Improvements in and relating to Yielding Guide Rollers for the Rudder Chains of Ships.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
Improvements in and relating to Yielding Guide Rollers for the
Rudder Chains of Ships.
I, AUGUST MAY, of 42 Stubbenhuck, Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany,
Captain, 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:-
This invention relates to a device by means of which the possibility of breaking
the rudder-chain on sea-going ships is reduced.
The breaking of the rudder-chain occurs in rough weather when a sudden
rolling wave exerts such a strong pressure upon the rudder that its chain is not
equal to the enormous strain momentarily put upon it.
With a view to avoid the breaking of the chain elastic links have been inserted
therein having the form of helical springs.
These springs however are disposed parallel to the direction of the pull on
the chain and have not given satisfaction.
The improved device hereinafter described is intended to afford greater
security than that afforded by previously known devices.
My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved device.
Figure 2 is a cross-section.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line A B of Figure 2.
This improved device is applied to all those parts where the direction of the
rudder-channel requires altering and where hitherto fixed rollers have been
utilized.
The roller a is similar to those hitherto in use the stirrup or frame ỗ in
appearance is also unaltered; the foundation plate c however has been altered
and forms at the same time a sliding cover for the so-called spring box d.
This box and cover care secured together by a tongue and groove and d
the former being formed integral with the cover e, and the latter formed in the
box d, a pair of lugs e are provided for carriyng the ends of helical springs f,
their other ends being supported upon projections provided on the inner side
of the end d of the spring box.
This latter is furnished with lugs for screw bolts h by which to secure the said
box in any suitable position to the ship.
The roller casing b and roller a are normally retained in a locked position
by means of bolts inserted in eyes jj in the plate c and in the box d and
then secured by split pins k. Thus arranged the improved device corresponds
in effect to the rigid roller box hitherto used.
If however the ship provided with these improved roller boxes, is likely to
encounter heavy seas, the rigid boxes are unlocked and thus rendered elastic.
As however the steering chains exert an even steady pressure over the whole
steering gear it will not be easy to loosen the bolts without the aid of special

page_text: means. Power must be applied to oppose the pressure of the steering gear
chain in such a manner as to take the strain off the bolts i.
To this end a lever is provided at the front end d² of the spring box and
such lever is furnished with a wedge cam m which, on the lever being moved
to a vertical position, acts upon a projection n of the plate c so causing it to
slightly move rearwards and free the bolts i. By now removing these bolts i the
roller a is free to travel.
The helical springs are preferaby so calculated as to have their limit of
elasticity as far as possible above the normal strain upon the chains but always
below the breaking strain of the same.
If now extraordinary pressure is directed upon the rudder the result, according
to the theorem of forces in parallelograms, will be that the roller a yields in the
direction of the diagonal providing the box is so disposed that the branches of the
chain forming an angle to the direction of movement of the roller a form two
sides of the parallelogram and that the springs are disposed in the direction of
the diagonal; this disposition is clearly shown in Figure 1.
By this arrangement the various members constituting the steering gear are
enabled to yield to each other.
The elastic travelling motion of the rollers enables a certain amount of
yielding movement to the rudder so enabling this latter to yield to any extra-
ordinary pressures from the waves, thereby reducing their destructive effects
upon the same even if not entirely securing the rudder against breaking. More-
over the great pressure on the rudder is no longer directly transmitted to the
steering engine and this is thus better guarded than with the arrangements
heretofore in use.
After the weather has again abated, or in the case of the springs being broken,
which is most unlikely, the afore described device can at once be rendered
workable by re-inserting the bolts in the stationary plate after setting the
lever so as to adjust the holes in the lugs for the reception of the bolts.
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:-
A roller for guiding rudder chains kept normally in a stationary position
but to which can be imparted an elastic travelling motion and characterized
by the roller being mounted in a frame b c adapted to slide upon a box d but
normally held stationary thereon by bolts i and eyes j j¹ which bolts can be
removed by first operating a lever / furnished with a wedge-cam m so as to
free the frame b c with roller a from the pressure of the steering chain after
which the frame with its lugs e in the interior of the box d acts against springs f
disposed in the direction of the diagonal of the parallelogram of forces exerted
by the rudder upon the chains and roller.
Dated this 31st day of May 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.