An Improved Wind-operated Steering Gear for Boats and Model Yachts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
SIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Wind-operated Steering Gear for Boats and
Model Yachts.
THOMAS HEWITT POOLE C.E. Courtmacsherry Co. Cork THOMAS WILLIAM
WRIGHT Solicitor Clonakilty Co. Cork do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
A rigid vane attached to a spindle in line with the mast which may be adjusted
either above or below which spindle is attached to the rudder either by lines or
gearing so that the action of the wind on the vane causes the spindle to revolve and
the rudder to luff the boat where the wind comes more astern and to keep her away
when the wind comes more ahead.
Dated this 20th dove of Mar 1900
T. H. POOLE, C.E.
THOS. W. WRIGHT,
Solicitor,
Clonakilty.
An Improved Wind-operated Steering Gear for Boats and
Model Yachts.
We, THOMAS HEWETT POOLE of Courtmacsherry, County Cork, Civil
Engineer, and THOMAS WILLIAM WRIGHT, Solicitor, of Clonakilty County
Cork, Ireland, 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 wind-operated steering gear for model yachts and the
like and small sailing boats, and has for its object to keep a boat's head at a constant
or almost constant angle to the wind so as by counteracting any tendency to run
up into or fall off from the wind to keep the boat on a given course if the wind is
constant in direction or if the wind changes in direction to change the course to suit
the direction of wind.
The invention consists essentially of a vane attached to a vertical revolving
spindle coupled or geared with the rudder in such manner that rotary motion of
the spindle due to the deflection of the vane by the wind will turn the rudder in
the reverse direction so as to keep the boat at a constant angle to the direction
of the wind of the same strength, no matter how it may vary in direction and at an
almost constant angle if the wind varies in strength.
This invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings
which illustrate several examples of the means of carrying it into effect as applied
to a cutter-rigged yacht but it will be understood that the invention is independent
of the particular kind of rig.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figures 2 3 4 5 and 6 diagrammatic views.
Figure 7 sherre a detail vien

page_text: The vane A is adjustably fixed to the upper end of a light spindle B turning
freely in a bearing carried by the mast and stepped in a bearing on the deck, the
spindle extending high enough to allow the vane to rotate clear of the mast and
rigging. The vane is fixed adjustably by means of a clamping screw or otherwise
and it should be as light and as rigid as possible and present a sufficient area of
surface to enable the wind acting upon it to control the position of the rudder as
hereinafter described.
In the arrangements shewn in Figures 1 2 and 3 the spindle B has fixed upon it
near its lower end a cross bar C whose oppositely directed arms are connected by
crossed yoke lines d to the rudder yoke D or by direct tiller lines e passing through
guide blocks e¹ and connected to the tiller E so that in the one or the other case
the deflection of the vane by the wind will move the rudder to the required
extent and in the required direction, that is to say in the opposite direction to
the direction of rotation of the spindle. The cross bar C is fixed adjustably to
the spindle B by a clamping screw c and the spindle has fixed upon it in a line
with the vane an index f movable all over a graduated circle Fon the deck or
elsewhere as a guide in adjusting the vane at any required angle to the cross
bar C. The required adjustment may be effected at the point of attachment of
the vane to the spindle or of the crossbar to the spindle or it might be made by
adjusting the length of the yoke or tiller lines or by adjusting the yoke or tiller on
the rudder post, as will be readily understood.
Instead of a crossbar C the spindle B may have a drum G and the rudder a
drum H upon it, as shewn in Figure 4, the drums being connected by an endless
cord 1 lapped round them and suitably guided by sheaves i if the rudder post has
the usual rake. The drum G or the drum H, or both, may be adjustable in the
manner and for the purpose above described or the spindle B may be geared, as
shewn in Figure 5, by bevel gear with a horizontal shaft J geared by bevel
(skew) gear as at j with the rudder post.
The action of the vane on the rudder is illustrated in Figure 6. Suppose it is
desired to sail the boat at right angles to the wind, indicated by the arrow W, the
vane will be set in the position A the rudder being in the mid-position R.
Should the relative direction of the boat and wind be varied as denoted, either
by reason of the boat running up into the wind or by the wind changing in
direction, by arrow W₁ then the vane will assume the position A¹ and the
rudder the position R¹ thereby turning the boat away from the wind until
the former relative direction of the boat and wind is regained. Similarly if the
relative change is that indicated by arrow W the vane will be moved to A² and
the rudder to R².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In a model yacht or other sailing boat the combination, with the rudder, of a
wind-operated vane upon a vertical spindle so coupled or geared to the rudder that
the rudder will be turned in the opposite direction to the rotation of the vane by
the wind pressure substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. The respective combinations and arrangements of wind-operated steering gear
substantially as herein described and represented in the respective figures of the
drawings and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 1st day of March 1897.
A. M. & W M. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.