AN IMPROVED METHOD OF STEERING A VESSEL BY MEANS OF THE ASSISTANCE OF ITS SCREW PROPELLER
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
We JAMES WHITE of Swan Street Trinity Square Southwark in the County of
Surrey, Ships Carpenter WILLIAM Ross of 60 Trinity Square aforesaid Engineer
and JOHN THOMAS CREASY of 26 Warner Street Southwark aforesaid, Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of our invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF STEERING
A VESSEL BY MEANS OF THE ASSISTANCE OF ITS SCREW PROPELLER to be as
follows:-
We utilize the scrow-propeller of a vessel acting together with and in combination
with its rudder as a means of steering it, by the following improved method We
first provide at the extreme end of the mainshaft in the end of the vessel a ring
or seating connected with the stern tube. We next provide a cup of suitable
dimensions to fit and rotate inside this ring or seating one end of this cup being
rigidly attached to the main or propelling shaft the other end of this cup is
sufficiently hollowed out to take and form a socket for part of a spherical ball and
it also has inside it and close to its edge two pins or studs one exactly opposite to
the other, We then provide a spherical ball having a groove cut round its extreme
circumference throughout to fit the pins or studs To this ball we rigidly attach a
shaft which is also connected to a screw-propeller which rotates inside the rudder
or rudder frame of the Vessel. This propeller will when the rudder is in a direct
ling with the keel or go of a vessel propel or assist in propelling the ship but the
instant the rudder attains any angle to the keel or go will be acting so as to drive.
the stern of the vessel in the direction required.
-
We can if required multiply the propellers to any required extent. The rudder
can be actuated as now or in any suitable manner. From the foregoing it will be
seen that the shaft takes its motion from the engine or other power in the vessel
and communicates its motion to the outer cup or shell, to which it is attached and
the studs on the outer cup communicate the power to the ball and propeller.

page_text: We JAMES WHITE of Swan Street Trinity Square Southwark in the County of
Surrey Ships Carpenter, WILLIAM Ross of 60 Trinity Square aforesaid Engineer
and JOHN THOMAS CREASY of 26 Warner Street Southwark aforesaid Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of our invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
STEERING A VESSEL BY MEANS OF THE ASSISTANCE OF ITS SCREW PROPELLER and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
"
The nature and object of our said invention is by the novel method hereafter
described to improve the steering of a screw steamer by utilizing the screw
propeller acting in conjunction with the rudder whereby such a vessel can be.
steered in any required direction with much greater rapidity and the greater
part of the waste of propelling power caused by the use of the ordinary rudder is
avoided.
We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
We first provide at the extreme end of the main or driving shaft A in the end
of the vessel a ring or seating marked B connected with the stern tube C.
We next provide a cup D to fit and rotate in this seating, one end of this cup is
rigidly attached or fixed to the main shaft so that as the shaft rotates the cup rotates.
The other end of this cup is sufficiently hollowed out to receive part of a spherical
ball E and is thus a socket for the ball to work in, and it also has inside and close
to its edge two studs or pins (f. f.) exactly opposite to each other and of sufficient
size to fit and work in the annular groove G cut in the said ball.
We next provide the said spherical ball E and cut the annular groove G right
around its extreme circumference for the aforesaid studs or pins to fit and work in,
thus, the ball when inserted in the hollow or socket of the cup is forced to rotate
as the cup rotates by means of the studs which force it to move round along with
the cup.
Rigidly attached to the ball E in a direct line with its centre and intersecting
the aforesaid groove there is projected the propeller shaft or spindle F. In caso
this ball and propeller shaft are made or cast together, it would be more accurato
to describe the groove as cut right around the extreme circumference of the ball
save where the said propeller shaft is projected.
The screw works within the rudder in an opening of suitable dimensions cut or
formed therein as shewn at J*.
Upon the propeller shaft is rigidly attached or keyed the screw propeller H, or
screw propellers if more than one be used; the outer end of the propeller shaft
rests and rotates in a bearing set in the rudder-Thus the main shaft communicates
motion to the cup to which it is rigidly attached and the studs or pins inside the
cup communicate the motion to the propeller shaft projected therefrom, so that, as
the ball rotates, so must the propeller shaft and the screw propeller keyed thereon
rotate, the propeller shaft being rigidly attached to the ball, Thus also tho

page_text: propeller shaft (on to which the screw propeller is keyed) is always in the same
line with the rudder, so that, when the rudder is fore and aft, that is on a line with
the keel, the propeller shaft is in the same line, and the screw propels the vessel in
a straight line, but, as the rudder. is moved from a straight line, and attains any
angle with the keel the propeller shaft (and screw) being forced to move with it
attain the same angle, the ball moving round in its socket as required, and so
permitting this to be done Thus the screw propeller not only then propels, but
also drives and steers it in the required direction, and aids the rudder in the steering.
The spherical ball rotating revolution for revolution with the main shaft at
whatever angle the propeller shaft may be to it.
For the purposes of anti friction we may use lignum vitæ bearings, or we may
adopt any suitable lubricating material; we can insert one or more circles of balls
or any other usual anti-friction contrivances in each or either of the pressure
bearings, that is inside the cup to take the friction of the ball, and inside the
seating to take the friction of the cup and stud pins, in conjunction with round
steel rings or bushes may be used in the annular groove, and the ball may have-
shifting steel or other metallic segnments, so that all the parts liable to wear from
friction may be moveable and replaceable from time to time.
The respective positions as described of the cup and the sperical ball may bo
reversed that is to say; the ball may be placed on the main shaft, and the cup on
the propeller shaft, the effect being the same in either case.
We are aware that prior to our invention mechanisms, for steering vessels by
means or with the assistance of the screw propeller or screw propellers have been
made by various contrivances, and we do not claim any novelty in moving the
propeller shaft and screw propeller in conjunction with the rudder to an angle with
the keel for the purpose of steering the vessel, this having been more or less
effected before by different contrivances; but the same purpose, not having been
effected by the simple method and combination described in this specification and
the accompanying drawings, what we do claim as our invention and to secure by
letters patent is: The arrangement and combination of the mechanisın used for
both propelling and steering a vessel by means of its screw propeller acting in
conjunction and in the same line with the rudder, substantially as set forth abovo
in this specification and the accompanying drawings.
The improvements relate to the parts referred to in the accompanying drawings
and the whole in combination for the purposes described, though each or any one
part, separately is not claimed as new.
A. SHELLEY JARMAN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.
Dated this 6th day of May 1885.
A. SHELLEY JARMAN, .
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.