IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederic Bradley at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1878.
FREDERIC BRADLEY, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to the steering of steamers, sailing vessels, and other
navigable vessels, and particularly to the cases wherein steam, hydraulic, or other
fluid pressure is employed to actuate the rudders; and my said Invention may also
be adapted to be employed for other analogous purposes, such for example, as for
the purpose of steering or guiding traction engines. The tiller or part fixed to the
rudder head or post is connected with the piston or ram of the steam hydraulic
or fluid pressure cylinder, or with each one of two rams or pistons in such a manner
as that when the steam or acting fluid is admitted to one end or the other of the
cylinder, or to one or the other of the two cylinders, the rudder is moved in one
direction or the other, as in some descriptions of apparatus which have been con-
structed prior to my Invention. A part which I will term a false tiller is arranged
to move on the same axis of motion as the real tiller, and is connected with the
steering wheel. A shaft is fitted to rock in bearings carried by the tiller, and is
connected with the spindle of a valve, which controls the flow of fluid into and
from the cylinder or cylinders. This valve may be similar to an ordinary slide
valve, or may be a rocking, partly cylindrical, valve arranged to work upon a
curved face, or be of any suitable form; or each of two cylinders may be provided
with a separate valve. The valve spindle is connected with the same shaft by
means of an universal joint, which coincides with the axis of motion of the tiller or
thereabouts in order that the connection shall not interfere with the movements of
the said tiller. A lever is fixed on the said shaft, and the said false tiller acts on
the said lever to turn the said shaft in its bearings when the said false tiller is
moved in one direction or the other. So long as the said lever is in, or about in
its normal position, that is to say, in a vertical position, the ports leading to both
cylinders or to both ends of the cylinder remain closed, but when the false tiller is
moved the said lever is acted upon, and the valve is moved to admit the acting

page_text: fluid to flow in such a manner as will effect the required movement of the tiller,
which then follows the false tiller in its movement, and by so doing restores the
said lever to its normal position, and the valve passage or passages is or are thereby
closed. When the rudder is forced out of position by the action of the waves the
movement of the tiller causes the valve to open to permit such a flow of the acting
fluid as will be necessary to restore the rudder to its former position. In one
arrangement I employ two cylinders having trunk pistons connected by means of
rods or links to a pin upon the tiller, the fluid acting upon the smaller area around
the trunk of one piston in aid of the other piston. In another arrangement a
double acting piston is connected by means of ropes or chains with a quadrant
shaped tiller, and the steering wheel is connected with a quadrant, which is fitted
to slide or move upon the said tiller, and is jointed to or arranged to act upon the
aforesaid lever, or upon a rod or arm acting as a lever, to effect the partial rotation
of the shaft which actuates the valve.