IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE RUDDERS OF VESSELS, AND IN AUXILIARY STEERING APPARATUS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Sinclair Robson, of Hendon House,
Sunderland, in the County of Durham, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE RUDDERS OF VESSELS, AND IN
AUXILIARY STEERING APPARATUS."
Sealed the 4th December 1863, and dated the 13th June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Sinclair Robson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 13th June 1863.
I, SAMUEL SINCLAIR ROBSON, of Hendon House, Sunderland, in the County
of Durham, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE RUDDERS OF VESSELS, AND IN
AUXILIARY STEERING APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in steering apparatus relate to the application of the
differential motion and power obtained by winding up the one part of a rope'
or chain on a barrel and unwinding the other part from the same barrel, but
which is of a different diameter, and which I may term a compound barrel. The
nearer those parts of the barrel approach the same diameter the slower will
be the motion and the greater the power derived. This apparatus may be
fitted to rudder tellers very much as used with the ordinary chains and barrel
on the steering wheel shaft, the compound barrel being placed on such shaft
and the ropes or chains passing over pullies at the sides of the ship, and thence
to the tiller. This is the simplest form, but I prefer to run the ropes or

page_text: chains fore and aft and under the steering wheel shaft. To effect this I fix
a bevil wheel on the after end of the shaft which gears with another bevil
wheel fixed on a transverse barrel shaft laying near the taffrail. On this shaft
I fix two compound chain or rope barrels, and fix on the rudder head a yoke,
to the one of which the ropes or chains from the one compound barrel lead,
while the other end is in similar connection with the other barrel. The bights
of the ropes or chains so led and acting on the rudder yoke simply pass
through sheaves therein. The compound barrel or barrels may be disposed
on an upright axis or in other convenient position, and the ropes and
chains lead over suitable turning blocks, pullies, or sheaves, or are otherwise
conducted to act on the rudder head as desired. The motion of the steering
wheel shaft may be communicated to the barrel shaft by an endless pitch chain,
spur gear, or otherwise, to suit the convenience of position desired to be
occupied. Instead of ropes or simple chains fastened to the barrel or barrels at
the ends, chains and chain sheaves, or wheels may be used; which will prevent
slip. By this means of actuating the rudder; and the particular mode of
leading the ropes on to the barrels the rudder will remain stationary wherever
it is put, and all strain and exertion of holding will be removed from the
steersman's arms. The barrels might also be placed at the sides where the blocks
and standards are usually placed, or they might be fixed on the rudder head.
The second part of my Invention, which relates to auxiliary rudders, con-
sists in the application of a cross shaft through the dead wood, or otherwise
near the stern post, or in the rear of the ship; this shaft projects considerably
on each side of the ship, and is suitably stayed at each end to hold it firm, in
which stays and central bearings it is free to turn on this shaft. I place on
each side of the ship one, or more surfaces somewhat like screw propellers,
but which are simply flat,plates set at an angle on the shaft.
If two plates
are placed on one side of the ship they are placed parallel to each other; when
these plates are in a vertical position they simply cut the water, but when the
shaft is turned a quarter revolution, which is effected by an endless-screw and
wheel, or other suitable gearing from the deck or interior of the ship, the
plates, will be inclined to the motion of the ship, and will turn and steer her
as a rudder, and in proportion to the surface presented with greater or less
efficiency. It may be better to have two shafts, one to project on one side of
the ship and. the other on the other side, and so permit of working them
separately.
1.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Sinclair Robson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
SINCLAIR. ROBSON, of Hendon House, Sunderland, in the County of Durham,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Samuel Sinclair Robson, Her special licence that I, the said
Samuel Sinclair Robson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Samuel Sinclair Robson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time,
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE RUDDERS OF VESSELS,
AND IN AUXILIARY STEERING APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Samuel Sinclair. Robson, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Sinclair Robson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My improvements in steering apparatus relate to the application of the
differential motion and power obtained by winding up the one part of a rope
or chain over a barrel, and the unwinding of the other part from the same
barrel, but which is of a different diameter, and which I may term a compound
barrel or whelp. The nearer these parts of the barrel approach the same
diameter the slower will be the motion and the greater the power derived.
This apparatus may be fitted to the tillers of rudders very much as used' with
the ordinary chains and barrel on the steering wheel shaft, the compound barrel

page_text: being placed on such shaft, and the ropes or chains passing over pullies at the
sides of the ship and thence to the. tiller. This is the simplest form, but I
prefer to run the ropes or chains fore and aft and under the steering wheel
shaft. To effect this I fix a bevil wheel on the after end of the shaft which
gears with another bevil wheel fixed on a transverse barrel shaft laying near
the taffrail. On this shaft I fix two compound chain or rope barrels and fix on
the rudder head a yoke wheel or segment, to the one end of which the ropes
or chains from the one compound barrel lead, while the other is in similar
connection with the other end. The bights of the ropes or chains so led and
acting on the rudder yoke simply pass round sheaves therein. The compound
.barrel or barrels may be disposed on horizontal or upright axes or in other
convenient position, and the ropes or chains lead over suitable turning blocks,
pullies, or sheaves, or may be otherwise conducted to act on the rudder head
as desired.
The motion of the steering wheel shaft may be communicated to the barrel
shaft by an endless pitch chain spur gear, or otherwise to suit the convenience
of position desired to be occupied. Instead of ropes or simple chains fastened
to the barrel or barrels at the ends, chains and chain sheaves or wheels may
be used which will prevent slip; or a sufficient number of turns of the chain
may always be on the barrels to give the hold required. By this apparatus
the rudder is held in any position in which it may be placed, and relieves the
arms of the steersman from all strain in holding the rudder stationary.
The second part of my Invention which relates to auxiliary rudders consists
in the application of a cross shaft or shafts through the dead wood, or other-
wise near the stern post, or in the run of the ship; this shaft projects con-
siderably at each side of the ship, and is suitably stayed at each end to hold
it firm, in which stays and its central bearing it is free to turn. On this shaft I
place on each side of the ship one or more surfaces somewhat like screw
propeller blades, but which are simply flat plates set at an angle on the shaft.
If two plates are placed on one side of the ship they are placed parallel to
each other; when these plates are in a vertical position they simply cut the
water, but when the shaft is turned a quarter revolution, which is effected by
an endless screw and wheel or other suitable gearing from the deck or interior
of the ship, the plates will be inclined to the motion of the ship and will turn
and steer her as a rudder, and in proportion to the surface presented with
greater or less efficiency. It may be desirable in some cases to have two
shafts, one to project on one side of the ship and the other on the other side,
and so permit of working them separately.

page_text: Fig. 1 represents a sile elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan of apparatus for com-
municating motion from the steering wheel to the tillers and rudders of steam
ships and other vessels. In this case four barrels are used and two chains,
but all the barrels are fixed on one shaft and therefore participate in the same
motion.
"
A is the steering wheel, and B the wheel shaft mounted in suitable bearings
C, C. On the end of the shaft B, is fixed a bevil wheel d, gearing into another
bevil wheel e, fixed on the barrel shaft E, mounted in fixed bearings g'on the
taffrail; F, F, are the large chain barrels, and G, G' the smaller ones. The
one end of each of the chains H is fixed to one of the small barrels G and
the other end to the large barrel immediately adjoining, the double in the
middle of each chain being carried round a sheave in the yoke or tiller I, as
seen in the plan. The rudder being in line with the keel of the vessel and
the yoke I at right angles or transversely thereto, the parts of the chains are
about equally distributed on the large and small barrels, the chain on the one
small barrel is wound on in the contrary direction to that on the other, which
is also the case with the chain on the large barrels. In steering it is simply
necessary to rotate the steering wheel in the one direction or the other as in
ordinary; when turning it in the one direction the chain barrel shaft will
rotate so as to wind up the chain H' on the large barrel F', and at same
time unwind same chain from adjoining small barrel G', the chain during the
time rendering through or round the sheave on the yoke or tiller, and as more
of the chain is taken up by the large barrel than is given off by the small one
that end of the tiller or yoke I will be forcibly drawn towards the barrel
F, G, & inclined as shown dotted, moving the rudder and consequently
steering the vessel. During this time the chain H being unwound from the
large barrel F and on to the small barrel G, slack chain will be given out and
so permit of the yoke assuming the dotted position before mentioned. On
reversing the motion of the steering wheel the reverse will be the effect, a
greater amount of chain being taken up by barrel F than is given off by
barrel G, and causing the consequent movement of the yoke I to an opposite
inclination, and so steering the vessel in the reverse direction.
:
Fig. 3 represents an elevation, & Fig. 4 a plan of another arrange-
ment of apparatus for working the rudders of ships according to my In-
vention. In this case the chain barrels are placed on a vertical axis.
The steering wheel A, shaft B, and bevil gear d, e, being the same as
before. In this example I have only shown one large barrel F, and one

page_text: small barrel G, which answers the purpose, there being two parts of the
chain H from the large barrel, and two parts from the small barrel, the
parts from the large barrel passing round each of the sheaves in the yoke I,
and thence to the small barrel on which they wind in opposite direc-
tions, as also on the large barrels, as before explained, the whole being an
endless chain. There should be sufficient turns of the chain on the barrel to
give it the hold desired, and if of sufficient number the chains may be fixed to
the barrels at certain points, that is one fixture on the large barrel and one
on the small one; L is the standard supporting the bearings of the wheel
shaft B, and the upper end of the barrel shaft, which is stepped into a lower
bearing in the deck. From the description of the apparatus at Figs. 1 and 2,
the action of this will be readily followed out in the Drawings and easily
understood.
The apparatus, as before mentioned, stands of, itself at any point to which
it may be turned, and holds the rudder at any inclination to the line of the
keel, and so relieves the steersman from strain on his arms, when the rudder
is either partially or hard over, besides which, by making the barrels with
double inclines, the large one being largest in the middle, and the small one
opposite (smallest in the middle), the effect of which is that when the greatest
strain is exerted on the rudder, the chain will lead off the largest part of the
small barrel and on the smallest part of the large one, whereby a greater
multiple of power is derived than when leading off and on at the extremes of
the diameters.
Fig. 5 represents a transverse view of a ship's deck, with the steering wheel
and barrel and chains, leading to the sides of the ship somewhat in the ordi-
nary fashion, while Fig. 6 is a plan of the same; I is the tiller, which with
the two chains M, leading through blocks at the sides of the deck, are like
ordinary steering gear, but these chains, instead of passing to the barrel on the
steering wheel shaft, simply terminate in two blocks m, m, through which
blocks the endless chain H of the compound barrel is rove. The chain H
acts on the blocks m, m, by reason of the motion of the chain barrels, precisely
in the manner described with reference to the sheaves on the yoke head I;
the bight of the chain H on the one block m being given out, while the other
is shortened and taken up, and so pulling on the one part of chain, say M',
while the other M is slacked out, and thereby actuating the tiller and rudder.
The pullies or sheaves p, p, p, p, are mere fixed guides for conducting the
chains H, H to the barrel and blocks m, m.
Fig. 7. represents a side elevation, Fig. 8 an end view, and Fig. 9 a plan,
of another arrangement of the differential barrels and chain gear, arranged

page_text: according to my Invention. In this case, instead of barrels, two simple whelp
wheels or bosses are used, a large and a small one, which, as well understood,
fit and grip the links of a chain so as to prevent it slipping, by this means it
is sufficient that the bights of the chain simply pass over, and are held taut on
the periphery of such wheels.
In the apparatus shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the steering wheel, shaft B,
& bearings C, C, yoke I, and its chain sheaves are the same as described in
Figs. 1 and 2, but with the chain whelp, wheels, or barrels, fixed in the
steering wheel, shaft B, like the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6, also the
chain H is an endless chain, two bights being rove round the sheaves in the
ends of the yoke I on the rudder head, while the bights which strain in the
opposite direction are over the whelp wheels Q, Q, as seen. Turning or guiding
pullies s, s, s, s, are fixed to or near the deck, which lead the chains as desired';
and it will be observed in the plan, Fig. 9, that the parts of the chains leading
from the small barrel or whelp are crossed, and pass over to the opposite sides
to that from which they leave the small barrel or whelp, & after passing round
the sheaves in yoke I, lead on the opposite diameters of the large whelp or
barrel.
By turning the steering wheel the yoke head I will be inclined in one direc-
sion or the other, (by reason of the differential motion communicated to the
chain H, as before described,) according to the direction of motion of the
steering wheel, and so actuating the rudder.
Fig. 10 represents an elevation, and Fig. 11 a plan of another arrange-
ment in which the whole of the apparatus is mounted on the rudder head
with the exception of two turning pullies or blocks t, t, fixed at the
sides of the deck. In this apparatus the steering wheel A and whelp
wheels F, G, are mounted on a socket or tube turning on a stud fixed on
the rudder head, the steering wheel as seen being in a horizontal position.
On the tiller R are mounted on studs four turning pullies, over which the
endless chain H is conducted in two bights, on to the blocks t fixed on either
side of the ship. The chain H is endless as before-mentioned, and in leading
from the small whelp wheel is crossed and conducted over the turning pullies, as
distinctly seen in the plan Fig. 11. The effect of rotating the steering wheel
and with it the whelp wheels F and G fixed thereto, is to gather up more of
the chain by the large whelp on the one side of the ship, (say the port side,)
than is given out at same side by the small whelp wheel, and the delivery of
an excess of chain on the starboard side, the consequence of which is that the
bight of the chain on the port side becomes shortened and the tiller R carried

page_text: over to that side, and the rudder so put a-port. The reverse motion of
the steering wheel in same manner carries the tiller over on the starboard
side and the helm is so put a-starboård.
An infinite variety of modifications may be suggested, but I think the fore-
going illustrations sufficient, and which I believe to be the best means of
carrying my Invention into practical effect.
The second part of my Invention which relates to auxiliary steering appa-
ratus is represented in Figs. 12 and 13; Fig. 12 being a stern view of a ship
fitted according to my Invention, and Fig. 13 a side view of the same.
T is a
suitable shaft carried through or near the dead wood of the ship, it is suitably
supported by bearings in which it is free to rotate in the middle and at either
end, said bearings being supported and stayed by stays V; W is a worm
wheel fixed on the middle of the shaft, and X a worm gearing thereon fixed on
the shaft Y leading up to the deck or other convenient position for giving motion
thereto by a lever, handle, or otherwise. On shaft T, I fix flat plates S inclined
to the shaft T as seen in the stern view Fig. 12; when these plates are in the
upright position shown dotted in Figs. 12 & 13, they produce no steering effect;
simply presenting their edges to cut through the water by the progress of the
vessel. When it is desired to steer the ship or assist the steerage by this appa-
ratus the shaft T is rotated a quarter of a revolution more or less, when the
plates will present surfaces inclined to the onward motion of the ship and will
have a greater or less steering effect, the action being somewhat like that of
the water on the ordinary rudder, and will be to the port or starboard according
to the direction in which the shaft T is turned. One or more shafts T with
inclined plates may be used for steering as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Sinclair Robson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
THOMAS GLAHOLM.
SAM. S. ROBSON. (L.S.)