Engines, and the like.
Year: 1885

page_text: Engines, and the like.
I ARTHUR JOHN MAGINNIS of 51 Hartington Road Sefton Park Liverpool
Member of the Institute of Naval Architects do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM STEERING CONTROLLING AND CUSHIONING
GEAR PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR CONTROLLING STEAM WINCHES AND ENGINES USED
FOR OTHER PURPOSES" to be as follows
-
This invention has mainly for its object to apply a small ordinary two cylinder
or other type of steam engine to give motion directly to the quadrant or tiller on
the rudder head and thereby do away with the existing system of chains wire ropes
or such like and economize space very largely
This I effect by means of a worm on the driving shaft of the engine made to
gear with the teeth of a toothed are which can easily be attached to any existing.
"quadrant" or tiller To prevent breakage of the teeth of the toothed arc and
to ease the whole gear from the strains caused by a heavy sea or any other object
striking the rudder I make the worm capable of sliding endwise along the driving!
shaft and couple the worm to spring or buffer mechanism which allows it to yield
in either direction whenever excessive strain comes upon the rudder and brings it
back to its normal position so soon as the excessive strain is relieved
For this purpose I prefer to employ a piston fixed on the axis of the worm
and made to work in a cylinder which I call the cushion cylinder filled with
glycerine or oil or other liquid To each end of this cushion cylinder I connect a
regulating cylinder each fitted with a piston the bottom side of which rests against
the liquid with which the cushion cylinder is filled and the top side is open to steam
from the main or donkey boilers The diameter of these cylinders is so proportioned
as to give sufficient area for the steam pressure upon the pistons to sustain the thrust
of the piston of the cushion cylinder to which the worm is attached when the helm'
18 hard over to either side and the ship going full speed This pressure being
adjusted it is obvious that if any greater strain is put upon the rudder by a blow
or otherwise it will yield to it as far as the cushion cylinder will allow the worm
to travel.
-
,

page_text: As the piston of one regulating cylinder 18 so forced upwards by the strain on
the rudder the piston of the other regulating cylinder is forced downwards by
the pressure of steam upon it until after a short travel it rests against the bottom
of the cylinder and as the steam pressure is maintained on the forced up piston it
will give an elastic resistance which if the pressure upon the rudder still further!
increases will allow the woim piston to travel over to where it cuts off the opening
to the regulating cylinder and in order to avoid the vacuum which would otherwise
be created in the cushion cylinder it is allowed to fill with liquid through a small
passage in the cylinder which is opened by the endway movement of the piston
within it
When the pressure on the rudder is relieved the pressure of steam in the
regulating cylinder again forces back the piston of the cushion cylinder and the
worm fixed to it to its normal position the excess of liquid in the cushion
cylinder being then forced out through the opening above mentioned until the
piston of the cushion cylinder again closes the opening after which the pressure
of steam in the one regulating cylinder balances the pressure of steam in the other
regulating cylinder and the parts are held in their normal position
The piston of the cushion cylinder I make with a central conical hollow in each
of its ends I also provide the piston with two sets of packing rings and from one
hollow lead passages to the back of one set of rings and from the other hollow to
the other set of rings
To connect the ordinary hand gear in place of the steam I place a pair of mitre
wheels close to the engine coupling of the driving shaft working with a clutch in
the ordinary way and by moving which the one is connected as the other is dis-
connected, by this arrangement it will be seen that the advantages of the cushion
gear are still retained as are also those of the worm.
For controlling the turning of the rudder to the one side or the other by
the steam gear I cause the engine which drives the worm to be driven in the one
direction or the other by connecting the reversing valve or link motion of the
engine to a bar which can slide endwise to and fro in suitable guides
To control the movement of this bar I employ two inclines at right angles to it
inclined in opposite directions and facing one another-between the inclines I place
a loose roller the spindle of which can move freely along a slot formed lengthwise
of the bai―the inclines both bearing against the roller can be moved one past the
other with comparatively little friction
The connections to the inclines stand out in opposite directions from the bar and
one connection in addition to being able to move endwise to and fro at right angles
to the bar can also turn on a pivot situated at a distance from it When the bar
18 in its central position so that no steam is admitted to the engine to drive it
either in the one direction or the other both inclines overlap one another. The
back of one incline rests upon the circumference of a roller carried by a fixed
pin whilst a roller carried by a pin fixed on the moving bar is kept pressed
against the back of the other incline by a spring or by a piston acted on constantly
by steam or in other suitable way-in this way both inclines are always kept
against the roller which is between them One incline is capable of being moved to
and fro by the helmsman and when worked by him in one or other direction the bar
connected to the valve will be raised or lowered and steam will be admitted to
the engine to drive it in one or other direction As the engine is so driven the
other incline is by the action of the engine caused to be moved endwise in a direction
to bring the valve back again to its normal position and so stop the engine.
Preferably I effect this by attaching the second incline to a piston working in a
controlling cylinder into one or other end of which fluid can be pumped by a pump
worked by the engine.
In this case I attach to the moving bar a regulating valve by which the opening
from the pump is regulated to one or other end of the cylinder and the opposite
end of the cylinder opened to the exhaust but the same effect might be obtained by
means of ordinary gearing

page_text: If it should be preferred to place the steam steering gear and engine in the
forward wheel-house as is frequently the case the system above described can be
applied by substituting an ordinary rack for the segments to the ends of which the
wheel chains or ropes may be attached.
The same arrangement of moving bar coupled to a steam admission valve and
inclines capable of being moved endwise at right angles to the bar may be used for
controlling the admission of steam to the engines of steam winches and winding
engines. One of the inclines being coupled to a lever or appliance which must
necessarily be moved when a rope is led on to one of the winding barrels of the
winch and the other when it is led on to the other-so that whichever lever 18
moved steam will be admitted to the engine or if both are moved the valve will
have a double opening given to it and so give sufficient steam to the engine for
working both winding barrels

page_text: "
Engines, and the like.
I ARTHUR JOHN MAGINNIS of 51 Hartington Road Sefton Park Liverpool,
Member of the Institution of Naval Architects 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 has mainly for its object to apply a small ordinary two cylinder
or other type of steam engine to give motion directly to the quadrant or tiller on
the rudder head and thereby do away with the existing noisy system of chains
wire ropes or such like and economize space very largely
This I effect by means of a worm on the driving shaft of the engine made to gear
with the teeth of a toothed are which can easily be attached to any existing
quadrant" or tiller To prevent breakage of the teeth of the toothed are and to
ease the whole gear from the strains caused by a heavy sea or any other object
striking the rudder I make the worm capable of sliding end wise along the diving
shaft and couple the worm to spring or buffer mechanism which allows it to yield
in either direction whenever excessive strain comes upon the rudder and brings it
back to its normal position so soon as the excessive strain is relieved
For this purpose I prefer to employ a piston fixed on the axis of the worm and
made to work in a cylinder which I call the cushion cylinder filled with glycerine
or oil or other liquid To each end of this cushion cylinder I connect a regulating
cylinder each fitted with a hydraulic piston, the bottom side of which rests against
the liquid with which the cushion cylinder is filled and the top side is loaded with
a powerful spring The diameter of these cylinders 18 so proportioned as to give
sufficient area for the spring pressure upon the pistons to sustain the thrust of the
piston of the cushion cylinder to which the worm is attached when the helm 13
hard over to either side and the ship going full speed. This spring pressure being
adjusted it is obvious that if any greater strain is put upon the rudder by a blow
or otherwise it will yield to it as far as the cushion cylinder will allow the worm
to travel.
As the piston of one regulating cylinder is so forced upwards by the strain on
the rudder the piston of the other regulating cylinder is forced downwards by the
pressure of the spring upon it until after a very short travel it resta against the
bottom of the cylinder and as the pressure is maintained on the forced up piston
it will give an elastic resistance which if the pressure upon the rudder still further
increases will allow the worm piston to travel over to where it cuts off the opening
to the regulating cylinder In order to avoid the vacuum which would other-
wise be created on the back side of the worm piston in the cushion cylinder and
to ensure the worm always returning to its cential position it is allowed to fill
with liquid through a small opening in the cylinder which is opened by the end way
movement of the piston within it
When the pressure on the rudder is relieved the pressure of the compressed
springs in the regulating cylinder again forces back the piston of the cushion
cylinder and the worm fixed to it, to its normal position, the excess of liquid in

page_text: the cushion cylinder being then forced out through the opening above mentioned,
until the piston of the cushion cylinder again closes the opening after which the
pressure in the one regulating cylinder balances the pressure in the other regulating
cylinder and the parts are held in their normal position.
The piston of the cushion cylinder I make with a central conical hollow in each
of its ends I also provide the piston with two sets of packing rings fitted with
leather tongue pieces and from one hollow lead passages to the back of one set of
rings and from the other hollow to the other set of rings
Any ordinary arrangement of gear for controlling the movement of the steam
engine to cause it to drive the worm in the one direction or the other as required
may be adopted. The arrangement shown in the drawing is very suitable for the
purpose
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of steam steering gear arranged as
above described Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a front
elevation and figure 3* a side elevation of the steam engine used for driving the
steering gear Figure 4 is a diagram plan view of the steering gear on a smaller
scale
A is the toothed are on the tiller or quadrant-B the worm gearing therewith-
C a piston fixed on the axis of the worm-D the cushion cylinder-E E the
regulating cylinders one at each end of the cushion cylinder-F F are the pistons
working in the regulating cylinders-G G are powerful springs made to bear upon
the top of these pistons-H is a pipe leading from the centre of the cylinder D to
a reservoir of liquid I
The springs I use for bearing upon the pistons F are volute springs as shown
The upper spring of each pair of springs bears against an abutment J which can
be set nearer to or further from the pistons by turning the nuts K which screw on
to the rods L The pressure put upon the springs can be indicated by pressure
gauges M connected with the cylinders E In addition to using the strong volute
springs GI also use secondary springs N for light cushioning when the rudder is
in its central position and to ensure elasticity
To support the worm as it is moved endwise in one direction or the other and
to keep it from springing away from the toothed arc A. I use a roller bearing
composed of three parallel rollers O mounted in fixed bearings. One roller
supports the worm on the side opposite to that which gears with the toothed arc-
the other rollers support it on its upper and under sides as shown at Figure 2-
I do not restrict myself to the precise construction of spring buffer mechanism
hereinbefore described for keeping the worm in its normal position so long as no
excessive strain comes upon the rudder as it will be obvious that various other
ways of applying spring buffers to the axis of the worm to effect this object might
be adopted.
The end of the worm axis which is driven from the steam engine is made
hollow as shown at Figure 1 the end of the crank shaft P of the engine passes
into it and keys secured lengthwise of the shaft enter corresponding grooves or
key ways cut along the interior of the hollow worm axis,
The engine shown at Figures 3 and 3* 18 of ordinary construction and such
as is commonly used in steam steering gear Its action is as follows an
ordinary slide valve worked by the steering wheel, starts the engine in either one
direction or the other.
3
The slide valve is moved by the screw spindle X being rotated by the turning of
the steering wheel. The screw thread on the spindle screws through a nut which
can turn in a fixed bearing on the nut is a worm wheel Y into which gears a
worm Z on the crank shaft of the engine so that when the valve is moved to start
the engine it is brought back again to its normal position after the engine has
made a certain number of revolutions.
At Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 12 and 13 I have shown my controlling gear for

page_text: Figure 5 is a front elevation Figure 6 a plan and Figure 7 an end elevation of
the winch Figures 8, 9 and 10 show separately on a larger scale various views
of the controlling gear Figures 11, 12 and 13 show various views of the steam
valve which the controlling gear operates
The control gear see Figures 8, 9 and 10 is composed of the valve rod A
connected to two parallel bars B in each of which is a longitudinal slot B¹ In
these slots are received the pivots of rollers CC which lie between the bars
Between two of these rollers is-received a wedge D which can be worked to and
fro at right angles to the bars B Another wedge E inclined in the opposite
direction and lying on the opposite side of the bars B works between one of these 1
rollers and a third roller and a bar F with a double incline upon it passes between
this third roller and a fourth one the axes of which not only pass through the slots
in the bars B but are received in fixed bearings in the frame The bar F extends
to both sides of the bars B so that it can be worked endwise to and fro either from
the one side or the other The steam valve with which the valve rod A 18 1
connected is a piston valve (see Figures 11, 12 and 13) The steam enters by
the pipe Ginto the space between the pistons H and I and keeps the valve 10d A
pressed endwise in the direction of the arrows (Figures 10 and 11) and keeps the
valve closed One end of the slot in the bars B is also thereby always kept
bearing against the first of the friction rollers C
When the valve rod is moved in the opposite direction the movement of the
smaller of the two pistons uncovers ports opening into the steam passages J and K
through which steam passes to the engine by which the winch is driven. I also
form the valve in such manner that when it is closed and in the position shown in
Figures 11, 12 and 13 sufficient steam can pass to keep the winch working very
slowly
As will be seen from Figures 5, 6 and 7 the wedge D is secured by a rod D* to
a lever arm L the end of which comes into close proximity to one of the end
winding barrels of the winch and the other wedge E by a rod Ex to a simılar arm L
the end of which is in close proximity to the circumference of the other end barrel
of the winch
When either of the barrels is to be used for winding up a rope the rope is wound
with one two or more coils around the barrel according to the amount of weight to
be lifted The winding of the rope on to the barrel moves the lever L and thereby
moves end wise either the wedge D or E and opens the steam control valve more or
less according to the number of coils of rope wound onto the barrel
The double wedge F or if preferred, two separate wedges is connected at its ends
to treadles M. one near each end barrel--Any one using the winch and standing
near either to one or other of the end barrels can instantly stop the engine by
putting his foot on one or other of the treadles M-this removes the summit of the
double wedge from between the rollers C and allows the bars B to move endwise
in the direction of the arrow a sufficient distance to close the control valve even if
either one or the other of the wedges D or E be at the same time pushed inwards
for the purpose of opening the valve.
、
The levers L are as shown always brought back to their normal position by
counterbalance weights when not moved therefrom by turns of rope wound on to
the winding barrels-they will therefore return to their original position if the
rope be slacked or thrown off, and consequently the control valve will be instantly
closed on the release of the load so that the winch is prevented from racing off and
racking itself to pieces as winches now commonly do when constructed in the
ordinary manner.
There being a separate lever L working with each end barrel of the winch and
each being connected to a separate wedge piece D or E it is obvious that if both
end barrels are heaving together and one lift stops before the other steam will-only
be cut off one half so that the starting or stopping of the lift on one side in no way
interferes with the other, but if both loads be thrown off together the winch will
at once slow down.

page_text: By means of the treadles also the person working the winch at either end can
instantly stop the winch by putting his foot on the treadle
One advantage of being able so to stop the winch is that if the ropes be working
from the centre barrel the man working the fall can stop or start the winch without
requiring the aid of a driver as at present.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1-In steam steering controlling and cushiomng gear the employment of a worm
gearing with the teeth of a toothed are attached to the quadrant or tiller and
capable of sliding endwise along its driving shaft together with the employment of
spring or buffer mechanism which allows the worm to move endwise whenever
excessive strain comes upon the rudder and brings the worm back to its normal
position so soon as the excessive strain is relieved
2-The cushioning gear for steering mechanism consisting of a piston working
in a control cylinder filled with liquid and connected at each end with a regulating
cylinder in which is a piston held down by a powerful spring and also a central
passage for liquid to pass to or from the centre of the control cylinder substantially
as described
3-The construction of steam steering controlling and cushioning gear sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated in the drawing annexed.
4-The employment of the roller bearing for the worm of the steam steering
controlling and cushioning gear substantially as described
5-The combination of control gear for controlling the working of steam
winches winding engines and other steam engines substantially as described
6-The employment of a lever or appliance which must necessarily be moved to
start or stop engines used for driving winding barrels, the movement to be effected
automatically by a rope being coiled on to the winding barrel
Dated this 23rd day of October 1885