Year: 1886

page_text: Gear, therefor.
We, JAMES RODGER THOMSON, of the firm of James and George Thomson,
Engineers and Shipbuilders, and JOHN HARVARD BILES Naval Architect, both of
Clydebank Shipyard, Dumbartonshire; 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 improved means for steering navigable vessels,
especially of the class employed in warfare as torpedo boat 'destroyers, and it'
consists of improvements in the formation of the after part of the hull and of the
rudder and also in the arrangement of the tiller or steering gear, the main object
of the improvements being to enable the steering apparatus to be placed low down
in the vessel in order that it may be protected from shot and that without bulging
out the vessel or interfering with the fineness of its lines.
As illustrated in longitudinal vertical section at figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings, in plan at figure 2, in transverse vertical section at figure 3, and in
detail at figures 4, 5 and 6, the stern post A of the vessel, instead of being carried
down to the keel as usual, is terminated short of that point, and from its
termination the after part of the vessel is recessed or under cut, the rudder B being
placed in the said recess and having such a formation as shown by figures 3, 4
and 5 as to constitute, when in its mid position, a continuation of the form of the
hull. For the purpose of directing the flow of the water so that the rudder may
have greater steering power the after part of the keel of the vessel is curved or
bowed upwards as shown in figure 1. The rudder is carried by a footstep or
heel C, which is formed with a bearing to receive the rudder pintle D, and the
lower part of the rudder which is on the line of the forward part of the keel or
greatest depth of the vessel is continued forward of the pintle D, said lower part B¹,
being tapered towards its forward end as shown by figure 4 and serving to balance
the rudder in order to reduce the effort necessary to turn it. The rudder head E,
which is formed by a strong stud or pin secured by a flange to the upper side of
the rudder passes through a rudder port or stuffing box F in a bed plate on the
lower deck of the vessel, and is fitted with a yoke or head piece G, by which the
rudder is operated, the extent of movement being limited by stops H on the stern
post of the vessel and rudder respectively as indicated by figure 6. The rudder,
.

page_text: which may be formed of any suitable material is, in the present instance, shown as
composed of a cast iron or steel framing to which is rivetted a shell of malleable
plates, manholes b, being provided to give access to the interior of the shell, and it
may be operated in any of the ordinary ways. When, however, as in the example
illustrated the whole of the operating gear is kept low down in the hull and under
or near the water line there would be insufficient space, owing to the form of the
hull, for the movement of the tiller in putting the rudder hard over were the
tiller directly connected to the rudder head or yoke. To obviate this difficulty and
to increase the path of the rudder relatively with the tiller the latter is not in such
case so connected but the rudder is operated by means of a wire band or rope I,
clamped to the yoke or head piece G, and to a crosshead J, carried on a pin in a
bearing bracket forward of the rudder head, the tiller K, being connected to said
crosshead. The crosshead J, being of greater breadth than the yoke G, at the point
where the connecting band I, is attached the movement of the tiller through a
comparatively slight angle effects a movement of the rudder head through an anglo
sufficient to put the helm hard over to port or starboard.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
(1.) A navigable vessel having the stern part of its hull undercut and adapted
to receive and carry a rudder constituting. a continuation of the form of the hull,
substantially as described with reference to the drawings annexed.
(2.) A ship's rudder formed as described to correspond to the, contour of the
.after part of the vessel to which it is fitted, substantially as herein, described with
reference to the drawings annexed:
(3.) The combination of parts constituting the improved rudder and steering
gear for navigable vessels substantially as herein, described with reference to the
drawings annexed.
(4.) The combination with the rudder head or, yoke G, and, the, separate, tiller
head J, of, the, flexible band; or rope I,, substantially, as, and for the purpose, set,
forth..