IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS, VESSELS, AND BOATS, AND FOR CHECKING THEIR SPEED
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bridges Heathorn, of Wilton Place, Knights-
bridge, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS, VESSELS, AND BOATS, AND FOR CHECKING
THEIR SPEED."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1880.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN, of Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the County of
Middlesex. "
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS, VESSELS, AND
BOATS, AND FOR CHECKING THEIR SPEED."
This Invention has for its object the more efficient steering and checking
the speed of ships, vessels, or boats, and is an addition to or improvement upon an
Invention for which Letters Patent, No. 2082, dated May 26, 1879, were granted
to me.
The Invention consists in furnishing the vessel with two rudders placed one on
each side of the screw propellor or other convenient situation.
The rudder posts
have each fixed to its upper part a peculiarly curved and slotted arm, and
through the slots in these arms is a vertical stud that is attached to one end of the
tiller, which is pivotted to a travelling nut worked by a horizontal screw. On
moving the front end of the tiller the stud presses against the sides of the slots in
the arms, and so directs the rudders to larboard or starboard as desired. The
revolution of the screw, through the intervention of any suitable power, changes
the relative position of the stud to the slotted arms, and so causes the rudders to
diverge until they stand at or about right angles to their original position. In
this way they may be used most effectively, not only to check the speed or even
stop the ship, but on subsequently causing the vessel to move astern the force of
the waves will bring them into such a position as will enable the steersman to
guide the vessel by the tiller or ordinary appliances attached thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th December 1880.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN, of Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS, VESSELS, AND
BOATS, AND FOR CHECKING THEIR SPEED."
This Invention has for its object the more efficient steering and checking the
speed of ships, vessels, or boats, and is an addition to or improvement upon an
Invention for which Letters Patent, No. 2082, dated May 26, 1879, were granted
to nie.
The Invention consists in furnishing the vessel with two rudders placed one on
each side of the propellor or other convenient situation. The rudder posts have
each fixed to its upper part a peculiarly curved and slotted arm, or are connected
to such arms by gearing wheels, and through the slots in these arms is a vertical
stud that is attached to one end of the tiller, which is pivotted to a travelling nut
worked by a horizontal screw. On moving the front end of the tiller the stud
presses against the sides of the slots in the arms, and so directs the rudders to
larboard or starboard as desired. The revolution of the screw, or alteration of the
position of the nut, through the intervention of any suitable power, changes the
relative position of the stud to the slotted arms, and so causes the rudders to
diverge until they stand at or about right angles to their original position. In
this way they may be used most effectively not only to check the speed or even
stop the ship, but on subsequently causing the vessel to move astern the force of
the waves will bring them into such a position as will enable the steersman to
guide the vessel by the tiller or ordinary appliances attached thereto.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings are
attached hereto, of which the following is a description, similar letters of reference
relating to the same parts in each Figure. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the steering
and checking apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. In Figs. 1 and 2, A
represents the top line of the base plate to which the apparatus is attached; B is
a fulcrum fixed to the vessel and having an eye or loop through which another
eye fixed to the lever C passes, the lever being consequently free to move in any
direction; D is a bar farnished at its front end with a universal joint to which the
lever C is pivotted, and is also pivotted at a to the block 6 which slides on the
At the other end the bar D is forked, as shown at E, E, and carries the
pin F which passes through the slots G, G, in the two curved and slotted arms H, H;
c, c, are two bars upon which the block b slides and supports the forked bar E;
J, J, are bracket arms to which the slotted arms H, H, are pivotted; K, K, are
toothed wheels fixed to the rudder post heads; and L, L, are toothed wheels
fixed to the under side of the slotted arms H, while M, M, are intermediate toothed
wheels gearing both into K and L, and so transmitting the motion of the slotted
arms to the rudder posts. The holes d, d, in the slotted arms are used for the
attachment of tackle to open or close the rudders when the other part of the
apparatus is out of use.
bar c.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The steersman on taking hold of the
handle or lever C will move it either to the right or left, as the case may be, when
the bar D will also be moved and the forked end of it caused to take an opposite
direction. In so doing the pin F will press against the sides of the slots in the
arms H, H, consequently the toothed wheels L, L, will partially revolve and
communicate their motion through the intervention of the toothed wheels M, M,
to the wheels K, K, fixed to the rudder post heads, both the rudders being thus
turned to starboard or larboard as desired. For the purpose of checking the speed
of the vessel the steersman will thrust the lever backwards, thus causing the
pin F to so operate upon the arms H, H, as to make both the rudders diverge or
turn outwards and assume a right or less angle to the keel. The motion for

page_text: checking just described may be imparted by the steersman thrusting the lever C
and bar D backwards, or the same effect may be produced by forming the block b
into a nut and causing a screw N, Fig. 3, to pass through it and revolve by means
of the gearing O connected with any suitable power.
The foregoing has reference to the apparatus as applied to the rudders when
the checking of the speed is induced by a thrust of the lever C, bar D, and its
accessories, but Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are,views of a modification of the same adapted
for producing the same effect by a drawing or reversed motion to that previously
described.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the modified apparatus; Fig. 5 is a plan of the gearing
attached to and between the rudder post heads and the slotted arms; Fig. 6 is a
side elevation; and Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the same. The apparatus in this
case may also be operated upon by manual or other suitable power; thus the
lever C and bar D may be drawn forwards by the steersman, or they may be
caused to assume that position through the agency of a screw and motive power,
as shown in Fig. 3, or the bar D may receive the direct action of a piston rod P
driven from a steam cylinder Q, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.
Fig. 8 exhibits a view of the underside of the bar T shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9
shows a side elevation; and Fig. 10, an end elevation of the arrangement of the
rudders R when applied to a vessel propelled by the ejection of water from a
tube S, as described in my Patent, No. 939, dated March 8, 1878.
When it is desired that the rudders shall be placed some distance apart from
each other, the motion from the slotted arms may be communicated to the rudders
by a modification of the gearing already described. Instead of employing toothed
wheels for the purpose herein set forth, pitch chains and wheels or friction gearing
may be used.
By the adoption of either of the foregoing arrangements of apparatus, vessels
may be steered when going ahead or astern, or their speed may be checked with
facility.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements that I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to be by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. For the construction of the peculiarly formed slotted arms H, H,
whereby the steering of ships, vessels, or boats is effected while going astern as
well as ahead, or their speed checked, and as herein described and shown on the
Drawings.
Secondly. The construction of the lever C, bar D, and block b for giving motion
to the slotted arms, as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
Thirdly. The arrangement of the gearing for imparting motion from the slotted
arms to the rudder post heads and consequently the rudders, whether placed
close together or at some distance apart, as herein described and shown on the
Drawings.
Fourthly. The arrangement of the rudders at the end of the tube S when the
propelling power is the ejection of water, as described in my Patent of 1878, and
as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the
year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN. (L.B.)