IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Lester, junior, and George
Hallett, of Victoria Docks, in the County of Essex, for the Inven-
tion of " IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS.”
Sealed the 3rd March 1876, and dated the 7th September 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Lester
and George Hallett at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 7th September 1875.
We, HENRY EDWARD LESTER, junior, and GEORGE HALLETT, of
Victoria Docks, in the County of Essex, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements on what is known as "H. E.
Lester's Bridge Steering Apparatus," and as adapted thereto consists in
suitable framework mounted on an iron or other foundation plate bolted
to the deck of the vessel either aft or amidships, or if desired both aft
and amidships; we arrange a double chain drum, one chain coming from

page_text: underneath the drum in one direction, the other from underneath the
drum in the other direction. The said double chain drum is, according
to our present Invention, to be provided with grooves, which twist or
turn like portions of a screw or spiral. Around the drum, preferably in
the centre between the grooves in which the chains run, is a cogged
wheel, into the upper edge of which take two or more small cogged
wheels, the axles of which latter work in the same framework as that of
the drum. These two or more small cogged wheels take again into
another cogged wheel mounted higher up in the framework, and this
wheel is made large or small, according to whether it is desired to
revolve the drum quickly or slowly, said revolution being effected by
means of the ordinary steering wheel or wheels fixed on the axle end or
ends of the last-named cogged wheel. The chains, after passing from
the under side of the drum in opposite directions, are run on pulleys or
sheaves to the tiller in the usual manner.
A bell, gong, or similar alarum, fixed on the framework of the appa-
ratus, is struck each time the rudder is amidships or perfectly straight.
..
An expanding regulating screw is fixed on each side connecting
chains to tiller, to take in the chains tawt, and also to prevent the
kicking or jerking of the rudder being felt on chains, rods, and
apparatus.
TO
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Edward Lester and George Hallett in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th March 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY 2
EDWARD LESTEN, junior, and-GEORGE HALLETT, of Victoria. Docks, in _
the County of Essex, send greeting.
-
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of September, in
-the-year-of-our-Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, 3
in the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said Henry Edward Lester,
junior, and George Hallett, Her special licence, that we, the said
Henry Edward Lester, junior, and George Hallett, our executors,

page_text: side of the drum in opposite directions, are run on pulleys or sheaves to
the tiller in the usual manner.
A bell, gong, or similar alarum fixed on the framework of the apparatus
is struck each time the rudder is amidships or perfectly straight, or when
the rudder is hard over on either side.
An expanding regulating screw is fixed on each side connecting
chains to the tiller to take in the chains taut, and also to prevent the
kicking or jerking of the rudder being felt on chains, rods, and
apparatus.
Having now described. and ascertained the nature of the said In-
vention, and intimated generally in what manner the same is to be
performed or carried out in practice, we will now, with the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, proceed to further and particularly describe
and ascertain in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out
in practice, that is to say :—
And taided by the foregoing statement) of the manner in which the
said Invention is to be performed or carried out in practice.
Figure 1, front sectional elevation.
Figure 2, side elevation.
Figure 3, sectional view of regulating screw.
In Figures-and-2, A is framework; B, double chain, drum, or barrel
with spiral groove, as shewn; C, chains; D, large tooth wheel; E, E, small.
tooth wheels; F, another tooth wheel fixed on the axle of steering wheel.;-
G, bell, gong, or similar alarum actuated by a wheel fixed on spindle in
which another wheel gears into a quadrant indicator, which strikes the
bell. But also if found desirable the bell can be struck not only when
amidships, but when necessary in place thereof when the rudder is hard
over on either side.-In-this-latter-case-the-arrangements-are-similar-to-
those above described, but the bell is so placed and furnished with two
gongs as to enable the indictator to strike the gong on either side, as
the case. may be. G* is indicator of striker of gong; H, steering
wheel

page_text: In Figure 3 a is the regulating screw, to which the tiller is connected
at a¹. The screw engages in the solid portion 6 at one end of a tube c.
The opposite end of tube is furnished with india-rubber, and through
same a bolt is passed and secured by nut d at the back of the said india-
rubber. Between the nut and rubber a washer is placed. The chains
from steering apparatus are fitted at e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed or carried out in practice, we hereby declare that we claim
the said Invention of "Improvements in Steering Apparatus," sub-
stantially as the same is herein-before set forth and described, wherein
the adoption and use of the double chain drum with one chain coming
from underneath the drum in one direction, and the other from under-
neath the drum in the other direction, said double chain drum having
groooves which twist or turn like portions of a screw or spiral, is a novel
and important feature.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Edward Lester, junior,
and George Hallett, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
THO. PERKINS,
1, Vicarage Terrace,
Romford Road,
Essex.
H. E. LESTER, JUN. (L.S.)
GEO. HALLETT.
(L.S.)