AN EQUILIBRIUM DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVING RUDDER, SELF-BALANCING DRAG, AND IMPROVED STEERING GEAR
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matilda Cartwright Aston Perkes, of Belvedere
House, Rosendale, Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, Spinster,.. for
the Invention of "AN EQUILIBRIUM DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVING RUDDER,
SELF-BALANCING DRAG, AND IMPROVED STEERING GEAR." - A communication
from abroad by Samuel Perkes, of Bombay, in the East Indies, Civil
Engineer.
1.
Sealed the 3rd March 1863, and dated the 23rd October. 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matilda Cartwright Aston
Perkes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition,
on the 23rd October 1862.
I, MATILDA CARTWRIGHT ASTON PERKES, of Belvedere House, Rosendale,
Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, Spinster, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN EQUILIBRIUM DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVING RUdder,
SELF-BALANCING DRAG, AND IMPROVED STEERING GEAR," being a communication to
me from abroad by Samuel. Perkes; of Bombay, in the East Indies, Civil
Engineer, to be as follows:-
.:This Invention has for its object improvements in the form, construction,
and arrangement of ships' rudders and steering apparatus, whereby greater
power, strength, and rapidity of action may be obtained with less manual
labour than with the ordinary methods now in use. For this purpose
I construct the rudders of double their ordinary widths, and insert the rudder
post in the middle, which thus forms a vertical central shaft or axis on which
the double-bladed rudder is made to revolve when in use. The foot of this

page_text: central shaft is supported on proper bearings from the keel, and the keel of the
ship is slightly undercut or recessed, so as to receive the second half of this
rudder, and allow it to revolve as described. The upper portion of the central
shaft is continued through a well hole to the deck, and supported by proper
bearings, made portable by preference, so as to be capable of immediate removal
for any required purpose. On the top of this shaft I apply a horizontal spur
wheel, which is set in motion by a suitable pinion, and which pinion is attached
to the foot of a vertical shaft rotating on a suitable frame, which is fixed on
the ship's deck for the purpose of supporting the steering wheel, which I prefer
to use horizontally for giving motion to the rudder, but a vertical steering
wheel can be applied by using mitre or bevil gear to convey the motion to the
rudder whenever required. On the upper side of the horizontal wheel as fixed
on to the top of the rudder post, I provide a double-bladed indicator of similar
form to the section of the rudder, and paint it some conspicuous color, and fix
its points exactly to correspond with the rudder, so that the true position of
the rudder can always be seen on deck. The steering wheel I also provide
with one or more suitable fastenings, so that the rudder may be instantaneously
and securely locked in any required position.
These rudders I make of any suitable material, but prefer them of metal;
they will form a very powerful self-acting drag on the ship at any required
moment by "letting go the wheel," which will thus instantly swing this double-
bladed equilibrium rudder at right angles to the ship's course.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Matilda Cartwright Aston Perkes in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th April 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATILDA
CARTWRIGHT ASTON PERKES, of Belvedere House, Rosendale, West Dulwich,
in the County of Surrey, Spinster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Matilda Cartwright Aston Perkes, Her special licence that I, the said
Matilda Cartwright Aston Perkes, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Matilda Cartwright Aston Perkes, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from

page_text: 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
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for an "EQUILIBRIUM DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVING RUDDER,
SELF-BALANCING DRAG, AND IMPROVED STEERING GEAR," being a communication
from Samuel Perkes, in the East Indies, Civil Engineer, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Matilda Cartwright Aston Perkes, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Matilda Cartwright Aston Perkes, do
5 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:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the form, construction, and
arrangement of ships' rudders and steering apparatus, whereby greater power,
strength, and rapidity of action may be obtained with less manual labour than
with the ordinary methods now in use. For this purpose I construct the
rudders of double their ordinary widths, and insert the rudder post in the
middle, which thus forms a vertical central shaft or axis, on which the double
'bladed rudder is made to revolve when in use. The foot of this central shaft
5 is supported on proper bearings from the keel, and the stern of the ship is
slightly undercut or recessed, so as to receive the rudder and allow it freely to
revolve as described. The upper portion of the central shaft is continued
through a well hole to the deck in the ordinary way, and supported by proper
bearings, made portable by preference, so as to be capable of immediate
O removal for any required purpose. On the top of this shaft I fix a horizontal
spur wheel, which is set in motion by a suitable pinion, and which pinion is
attached to the foot of a vertical shaft rotating in a suitable frame, which is
fixed on the ship's deck for the purpose of supporting the steering wheel,
which I prefer to use horizontally for giving motion to the rudder, but a
5 vertical steering wheel can be applied by using mitre or bevil gearing to convey
the motion to the rudder whenever required. On the upper side of the
horizontal tiller wheel as fixed on the top of the rudder post, I provide an
indicator of similar form to the rudder, and paint it some conspicuous color,
with points exactly to correspond with its direction, so that the true position of

page_text: the rudder can always be seen on deck. The steering wheel I also provide
with one or more suitable fastenings, so that it may be instantaneously and
securely locked in any required position."
This rudder I make of any suitable material, but prefer: it of metal; it will
form a very powerful self-acting drag on the ship.at any required moment by
" letting go the wheel," the momentum of the ship will thus instantly swing this
double-bladed equilibrium rudder at right angles to. the ship's course.
I do not confine myself to the exclusive use of my improved steering gear
for working my equilibrium double-action revolving rudder, as I have so
simplified its construction that the common steering gear as now in use can be
applied to it for giving it motion, but it would not be so powerful or efficient
as the new steering apparatus I have invented and herein described.
Now in order that my Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
Fig. 1 is a plan of the stern of a ship, shewing the horizontal steering
wheel, tiller wheel, lock stops, binnacles, standard: compass, &c., in position. on
deck, without the guard cover over gearing; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same
looking towards the stern, shewing the guard cover over the gearing; Fig. 3
is a longitudinal section, shewing its connection to the rudder post; Fig. 4 is
an elevation of the rudder, as attached to the stern of a screw steamer of
heavy tonnage; Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of rudder near the bottom; Fig. 6
is a plan of guard cover only; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a vertical steering
wheel on the same principle, shewing lock stops and well hole in deck to
receive the wheel.
In using this new description of steering gear, the man in charge of the
wheel may be stationed on either side near the binnacle compass, and cause
the wheel to revolve by grasping the handles in rotation as fixed vertically on
the upper side of the rim. If two or more men were required, they could be
stationed each side, and for convenience the main compass is placed in the
centre. Holes are cast in the exterior edge of the horizontal steering wheel
for the purpose of locking it in any required position, and which is effected by
pushing forward the lock pins as provided for that purpose in the locking
frames A. The lock pins for the vertical steering wheels are pushed into or
through the holes in the face of the wheel, as shewn in. elevation, the lock
frames having either single or double bearings at back and front, according to
choice. When vertical steering wheels are preferred, I provide a strong

page_text: carriage frame and mitre gear, as shewn in side elevation Fig. 7, for supporting
and working the whole. The steering wheel in this case is similar to ordinary
steering wheels as now in use, only of a much larger diameter, and to admit
the use of such I insert a well hole in the deck, and line it with lead or
copper to render it water-tight; it would be seen below deck as an inverted
arc..
A drain pipe or cock can be fixed to the bottom of the arc for removing
any drainage water therefrom.
At the extremity of the steering shaft I fix a
pinion, which works into the tiller wheel as fixed on the top of the rudder
post; these wheels may be either of mitre or spur gear, according to the
description of steering wheel preferred. The rudder, by preference, I construct
of gun metal or cast iron, cored out to afford strength and lightness. It
can also be built up of metal or wood, or both combined. It is attached to
the central shaft or axis with keys or gibs and cotters. Pintles and gudgeons
are also applied for securing it to the stern of the ship just immediately above
the top of the rudder blades. The foot of rudder post I place in a suitable
cup bearing, inserted in the projecting heel of the ship's keel, as shewn in
elevation Fig. 4. The under side the keel and rudder are slightly inclined
each way to prevent hawsers fouling it.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood what I claim as my Inven-
tion is,
The form, construction, application, and use of the double-action revolving
rudder, as set forth and described.
The form, construction, application, and use of the horizontal steering wheel
and locking apparatus, as described.
The application of mitre and spur gearing in the manner described.
The construction of a wheel pit or well hole in the ship's deck for the
admission of a larger steering wheel, and the application of larger wheels to
ordinary steering apparatus as now in use.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matilda Cartwright Aston Perkes, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.✓
MATILDA CARTWRIGHT ASTON PERKES. (L.S.)