IMPROVEMENTS IN AUXILIARY POWER STEERING GEAR FOR SHIPS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO AUXILIARY POWER APPARATUS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Percy Holt, of Royal Insurance Buildings, Leeds,
in the County of York, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AUXILIARY POWER STEERING GEAR FOR SHIPS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO
AUXILIARY POWER APPARATUS."
ealed the 20th April 1877, and dated the 25th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Percy Holt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th October 1876.
HENRY PERCY HOLT, of Royal Insurance Buildings, Leeds, in the County of
York, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUXILIARY POWER STEERING GEAR
FOR SHIPS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO AUXILIARY POWER APPARATUS."
65
"
The object of this Invention is to provide a power steering gear for ships, in
which the steersman performs a given fixed proportion of the work actually required
to manipulate and control the rudder, and consequently feels the strain on the same
without having direct hold on the same through the medium of any coupled con-
necting parts, and the rudder is brought down or into line with the keel of the
ship whenever the steersman releases his hold on the steering wheel or lever in the
same manner as in hand steering gears. This is accomplished by having a power
piston, pistons, or plungers containing admission and exhaust valves, as described in
my Specification of a Patent, No. 655, granted to me February 17th 1876, as an
addition and improvement on the valve gearing for controlling the working of the
apparatus.
I arrange pistons, plungers, or annular spaces round or in connection with the
valve or valves for admission and exhaust in such a manner that the same are
out of equilibrium in all positions except that in which the rudder is in line
with the vessel's keel, and the wheel or steering lever or handle are likewise in a
corresponding position. This is effected by the pressure from either side of the
power piston operating against the before-named pistons, plungers, or annular
spaces which are arranged of suitable areas, and which are connected with the
operating wheel or handle, so that the steersman feels a portion of the pressure on
either side of the power piston, and has to overcome this resistance in putting over
the steering wheel or lever on either side, and by this means is aware of the strain
on the rudder and connecting parts. In the central position the pressures on each
1031

page_text: side of the power piston being in equilibrium the wheel or steering lever are likewise
brought into a central position by the apparatus above described.
"
This arrangement of a 'proportionate power feeling" apparatus is likewise
applicable to any auxiliary power apparatus in which it is desirable for the operator
to know what power he is exerting in performing the work.
I may here observe that any suitable parts for connecting and transmitting the
motion of the power piston to the rudder may be used as at present, and this like-
wise refers to auxiliary power apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Percy Holt in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 24th April
1877.
HENRY PERCY HOLT, of Royal Insurance Buildings, Leeds, in the County of
York, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUXILIARY POWER STEERING GEAR
FOR SHIPS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO AUXILIARY POWER APPARATUS."
The object of this Invention is to provide a power steering gear or engine in
which the steersman feels or is aware of or actually has to perform a given portion
of the work required to move the rudder to the requisite angles for steering.
This may be accomplished in several ways,―
Firstly. By having a valve so constructed and connected to the steering wheel
that the man can feel a portion of the pressure on the power piston, as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2.
Secondly. By means of secondary pistons (working in cylinders connected with
the power cylinder) arranged in connection with the valve spindle, as shewn in
Figures 3 and 4.
Thirdly (in lieu of the pistons). By means of a lever, one end of which is coupled
in any suitable manner with the steering wheel or valve motion, the fulcrum being
coupled to the power piston or cylinder, and the power is taken off at either side
of the fulcrum to connect to rudder (as may be more convenient), as shewn in
Figures 5 and 6. modification of this is shewn in Figures 7 and 8.
The foregoing Figures all refer to direct-acting engines in which one stroke of
the piston puts the rudder hard over on either side of the ship.
The following Figures refer more particularly to engines in which several revo-
lutions are required to hard-a-port or starboard the helm.
Figures 9 and 10 shew the application of the feeling lever to winch engines.
Fourthly. Figs. 11 and 12 shew the application of sun-and-planet toothed
wheels working in an internal tooth wheel which is held by an external toothed
rim, into which is geared a pinion connected to the steering wheel in any suitable
manner. The sun wheel may be worked by an ordinary engine with suitable valve
gear.
Fifthly. Figure 13 shews the application of an "idle wheel" arranged on a lever
(connected with the steering wheel or valve gear) between the driver and driven
wheel. The centre of the idle wheel bearing may be on either side of the fulcrum
as may be more convenient.
Sixthly. Figure 14 shews the application of blocks as a medium for feeling a
portion of the power communicated from the steering engine to the rudder.
Seventhly. Figures 15 and 16 shew an arrangement of lever fixed on the rudder
shaft or head, the rudder chains being connected to the short end, and the fulcrum
to the tiller, the long end of the lever being connected to the "feeling chains
which lead to the steering wheel which works the engine valve gear in any suitable
manner.
"
Eighthly. In some cases it may be convenient to replace the "feeling" lever
by inclined planes, wedges, or screws in whatever position it may be more con-
venient.

page_text: I find in practice that in adapting my "power feeling" apparatus to both old
and new machinery it is necessary to use the foregoing arrangements to meet
requirements in existing machinery and various positions in both old and new ships.
I will now proceed to explain more fully the accompanying Drawings in which
the various parts in the several Figures are lettered as follows:-
"
Figures 1 and 2.-a, a, steering wheel and pinion; b, b, rack and valve spindle;
c, c, valve for admitting and exhausting pressure to and from power cylinder d', d;
d, d, space connected with boiler or pressure; d, d', power cylinder and glands;
e, e, pressure pipe; f, f, entrance or feed ports; g, g, exhaust ports; h, h, h, differential
annular spaces and ports connected with exhaust and pressure for " feeling
pressure in power cylinder d³, d¹²; i, i, exhaust trunk and guide with glands;
jjjj, pulleys to carry rudder chains; k, k, rudder chains; 1, 1, exhaust pipe.
Figures 3 and 4. a, a, a, valve spindle connected to steering wheel; b, b, secondary
pistons working in cylinders connected by passages with the power cylinder; c, c,
power cylinder admission and exhaust valve and relief frame; d, d, power cylinder
moving in slides; e, e, stationary piston and rod; f, f, standard and slides; g, g,
connecting links; h, h, h, multiplying lever and balance weight; i, i, rudder chains;
jj, pressure pipe and gland; k, k, exhaust pipe and gland.
Figures 5 and 6.-a, a, valve spindle connected to steering wheel; b, b, admission
and exhaust valve; c, c, moving power cylinder working on slides on standards d, d;
d, d, standards and slides; e, e, stationary piston and rod; f, f, feeling lever con-
nected to valve spindle by links g, g; g, g, connecting links; h, h, fulcrum of
lever or power cylinder; i, i, connecting links and gudgeon for communicating
power to multiplying levers j, j; j,j, j, multiplying levers and balance weight; k, k,
rudder chains; L, l, pressure pipe and glands; m, m, exhaust pipe and glands; n, n,
water trap and pressure pipe.
Figures 7 and 8.-a, a, connecting links from steering wheel; b, b, valve lever;
c, c, admission and exhaust spindle and valve; d, d, d, sliding seat, spindle, and
rod; e, e, stationary power cylinder; f, f, f, moving power piston and connecting
rod; g, g, g, multiplying beam and chain pulleys; h, h, feeling lever and fulcrum
connected with steering wheel; i, i, slide bar and block; j, j, standard and base
plate; k, k, rudder chains; 1, 1, leading pulleys; m, m, m, m, pressure chest, ports,
and pipe; n, m, n, exhaust ports and pipe.
Figures 9 and 10.-a, a, a, engine shaft and cranks; b, b, second motion shaft and
worm; c, c, worm wheel; d, d, chain wheel round which are geared the rudder
chains e, e, e, e; e, e, e, e, rudder chains; ff. f. f, feeling wheels, lever, and fulcrum ;
g, g, slide blocks for carrying feeling wheels; h, h, feeling chains connected to
steering wheel; i, i, i, i, connecting link, quadrant, and nuts working on screw j, j ;
,,, screw and gearing worked from engine shaft k, l, k, h, k, connecting rod,
weigh bar, shaft, and levers to work reversing links of engine in the usual way;
,,, winch chain drum, brake and spur wheel; m, m, m, clutch blocks for throwing
winch or steering wheel in and out of gear.
Figures 11 and 12.-a, a, a, engine shaft, worm, cranks, and wheel; b, b, sun wheel
fast on shaft c, c; c, c, main shaft; d, d, planet wheel, disc, and pin; e, e, chain wheel
gearing on to rudder chains; f, f, rudder chains; g, g, wheel having both internal
and external teeth in which the planet wheel gears internally, and externally the
pinion h, h; h, h, pinion shaft and chain wheel in which work the feeling chains i, i;
i, i, feeling chains connected to steering wheel; j, j, train of wheels to work screw
and traverse nut k, k, for valve gear; k, k, k, k, l, k, screw, nut, quadrant, and con-
necting link for working link motion of engine; l, l, l, screw on main shaft and
nut; m, m, ordinary standards, framing, and base plate; n, n, guide pulley for
rudder chains.
Figure 13. a, a, wheel driven by steering engine; b, b, idle wheel having its
bearings on lever c, c; c, c, feeling lever; d, d, feeling chain connected with steering
wheel; e, e, fulcrum of lever; ff, chain wheel gearing into rudder chains g, g; g, I,
rudder chains; h, h, guide pulleys; i, i, base plate.

page_text: Figure 14, plan.-a, a, rudder shaft and rudder; b, b, rudder head or tiller; c, c, c, c,
rudder chains; d, d, d, feeling blocks and chains; e, e, guide pulleys for rudder
chains; guide pulleys for feeling chains; g, y, feeling chains leading on to
steering wheel or shaft.
Figures 15 and 16, plan and side elevation.-a, a, rudder shaft; b, b, b, b, rudder
head or tiller; c, c, feeling lever; d, d, fulcrum pin; e, e, rudder chain to steering
engine; ff, feeling chain to steering wheel and valve motion.
Having now particularly ascertained, described, and fully illustrated several
manners in which my Invention can or may be practically carried out, I wish it to
be distinctly understood that I do not bind myself to the exact details of the same,
as these may be varied in many ways without altering the main features of my
said Invention; but what I consider to be novel and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The arrangements of annular valve, pistons, or plungers for enabling the
steersman to feel a part of the power he is exerting on the rudder, substantially as
described and illustrated.
Secondly. The arrangement of levers, sun and planet, idle wheels, blocks, and
screws for the purposes, as substantially described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The use of the foregoing arrangements for auxiliary power apparatus in
which it is useful for the operator to know proportionally what power he is causing
to be exerted.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Percy Holt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.