Improvements in or connected with Ships' Steering Gear.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
Improvements in or connected with Ships' Steering Gear.
I, WILLIAM HORATIO HARFIELD, of Mansion House Buildings, in the City
of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object the application of a hydraulic brake or locking
apparatus to steering gear whereby the rudder can be held or looked in any desired
position.
In carrying out my inveution I arrauge a hydraulic cylinder the piston or ram
of which is connected to the tiller crosshead or other suitable moving part of the
steering gear.
In practice I find it advantageous to employ an oscillating cylinder the ram of
which is directly connected to the crosshead."
The cyhude is filled on both sides of the piston with a suitable fluid, which 18
compelled by the movement of the piston to circulate from one end of the cylinder
to the other end, passing through suitable passages or pipes on its way.
In a convenient position in this passage 1 place a controlling valve or valves the
closing of which arrests the flow of the liquid and thereby locks the rudder.
This controlling valve may be opened and closed automatically by the movement
of the steering wheel, or independently actuated by the attendant.
Dated this 5th day of October 1895.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or connected with Ships Steering Gear.
1, WILLIAM HORATIO HARFIELD, of Mansion House Buildings, in the City
of London, Engineer, 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.—
My invention has for its object the application of a hydraulic brake or locking
apparatus to steering gear whereby the rudder can be held or looked in any desired
position.
In carrying out my invention 1 arrange a hydraulic cylinder the piston or ram
of which is connected to the tiller crosshead or other suitable moving part of the
steering gear.
In practice I find it advantageous to employ an oscillating cylinder the ram of
which is directly connected to the crosshead.
The cylinder is filled on both sides of the piston with a suitable fluid, which is
compelled by the movement of the piston to circulate from one end of the cylinder
to the other end, passing through suitable passages or pipes on its way.
In a convenient position in this passage 1 place a controlling valve or valves the
closing of which arrests the flow of the liquid and thereby locks the rudder.

page_text: To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved brake or looking apparatus; and,
Figure 2 a longitudinal section of the same.
a is the brake cylinder provided with trunnions b, b mounted in bearings in the
frame c.
d 18 the piston or rain working within the said cylinder and e is the
piston rod which at one end is attached to the lever fou the tiller-head g as shown
in Figure 1.
h18 a pipe which establishes communication between the two ends of the
Oscillating cylinder a and i 18 a valve arranged in the said pipe and serving to
control the flow of fluid through it.
As hereinbefore stated the cylinder a is filled with fluid upon both sides of the
piston d which is provided with the usual cup leathers for preventing the passage
of the fluid so that as the piston moves it will be obvious that the fluid will pass
from one side of the piston through the pipe h to the other side.
It will be evident that by regulating the valve i the speed, at which the fluid
can pass from one end of the oylinder to the other, can be adjusted and that when
the said valve i is closed, as no fluid 18 allowed to pass, the piston will be held
stationary.
Tho valve as shewn is arranged to be operated by hand but it is to be
understood that if desired means may be provided for operating it automatically.
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 :--
1. The combination with a ship's steering gear of a braking or locking device
consisting of a hydraulic cylinder and ram or piston, the two ends of the said
cylinder being connected by a passage containing a controlling valve and filled
with a fluid, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
2. The manufacture and use of the improved apparatus hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing for biaking or looking the steering
gear of ships substantially as described.
Datal
ד
G. F. REDFERN & Co,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.