IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CONTROLLING STEERING APPARATUS IN SIIIPS AND ENSURING THE ACTION Of The RuddER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICER IN CHARGE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Specht, of the Firm of Specht, Ziesc, & Co.,
Civil Engineers and Patent Agents, of Hamburg, Germany, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CONTROLLING STEERING APPARATUS
IN SIIIPS AND ENSURING THE ACTION Of The RuddER IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICER IN CHARGE." A communication by Adolf
Peterson, of Hamburg.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Specht at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1880.
86
ALEXANDER SPECHT, of the Firm of Specht, Ziese, & Co., Civil Engineers and
Patent Agents, of Hamburg, Germany. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
CONTROLLING STEERING APPARATUS IN SHIPS AND ENSURING THE ACTION OF THE
RUDDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICER IN CHARGE."
[A communication by Adolf Petersen, of Hamburg.]
The purpose of this Invention is to place in the hands of the commander of a ship
an absolute control of the movements of the rudder in such a manner that the
same can only be moved according to his will, and that all errors and doubts about
the meaning of the order by the men at the wheel are entirely prevented.
The contrivance consists substantially of a locking and signalling apparatus
which may be set in action by a lever of a telegraph from the commanding bridge,
and which permits the rudder only to be turned according to the position of this
lever. The Invention may equally be applied to hand or steam steering gear.
On the shaft of the steering gear two cog wheels are mounted, and above each of
these is a stopper or pall moveable in a strong guide bracket. Two partly eccentric
discs are mounted so that they can be moved from the commanding bridge by
means of wheels and rods or suitable gearing. These eccentric discs are shifted
against each other on the shaft in an angle corresponding with the division of the
scale on the telegraph apparatus, so that when turned these discs press against
projecting studs on the stoppers or palls, and lift or allow them to fall down into
the teeth of the cog wheels of the steering gear.
A spring on the top of the guide bracket always exerts a downward pressure on
the stoppers.

page_text: When the discs are moved a bevel wheel and pointer on the steering apparatus
are moved also. The pointer works by means of a lever on a spring, and the latter
knocking against a bell calls the attention of the men to the order given. The
working of the apparatus is as follows:-As long as the officer on the bridge turns
the lever between the limits marked "steady" no effect whatever is produced on
the steering or signalling apparatus.
"
The man on the wheel is free to turn it in any direction.
But when the lever is shifted, for example, to "starboard," the disc named
'port" disengages its stopper and the latter falls down into the tecth of its cog
wheel, preventing any turning of the wheel to "port." At the same time the
pointer moves to "starboard" and the bell rings. Any motion of the wheel against
the order is made impossible by these means. The commander shifting on the
other hand the lever to "port" lifts the port stopper out of gear and engages the
starboard stopper. The order is signallized for "port," and the turning of the
rudder can only be done in accordance with the order to "port."
The advantages of this Invention for the use of the navy and mercantile marino
can not be too highly valued.
The responsibility of steering a ship is directly thrown upon the commanding
officer. Blunders through misunderstanding or mistaking the order are entirely
prevented, and the will of the commander, instead of being transmitted by call and
recall, acts mechanically upon the steering apparatus in accordance with the
direction he has himself given to the mechanism.
]

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Specht in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th August
1880.
ALEXANDER SPECHT, of the Firm of Specht, Ziese, and Co., Civil Engineers and
Patent Agents, of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
CONTROLLING STEERING APPARATUS IN SHIPS AND ENSURING THE ACTION OF the
RUDDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICER IN CHARGE."
A communication by Adolf Petersen, of Hamburg.
The purpose of this Invention is to place in the hands of a commander of a
ship an absolute control of the movements of the rudder in such a manner that the
same can only be moved according to his will, and so that all errors and doubts
about the meaning of the order by the men at the wheel shall be entirely
prevented.
The contrivance consists substantially of a locking and signalling apparatus
which may be set in action by a lever of a telegraph from the commanding bridge,
and which permits the rudder only to be turned according to the position of this
lever. The Invention may equally be applied to hand or steam steering gear.
In the accompanying Drawing forming part of this Specification, in which similar
letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a section; Figures 2 and 3
elevation and plan, with section through the controlling apparatus; Figures
4, 5, 6, and 7, detailed views showing the index, the partly excentric discs, the cog-
wheels, and the telegraph apparatus on the bridge.
On the shaft a of the steering gear two cog wheels band b¹ are mounted, and
above each of these is a stopper or pawl moveable in a strong guide bracket. Two
partly excentric discs d and d can be moved from the commanding bridge by
means of wheels and rods or suitable gearing x, x', etc.
These eccentric discs are shifted against each other on the shaft in an angle
corresponding with the division of the scale on the telegraph apparatus, so that
when turned these discs c press against the projecting studs c or c³ on the stoppers
or pawls C and C, and lift or allow them to fall down into the teeth of the cog
wheels of the steering gear. A spring on the top of the guide bracket always
exerts a downward pressure on the stoppers.
When the discs & and d¹ are moved a bevil wheel y and the pointer z on the
steering apparatus are moved also. The pointer works by means of the lever won
a spring v, and the latter knocking against the bells calls the attention of the men
to the order given.
The working of the apparatus is as follows:-As long as the officer on the bridge
turns the lever between the limits marked "steady" no effect whatever is produced
on the steering or signalling apparatus.
The man at the wheel is free to turn it in any direction.
But when the lever is shifted, for example, to starboard, the disc named port
disengages its stopper and the latter falls down into the teeth of its cog wheel,
preventing any turning of the wheel to port.
At the same time the pointer moves to starboard and the bell rings. Any
motion of the wheel against the order is made impossible by these means.
The commander shifting on the other hand the lever to port lifts the port stopper
out of gear and engages the starboard stopper. The order is signalled for port, and
the turning of the rudder can only be done in accordance with the orders to port.
The advantages of this Invention for the use of the navy and mercantile marine
can not be too highly valued.
The responsibility of steering a ship is directly thrown upon the commanding
officer. Blunders through misunderstanding or mistaking the order are entirely

page_text: prevented, and the will of the commander, instead of being transmitted by call and
recall, acts mechanically upon the steering apparatus in accordance with the direction
he had himself given to the mechanism.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
Firstly. On a steering apparatus for ships, the device by which the man at the
wheel is compelled to turn the latter only in that direction which is signalled from
the ship's commander, substantially in the manner as set forth.
Secondly. On a steering apparatus for ships, the locking device acting with the
aid of stoppers or pawls c, cl, and partly eccentric discs d, d', substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly. On a steering apparatus for ships, the combination of a pointer and
signalling bell with this locking device, in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as described.
In witness whercof, I, the said Alexander Specht, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord Que thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
ALEXANDER SPECHT. (L.S.)