Year: 1888

page_text: We, ANDREW FISHER, Junior, of Saint Mirrens Engine Works, Paisley, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, and ROBERT RICHARDSON, of the same place,
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows, that
is to say :-
The said Invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of
combined steam and hand steering gear.
The framing of the improved apparatus, as made according to one modification,
comprises two main parts hereinafter termed the engine frame and the barrel frame
and connected by strong tie rods having strut tubes or collars on them. Two inverted
steam cylinders are placed on the top of the engine frame and their piston rods are
connected to, overhung cranks at the ends of a transverse horizontal shaft situated at
the lower part of the frame. The crank shaft has on it a worm in gear with a worm-
wheel on a horizontal shaft, which is above the crank shaft and which has on it a
pinion gearing with a spurwheel fixed or formed on the chain barrel. The chain barrel
is between the engine frame and the barrel frame and turns on a fixed shaft which can
be withdrawn to allow the barrel to be removed sideways without disturbing the
frames.
what is hereinafter referred to
ordinary steering wheel for.
This handing shaft may as
Above and parallel to the worm wheel shaft there is
as the handing shaft and which has fixed on it an
steering by hand or for controlling the steam gear.
usual be connected by bevil wheels and shafting with a handing wheel on the bridge
or other station more or less distant from the steering engine. The handing shaft
has fast on it a pinion for hand steering and when required the wormwheel is moved
When the
along its shaft into gear with the pinion and out of gear from the worm.
worm wheel is in gear with the worm it is also in gear with a second pinion on the
handing shaft, this pinion being movable on a screw-threaded part of the shaft and
being made with a grooved neck at one end of it. The ends of a forked lever engage
in the groove of the movable pinion, and when the handing shaft is turned its screw
thread makes the pinion move along and move the lever. The lever works the steam

page_text: controlling valve and causes the engine details to work the gear in the required
manner, and the consequent movement of the worm wheel moves the movable pinion
back to its middle position.
The distribution valve of each steam cylinder works on a single port face which
besides the usual cylinder ports has side ports communicating by passages with the
controlling valve casing and either being the steau: inlet port and the other the exhaust
port according to the position of the controlling valve. The distribution valve always
covers all the ports in the port face, and in its face has side ports always
communicating with the side ports of the port face. By passages in the distribution
valve one side port communicates with a middle port and the other with two end
ports. If required pressure is applied to the back of the the distribution valve by
steam reaching the casing by a small pipe or passage from the controlling valve
casing, this passage communicating with a small port in the face on which the
primary controlling valve works. Small grooves in the face of the primary
controlling valve admit steam to the passage whenever the valve is opened to either
side, but it is only steam which passes the valve that can thus get to the passage,
and the result is that the pressure acting on the back of the distribution valve will
always be in proportion to that acting under the valve.
The passages for leading the steam to and from the valve casings of the two
cylinders are connected to ports in a cylindrical valve chamber having in it two pistons
on a spindle. The final exhaust takes place from the middle of the valve chamber
between the ports of the passages leading to the cylinder valve casings; and steam
has access to the ends of the valve chamber by passages from two ports controlled by
a small slide valve, which is the valve acted on by the lever moved by the pinion of
the handing shaft as hereinbefore described. When by the action of the last mentioned
valve steam is admitted to one end of the valve chamber it pushes the piston at that end
80 as to uncover one port to the steam, and the other piston being moved by the spindle
uncovers the other port to the exhaust. Whichever piston is thus moved inwards is
stopped by an annular contraction which acts as a valve seat and the piston thus
completely closes the passage and prevents any leakage from the steam inlet directly
into the exhaust port.
The distribution valve casings are on the inner sides of the cylinders, and the
controlling valve casing is midway between the cylinders, the passages between it
and the cylinder casings being formed in the inner and upper part of the engine
frame.
Dated this Thirtieth day of November 1888.

page_text: Improvements in Combined Steam and Hand Steering Gear.
We, ANDREW FISHER, Junior, of Saint Mirrens Engine Works, Paisley, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, and ROBERT RICHARDSON, of the same place,
Engineers, 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, that is to say :-
Our said Invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of
combined steam and hand steering gear; and steering gear as made with our
improvements is represented on two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings.
Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the drawings is a sectional end elevation. Figures, 2,
and 3, are enlarged horizontal and vertical sections of one of the steam cylinders and
its valve casing. Figures, 4, and 5, are a cross section and a face view of the valve;
and figure, 6, is an elevation showing the port face of the cylinder. Figure, 7, on
sheet, 2, of the drawings is a vertical section as at right angles to figure, 1., Figure, 8,
is a vertical section of controlling valve details; and figure, 9, is an elevation showing
the port face on which the controlling valve works. In these drawings the same
reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they
are repeated.
The framing of our improved apparatus, as made according t
to one modification
shown in the drawings comprises two main parts, hereinafter termed the engine
frame, A and the barrel frame, B, and connected by strong tie rods having strut
tubes or collars on them. Two inverted steam cylinders, D, are placed on the top of
the engine frame, A, and their piston rods, 10, are connected to overhung cranks, 11,
at the ends of a transverse horizontal shaft, 12, situated at the lower part of the frame.
The crank shaft, 12, has on it a worm, E, in gear with a wormwheel, F, on a
horizontal shaft, G, which is above the crank shaft, and which has on it a pinion, H,.
gearing with a spurwheel, J, fixed or formed on the chain barrel, K. The chain
barrel, K, is between the engine frame, A, and the barrel frame, B, and turns on a
fixed shaft, 13, which can be withdrawn to allow the barrel to be removed sideways
without disturbing the frames.
"
Above and parallel to the worm wheel shaft, G, there is what is hereinafter referred
to as the handing shaft L, and which has fixed on it an ordinary steering wheel, M; for.
steering by hand, or for controlling the steam gear. This handing shaft, L, may, as
usual, be connected by bevil wheels, 14, and shafting, 15, with a handing wheel on
the bridge or other station more or less distant from the steering engine. The
handing shaft, L, has fast on it a pinion, N, for hand steering, and when required the .
wormwheel, F, is moved along its shaft, G, into gear with the pinion, N, and out of
gear from the worm, E. For this purpose the outer end of the worm wheel, shaft, G,
has formed on it a screw thread, 16, with which there works an internally screwed

page_text: .
boss, 17, provided with a small hand wheel, 18, and made in halves and with a
flange, 19, to engage in a groove in the boss of the wormwheel, F, so that it can turn
on the boss, but moves the boss and wormwheel along by the action of the screw
thread, 16, when it is itself turned relatively to the shaft, G.
When the wormwheel, F, is in gear with the worm, E, it is also in gear with a
second pinion, P, on the handing shaft, L, this pinion being movable on a screw-threaded
part of the shaft, and being made with a grooved neck, 20, at one end of it. The
ends of a forked lever, Q, engage in the groove of the movable pinion, P, and when
the handing shaft, L, is turned its screw thread makes the pinion, P, move along and
move the lever, Q. The lever, Q, works the steam controlling valve, R, and causes
the engine details to work the gear in the required manner, and the consequent
movement of the wormwheel, F, moves the movable pinion, P, back to its middle
position.
The distribution valve, S, of each steam cylinder, D, works on a single port face, 21-
(figure, 6) which besides the usual cylinder ports has side ports, 22, 23, communi-
cating by passages, 24, 25, with the controlling valve casing, 26, and either being the
steam inlet port and the other the exhaust port according to the position of the
controlling valve, R. The distribution valve, S, always covers all the ports in the port
face, 21, and in its face has side ports always communicating with the side ports, 22, 23.
By passages in the distribution, valve, S, one side port, 22, communicates with a middle
port, 27, and the other, 23, with two end ports, 28. If required, pressure is applied
to the back of the. distribution valve, S, by steam reaching the casing by a small
pipe, 29, from the controlling-valve casing, 26, this pipe communicating with two
small ports in the face, 30, on which the primary controlling valve, R, works. Steam
is admitted to one of the ports communicating with the pipe, 29, whenever the
valve, R, is moved to either side; but it is only steam that passes the valve, R, that
can thus get to the pipe, 29, and the result is that the pressure acting on the back of
the distribution valve, S, will always be in proportion to that acting under the
valve.
The passages, 24, 25, for leading the steam to and from the valve casings of the
two cylinders, D, are connected to ports, 1, 32, in a cylindrical valve chamber, 26;
having in it two pistons, 33, 34, on a spindle. The final exhaust takes place from
the middle of the valve chamber, 26, by a port, 35, and passage, 36, between the
ports, 31, 32, of the passages, 24, 25, leading to the cylinder valve casings; and steam
has access to the ends of the valve chamber, 26, by passages from two ports, 37, 38,
controlled by the valve, R, which is a small slide valve and is moved as herein before
explained by the lever, Q, moved by the pinion, P, of the handing shaft, L. When
by the action of the valve, R, steam is admitted to one end of the valve chamber, 26,
it pushes the piston, 33 or 34, so as to uncover one port, 31, or 32, to the steam, and
the other piston being moved by the spindle uncovers the other port to the exhaust, 35. 4
Whichever piston, 33, or 34, is thus moved inwards is stopped by an annular
contraction which acts as a valve seat, and the piston thus completely closes the
passage and prevents steam from the steam inlet passing directly into the exhaust
port, 35.
The distribution valve casings are on the inner sides of the cylinders, D, and the s
controlling valve casing, 26, is midway between the cylinders, the passages, 24, 25,
and 36, between it and the cylinder casings being formed in the inner and upper part
of the engine frame, A.
.
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. The combination of parts forming the improved steering gear as a whole,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The arrangement of the engine frame and barrel frame combined with the
mounting of the barrel loosely on a withdrawable shaft substantially as hereinbefore
described.
"

page_text: 3. The combination of the worm wheel the worm and the two pinions with means
for moving the wormwheel so as either to gear with the worm and one pinion or with
the other pinion alone substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
4. The improved construction of distribution valve with its ports and passages
and those in connection with which it works substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The improved combination of parts forming the controlling-valve apparatus
substantially as hereinbefore described.
D
T
1
GOOD L
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.