IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM STEERING GEAR
Year: 1884

page_text: I JAMES DUNCAN of 81 Gracechurch Street in the City of London Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
STEERING GEAR" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in steam steering apparatus of the
character described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and dated
13th November 1882 N° 5410 which consisted of circular automatic valve apparatus
combined with a quadrant cone shaped cylinder arranged over the rudder head
or on the bridge and connected to the tiller by a lever worked in a. circular
direction.
For this purpose according to my present improvements I place or arrange the
valve apparatus in direct contact with the main shaft or axis B as represented in
the accompanying Drawings from which shaft or axis the automatic motion is
obtained.
By this improved arrangement all the gearing on the cylinder cover in my former
arrangement is dispensed with thereby reducing the cost of construction.
The accompanying Drawing shews the arrangement construction and combination
of the several parts constituting my improved valve gear combined with quadrant
and cone shaped cylinder for steering vessels.
Figure 1 represents the bottom of the valve box with the steam and eduction
ports. Figure 2 represents the underside of the bottom valve with square hole in
centre to fit on to the top of the main shaft or axis B with three blocks S to
separate the two steam and exhaust ports.
Figure 3 represents the top side of bottom valve Figure 4 represents the bottom
side of top valve and Figure 5 represents the top side of top valve.
Figure 6 shows another method of arranging automatic circular valves suitable
for working in direct contact with the main shaft or axis of the steering apparatus
similar to that described in the Specification before referred to with the difference
that instead of the steam being exhausted in the centre of the valve and valve
chest it is exhausted in a channel C as represented in sections A and A' of
Figure 6.
Figure 7 represents a vertical section of the steam steering apparatus with the
automatic valve in position.

page_text: I JAMES DUNCAN of 81 Gracechurch Street in the City of London Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ŠTEAM
STEERING GEAR" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to improvements in steam gearing apparatus of the
character described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and dated
13th November 1882 N° 5410 which consisted of circular automatic valve apparatus
combined with a quadrant cone shaped. cylinder arranged over the rudder head
'or on the bridge and connected to the tiller by a lever worked in a circular
direction.
For this purpose according to my present improvements I place or arrange the
valve apparatus in direct contact with the main shaft or axis B as represented in
the accompanying Drawings from which shaft or axis the automatic motion to
actuate the semi-rotating valve apparatus is obtained.
By this improved arrangement all the gearing on the cylinder cover in my former
arrangement is dispensed with thereby reducing the cost of construction.
The accompanying Drawings Figures 1 to 7 shew the arrangement construction
and combination of the several parts constituting my improved valve gear combined
with quadrant and cone shaped cylinder for steering vessels. A is the quadrant
and cone shaped cylinder-B main shaft to which is attached the vane or piston
fitting the cylinder A. C cylindrical valve chest-D top valve actuated by
hand. E bottom valve actuated automatically by a square projection on main
shaft B. F spindle with hand wheel and worm attached to actuate top valve-
G exhaust passage in cylinder cover-H stuffing box. I lever fixed on main shaft
to which when the steering apparatus is placed on the bridge chains are attached
to actuate ships tiller and when the steering apparatus is fixed over tiller the
connection is made by a pin passing through the lever into the tiller. J steam
port J steam port-K exhaust port L steam port-M metallic packing and
spring.
Figure 1 represents the bottom of the valve box with the steam and eduction
ports. Figure 2 represents the underside of the bottom valve with square hole in
centre to fit the square end on the top of the main shaft or axis B with three
blocks S to separate the two steam and exhaust ports J J' and K.
Figure 3 represents the top side of bottom valve with steam and exhaust ports-
the dotted lines show steam passages. Figure 4 represents the bottom side of top
or hand worked valve and Figure 5 represents the top side of top valve.
Figure 6 shows another method of arranging automatic circular valves suitable
for working in direct contact with the main shaft or axis of the steering apparatus
similar to that described in the Specification before referred to with the difference
that instead of the steam being exhausted in the centre of the valve and valve
chest it is exhausted in a channel C as represented in plans and sections A and A¹
of Figure 6.
Figure 7 represents a vertical section of the steam steering apparatus with the
automatic valve in position the parts being marked with letters of reference as
bereinbefore referred to.
From the foregoing description aided by reference to the accompanying Drawings
a competent engineer will readily understand the nature of my improvements so
as to carry the same into practice

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried into
practice I would remark that I make no claim to any of the parts separately which
are well known and in common use-]
-But what I claim is :-
The improved arrangement application and combination of parts constituting
my improved steam steering gear arranged in combination with the main shaft or
axis B the automatic motion of which actuates the semi-rotating valve apparatus
substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore fully described and
represented in Figures 1 to 7 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Imno 1004
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Agents for the Patentee.