IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH STEAM AND HAND STEERING GEAR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Britton of New Hendon, Sunderland in the
County of Durham, Mechanical Engineer, for an invention of " IMPROVE-
13
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Britton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th April 1882.
THOMAS BRITTON of New Hendon, Sunderland in the County of Durham
Mechanical Engineer.-"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH STEAM AND
HAND STEERING GEAR
"
Heretofore in the construction of steam steering gear the wear and tear friction
and strain being chiefly in one part causes the gear and the whole apparatus to
vibrate consequently making a great noise and at the same time tending to strip
the teeth by its too sudden action thus throwing great strain on the steering
chains and rudder head.
Now the object of my invention is to distribute the wear and tear and strain
over the whole machine by arranging the gearing in such a manner as to reduce
any vibration and noise to a minimum and constructed in such a manner that it
can be changed from steam to hand power or vice versa instantaneously even in the
dark without the necessity of setting the engines or gearing to a particular position
as is now usual.
The engine can be fixed vertical or horizontal with double cylinders and each
piston connected to a crank, the two crank shafts are preferably connected together
by a coupling in the centre which may be provided with suitable slots or their
equivalents to allow each engine to do its own work and has equal strain upon the
teeth. The coupling is fitted with bolts so that should one of the worms or worm
wheels or pinions become broken the cranks are set at right angles and the coupling
screwed up, this allows the gear to be worked from one side.
The object of making the crank shaft in two parts and each engine doing its
own work is that the crank shaft is not so liable to break as is the case when using
a solid and continuous one where the whole of the strain and twist is central so
Pris 1

page_text: that if one part becomes broken the whole is rendered inactive and consequently
condemned, At the outer end of each crank shaft is secured a worm and gearing
into corresponding worm wheels on shafts arranged at right angles to the crank
shaft or shafts. These worm wheel shafts are provided at the other end with spur
pinions which gear into a large spur wheel on the main or barrel shaft. The
pinions gear with the spur wheel at each side so that the strain on the wheel
and shaft is equal and at the same time exerting a more even and regular pressure
with a double surface of teeth without any danger of stripping.
The valves of the engine may be of the usual cylindrical pattern and the steam
admitted to the steam and exhaust ports alternately and they are regulated by a
valve or valves of the ordinary D pattern and worked by a spindle which is fitted.
and passes internally through the hand gear pinions and which have some screw
threads cut in it in which works a nut which is the fulcrum of the regulating
lever. The screw on this spindle is preferably provided with check nuts so as to
set the valves to any desired position the upper end of the regulating lever is
attached to the regulating valves and the lower to a nut working on a screw on
main or barrel shaft so that when the gear is to be worked the valve is moved by
turning the shaft which passes internally through the hand gear thereby moving
the nut or fulcrum of the regulating lever. The gear when running will cause the
lower nut working on the main or barrel shaft to travel so as to automatically
actuate the regulating lever and cut off the steam by the time the helm
over and there is no further strain thrown on the gear until the engines are
reversed.
bard
The regulating lover at the lower end may be provided with any suitable means
so as to be capable of adjustment in order to regulate the lever to suit various
lengths of tillers.
It will therefore be observed that tho regulating valve being actuated by the
main shaft that it must always be in the right position relative to the chains.
The hand gear attached to this apparatus is composed of an ordinary wheel and
pinion which can be put in gear by suitable clutches so that when this is desired
the parts actuated by the engine are thrown out of gear and when the hand pinion
is put out the steam pinions are simultaneously put in gear.
The steering chains pass around the sheave and under suitable guide pulleys.
All parts are arranged as to be most effective and reliable and at the same time
easy of access for adjustment or repairs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Britton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th October
1882.
THOMAS BRITTON of New Hendon, Sunderland in the County of Durham
Mechanical Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH STEAM AND
HAND STEERING GEAR
"
Heretofore in the construction of steam steering gear, the wear and tear, friction
and strain being chiefly in one part causes the gear and the whole apparatus to
vibrate consequently making a great noise and at the same time tending to strip
the teeth by its too sudden action thus throwing great strain on the steering
chains and rudder head.
Now the object of my invention is to distribute the wear and tear and strain
over the whole machine by arranging the gearing in such a manner as to reduce
any vibration and noise to a minimum and constructed in such a manner that it
can be changed from steam to hand power or vice versa instantaneously even in
the dark without the necessity of setting the engines or gearing to a particular
position as is now usual.
The engines can be fixed vertical or horizontal with double cylinders and each
piston connected to a crank shaft, the two crank shafts are preferably connected
together by a coupling in the centre which may be provided with suitable slots or
their equivalents to allow each engine to do its own work and have equal strain
upon the teeth, The coupling is fitted with bolts so that should one of the worms
or worm wheels or pinions become broken the cranks are set at right angles and
the coupling screwed up, this allows the gear to be worked from one side.
The object of making the crank shaft in two parts and each engine doing its
own work, is that the crank shaft is not so liable to break as in the case when
using a solid and continuous one where the whole of the strain and twist is central
so that if one part becomes broken the whole is rendered inactive and consequently
condemned.
At the outer end of each crank shaft is secured a worm.and gearing into corre-
sponding worm wheels on shafts arranged at right angles to the crank shaft or
shafts. These worm wheel shafts are provided at the other end with spur pinions
which gear into a large spur wheel on the main or barrel shaft.-The pinions gear
with the spur wheel at each side so that the strain on the wheel and shaft is equal
and at the same time exerting a more even and regular pressure with a double
surface of teeth without any danger of stripping.
The valves of the engine may be of the usual cylindrical pattern and the steam
admitted to the steam and exhaust ports alternately and they are regulated by a
valve or valves of the ordinary D pattern and worked by a spindle which is fitted
and passes internally through the hand gear pinions and which has some screw
threads cut in it on which works a nut which is the fulcrum of the regulating lever.
The screw on this spindle is preferably provided with check nuts so as to set the
valves to any desired position. The upper end of the regulating lever is attached
to the regulating valves and the lower end to a nut working on a screw on main
or barrel shaft so that when the gear is to be worked the valve is moved by
turning the shaft which passes internally through the hand gear thereby moving
the nut or fulcrum of the regulating lever. The gear when running will cause the
lower nut working on the main or barrel shaft to travel so as to automatically
actuate the regulating lever and cut off the steam by the time the helm is hard
over, and there is no further strain thrown on the gear until the engines are
reversed.
suitable means
The regulating lever at the lower end may be provided with any

page_text: so as to be capable of adjustment in order to regulate the lever to suit various
lengths of tillers.
It will therefore be observed that the regulating valve being actuated by the
main shaft that it must always be in the right position relative to the chains.
The hand gear attached to this apparatus is composed of an ordinary wheel and
pinion which can be put in gear by suitablo clutches so that when this is desired
the parts actuated by the engine are thrown out of gear and when the hand pinion
is put out the steam pinions simultaneously put in gear.
The steering chains pass around a sheave and under suitable guide pulleys.
All parts are arranged as to be most effective and reliable and at the same time
easy of access for adjustment or repairs. This Invention is particularly adapted
for use on Passenger and other large vessels as there is no risk or fear of its
breaking down, when at sea.
Its advantages are:-Less vibration and noise; less strain on the decks; moro
reliable and safe for passenger vessels; hand gear can be worked when repairing
steam gear, being always in right position relative to rudder; always in order, as
the valves are moved by both hand and steam gear; no twist on crank shaft, and
one part can be replaced without removing the other; and so simple that it can be
worked by anyone without previous knowledge.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the back frame. the parts above the broken line
being shown dotted in order to show the position of the valves and the ports when
the cranks are at the position shown. Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in
section. Figs 3 and 4 are details and Figs 5 and 6 front elevation and plan
respectively
The cylinders 11 I have shown arranged vertically although it will be under-
stood that they may be placed in any other desired position.
The crank shaft 2 is advantageously made in two parts as shown and is con-
nected in the centro by a suitable clutch or coupling 3. When both engines are in
working order the coupling is loose so as to allow each engine to do its own
respective work but in the event of a breakage of the wheel or pinion on counter
shaft the said coupling 3 is screwed tight to allow the engines to assist each other
and to work the gear from one side in the manner as will be hereafter more fully
described.
There are two worms 4, 4, of any suitable metal secured on the ends of the crank
shaft. These worms gear into corresponding gear wheels 5, 5, mounted on the
counter shafts 6, 6, arranged at right angles to the crank shaft one on each side of
the machine. On these counter shafts are geared pinions 7, 7, which gear into a
spur wheel 8 fitted loosely on main shaft 9. When using the steain gear the
spur wheel is connected with clutch 10. This clutch is fitted advantageously on
steel feather keys and actuated by a lever 11. On the main shaft 9 is fitted
loosely another spur (or it may be a worm) wheel 12 for hand gear. This wheel is
also connected with clutch 10 when using hand gear. On the main shaft there is
also keyed a chain wheel or sheavo 13 over which the chains pass and under the
guide pulleys 14, 14, to rudder.
Tho pinion 15 is borod to allow the spindle 16 of regulating valve 17 to pass
through same-on the spindle 16 is a screw with a nut 18 working thereon and for
working the regulating valve. A detail of this nut and screw and also a portion of
the regulating lever is shown detached in cross section at Figure 3.
The regulating lever 19 is pivotted to the nut 18 the bottom end of the lever
being connected to the nut 20 worked by the screw on main shaft. This second
travelling nut is kept in position advantageously by providing on the side of the
said nut a rack which gears into a wheel 21 provided with double flanges: Figure 4
shows cross section of this detached. This wheel 21 is mounted on a spindle 22
for working a tell-tale placed in any desired position.

page_text: The regulating or hunting lever 19 is provided with holes to allow of adjustment
to suit various lengths of tillers. The top end of regulating lever is connected to
the slide spindle (or equivalent) 17.
The action of the apparatus is that when the small spindle 16 is turned by the
small hand wheel 23 it moves the regulating slide 17 by having caused the nut 18
to travel on the said spindle 16 thus admitting steam to the cylinders and causing
the gear to run and simultaneously the nut 20 on main shaft is caused to travel
and thereby to cut off the steam.
The regulating valve 17 may be the ordinary D valve and the slide valves 24 the
ordinary hollow piston valves.
The large hand wheel 25 works the pinion 15 which gears with the large spur
wheel 12 on the main shaft.
The bevil wheels 26 shown at Figure 2 is a method by which the gear may be
worked from the upper bridge or other desired part.
27, 27 are the eccentric rods and 28, 28, the connecting rods.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my Invention and in what
manner the same is or may be advantageously performed I would have it understood
that what I claim as my improvements in steam and hand steering gear is :-
First. The employment of double cylinder engines capable of working inde-
pendently of each other and each doing its own work but capable of being connected
and of working in unison in the manner and for the purposes as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second. The division of the crank shaft at or about the centre and connected
together by a suitable clutch or coupling which is loose when the engines and gear
are in working order but capable of being tightened to allow the engines to assist
each other in the event of a breakage substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third. The employment of two worms, one on each end of the crank shaft or
shafts, gearing with worm wheels on countershafts advantageously arranged at
right angles to the crank shaft and communicating motion to the spur wheel on
the main shaft by spur pinions thereby actuating the sheave or pulleys around
which the chain passes for imparting motion to the rudder substantially as described
and shown.
Fourth. The regulating of the valves automatically by the rotation of the main
shaft and the actuation or starting of the same being effected by a hand wheel or
by gearing from above, the spindle of which hand wheel works the starting and
regulating lever and passes through, and around which works the hand gear, the
said regulating lever being capable of adjustment to suit various lengths of tillers
substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Britton have hereunto set my hand and
seal this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.