder hitherto in use only enables same
to be partly rotatable, which, however, is quite sufficient for steering purposes.
This arrangement of the rudder renders same adaptable not only for steering
purposes, but also as a means for retarding the course of the vessel, since such
rudder can be adjusted in any transverse position to the keel of the vessel.
Furthermore, this arrangement of the rudder, according to which the horizontal
centre axle divides the area or the blade of the rudder into two symmetrical
halves, has an advantage over the usual construction, in so far as the power
necessary for adjusting and maintaining the adjusting position may be comparatively
reduced, since the thrusting of the water against one side is entirely or partly
avoided, hence when hitherto steam or other mechanical steering apparatus were
considered necessary, this improved rudder arrangement, in many cases, enables
the vessel to be steered by hand. On the accompanying drawing the stern of a
vessel is shown in side elevation, which is provided with the improved rudder or
steering device, the invention, however, is not restricted to this arrangement as the
same is only to serve as an example.
Instead of one large rudder plate having of course less resisting force-with
which, however, the invention can also be carried out-there are preferably several
rudder plates employed, which are coupled together like the two rudder plates A
and A', shown in the drawing.
The vertical rudder shaft a is common to both these rudder plates, such rudder
shaft a being mounted in suitable bearings 6, 6, 63, forming parts respectively of
the brackets B, B1, projecting from the stern from the extension of such stern or
in any other suitable manner.
The rudder plates are moved simultaneously by means of the shaft a to which
the plates are secured, such plates being of circular form (as shown in the drawing)
oval rectangular or of any other form; of course, the symmetrical arrangement
of the parts of the plate against the shaft is preferable.
The shaft a can either consist of one piece or, if necessary, of several pieces
coupled together in such manner that the intermediate piece of the shaft is
detachably coupled to the part b', so as to enable the upper plate A' to be
occasionally removed for repairing purposes or, the substitution of a shaft
piece etc.
The rudder formned by the two plates A, A¹ is operated as is customary for
steering purposes by means of a device arranged at the head of the shaft a and
consisting for instance, of a handle directly secured thereto and adapted to turn
the rudder to the extent required.
On adjusting the rudder transversely to the keel, the rudder causes a strong
retarding and stopping action of the course of the vessel, so that the speed, as is
frequently desired in danger of a collision, can be quickly abated by a turn of the
rudder.

page_text: On. retarding the speed of the vessel, an alteration of the course in the one or
the other direction is likewise possible by a corresponding alteration of the
transverse position of the rudder. The rudder can thus be rotated entirely round
its axis, which renders the steering operation more convenient and is also
advantageous in case one side of the rudder-plate should become damaged.
The manipulation or operation of such rudder, if it is made smaller for smaller
vessels or boats can be effected directly by hand on manipulating the rudder head
by means of a handle arranged directly at the top of the rudder-shaft, such handle
being preferably provided with an indicator for showing the position of the
rudder.
Or mechanical devices or intermediate gear may be employed for operating
larger rudders. Such a gearing device is shown in the accompanying drawing,
consisting of a shaft w mounted on the deck of the vessel and provided with the
hand or steering wheel h, the bevelled wheel p of such shaft engaging with the
larger bevelled wheel 9 of the rudder shaft a so that the latter can be turned
at will.
The means for controlling the position of the rudder consist of a pair of toothed
bevel-wheels p' & q' one of which, the wheel p¹, is secured to the shaft w and gears
with the other wheel q¹ which is placed horizontally and has the form of a dial,
so that the movements of the rudder and that of the dial correspond.
This dial q' arranged in the neighbourhood of the steering wheel / or in any
other suitable position than that shown in the drawing enables the control of the
position of the rudder after same has been turned; the dial gl moves below an
index and is provided with a diagonal line or like mark indicating the position of
the rudder.
By means of a convenient transmitting gear and shafting the arrangement can
be made in such manner that the rudder may be operated from the bridge or any
other convenient place on the vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner is the same to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Improved rudder adapted to steer or to retard the course of a vessel, consisting
of a single or multiple rudder plate, secured to the same central shaft, such shaft
enabling the rudder to be rotated entirely round its axis and to be adjusted in a
transverse position to the vessel for the purpose of retarding its course without
effecting the steering operation, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 1st day of December 1896.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
For the Applicant.