IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Napier, of Glasgow, Engineer and Ship-
builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
STEERING SHIPS AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 25th September 1868, and dated the 2nd April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Napier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd April 1868.
I, JOHN NAPIER, of Glasgow, Engincer and Shipbuilder, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR STEERING SHIPS AND VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for steering
ships and vessels. For this purpose I employ two rudders, one hung in
the usual way behind the rudder post, and the other, which I prefer
to be of smaller size, is hung in front of the rudder post and works in
an opening formed for it in a reversed position, or with its pivots on its
after edge. The spindles of the two rudders are so connected together
that they turn simultaneously and in the same direction. It is con-

page_text: venient to fix a crosshead on each of the rudder spindles, and to connect
the crossheads by a link. The crossheads may be of the same length,
but I prefer to make the crosshead on the forward rudder spindlo
somewhat longer than that on the aft rudder spindle, so that the aft
rudder may move through a somewhat larger angle than the forward
rudder. The ship or vessel may be steered by a tiller on either of the
rudder spindles. I prefer to have the ordinary steering tiller on the
aft rudder spindle; but I also provide the forward rudder with a tiller,
so that in case of injury to the aft rudder it may be disconnected by
removing the link between the crossheads, and the forward rudder alone
may then be used to steer the ship or vessel,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Napier in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
NAPIER, of Glasgow, Engineer and Shipbuilder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Napier, Her special licence that I, the said
John Napier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Napier, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS
AND VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Napier, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Napier, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for
steering ships and vessels, and is of such a nature that I obtain amongst
others all the advantages claimed for a balanced rudder, while at the
same time I am enabled to make use of an after stern post, whereby great
additional strength is secured for the after part of the ship or vessel;
and in carrying out this Invention I employ two rudders, one hung
in the usual way behind the rudder post, and the other which I prefer
to be of smaller size is hung in front of the rudder post, and works
in an opening formed for it in a reversed position or with its pivots
on its after edge. The spindles of the two rudders are connected
together by any suitable mechanical arrangement, so that they turn
simultaneously and in the same direction through equal or unequal
angles. One convenient way of effecting this is to fix a lever or cross-
head on each of the rudder spindles, and to connect the levers or cross-
heads by a link or links. The crossheads may be of the same length,
but when employ levers I prefer to make the one on the forward
rudder spindle somewhat longer than that on the aft rudder spindle,
so that the aft rudder may move through a somewhat larger angle than
the forward rudder. The ship or vessel may be steered by a tiller on
either of the rudder spindles, but I prefer to have the ordinary steering
tiller on the aft rudder spindle, and I also provide the forward rudder
with a tiller, so that in case of injury to one of the rudders it may be
disconnected from the other, which can then be used to steer the ship
alone.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings

page_text: is employed; 6' and c' are levers or arms fixed on the rudder spindles;
these are better seen at Figure 2, which is a section taken at the
line 1, 1, Figure 1; d is a link connecting the two levers or arms; it
is shown also at Figure 3; Figure 4 is a side view; and Figure 5 a
plan of the head of the fixed rudder post with the rudder spindles held
in bearings upon it. The spindle of the after rudder 6 has a tiller e
upon it below the main deck for steering the vessel when in action,
supposing the ship or vessel to be intended for war purposes; fis a
tiller on the forward rudder to allow of its being used alone to steer
the ship or vessel; in the case of the after rudder being disabled, the
link d would in this case be removed; g is a head or lengthening picce
fixed by flanges and bolts to the spindle of the rudder b, it receives upon
it the upper deck tiller. The head and lengthening piece g can be
removed in the case of a war ship or vessel when preparing for action.
Figure 6 is a diagram plan, showing by the full lines the fore and aft
positions of the rudders, and by the dotted lines the positions of the
rudders when put over.
And now having described the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which it is to be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood
that I claim,-
First. The use of two rudders, one attached to the forward and
the other to the after side of. the stern or rudder post.
And, second. The connecting these rudders by any suitable mechanical
arrangement in such a manner that their spindles turn simultaneously
in the same direction through equal or unequal angles.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Napier, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
TATT
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