Improvements in Spring Buffers for Ships' Steering Gear.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Spring Buffers for Ships' Steering Gear.
I, THOMAS LOVERIDGE, 153, Bute Street, Cardiff, Ironmonger, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvement consists in encasing the steel coiled spring in a metal oil-tight
case or covering, by preference of iron or galvanized iron and cylindrical in shape,
for the purpose of containing oil, and of excluding dirt, sea-water or other oxidiz-
ing or corroding agent, and also for the prevention of entanglement of cordage
or other articles with the coils of the spring, and of attaching to one end of the
case a stuffing-box or gland, to enable the rod operated by the spring to reciprocate
as occasion requires without admitting water or extraneous matter.
The case or cover has a screwed aperture for admitting the oil, fitted with a
seat and a screw plug with head proper to make a water or oil-tight joint for
sanie. I claim that the case, the stuffing-box or gland, the screwed aperture with
screw plug, the turned grooves in the two end plates for jointing the ends of the
cylinder, with the outside screwed rods or bolts for securing the same, are all
parts of my invention, and constitute one arrangement to carry out the object
in view, viz. the protection of the steel spring as herein before mentioned.
February 3rd 1800
T. LOVERIDGE,
153, Bute Street, Cardiff.
Improvements in Spring Buffers for Ships' Steering Gear.
I, THOMAS LOVERIDGE, of 48, Plymouth Road, Penarth, and 153, Bute Street,
Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
In carrying my invention into effect, I place in any convenient position upon
the vessel my improved form of spring buffer arrangement in the usual way
connecting the same to the steering chains commonly in use, and for this purpose
I attach an eye at each end of the apparatus, to which the ends of the chains are
attached, the buffer then forming a portion of the chain connection between the
tiller and the steering wheel, or engine, so that when heavy seas, strike the
rudder, the buffer shall take up any undue strain, by reason of the resiliency
of a spring arrangement upon the inside of the buffer casing.
I do not claim any novelty in applying a spring buffer to the aforesaid purpose,
as it has been commonly used for a considerable time, but my invention relates
077

page_text: more particularly to encasing such a buffer with a metal tube, in order to prevent
the access of water, and the like. The metal tube having a cover at each end,
and through bolts, which upon being tightened up, draws the whole together and
forms a watertight joint at each end, recesses being formed in the end pieces,
for the tube to lie snugly within, putty, or other jointing material being
inserted, so as to make the joint water-tight.
The central spindle of the apparatus passing through one of the end covers,
has a stuffing box arrangement, so that the central pin or rod can slide to and
fro without leakage.
A spring, as ordinary used is placed within the apparatus, and does not form
a part of this invention.
The cylinder is filled with oil, so as to prevent corrosion, and to ensure the
continuous easy working of the buffer arrangement.
In order that the invention may be fully understood reference may be made
to the accompanying drawings-
A A, is the metal case or cover, having a screwed aperture fitted with a seat,
and a screw plug H fitted, with head proper, to make a water, or oil tight.
B, one of the screwed rods or bolts, employed to fasten the two end plates to
the case.
C, steel or metal spring inside the case.
D. cap on spring to which is attached end of reciprocating rod.
E, E, reciprocating rod.
F, F, F, the stuffing box or gland.
G, eye piece attached to end plate opposite to that of stuffing box.
H, H, screwed aperture for the admission of oil when charging.
J, I the end plates.
J, J, the turned grooves in the end plates.
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:
1st. The metallic case for enclosing a spring buffer, as and for the purpose
herein described.
2nd. A metal case filled with oil to prevent corrosion of the spring.
3rd. A stuffing box at one end, and through which the reciprocating rod passes.
4th. The method of securing the two end plates together with groove arrange-
ment for joint as herein specified.
Dated this 28th September 1899.
THOMAS LOVERIDGE.