IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthon Steenberg, Patent Agent, of Copenhagen, Denmark,
A com-
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS."
munication from Etatsraad W. Wain, of Copenhagen, in the Kingdom of
Denmark.
Sealed the 6th October 1877, and dated the 13th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthon Steenberg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1877.
ANTHON STEENBERG, Patent Agent, of Copenhagen, Denmark.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEERING APPARATUS." A communication from Etatsraad W. Wain, of Copen-
hagen, in the Kingdom of Denmark.
This Invention relates to steering apparatus, whether by steam or by hand power,
the object being to ensure the efficient action of the helm in all its positions.
Supposing the steering apparatus to be driven ordinarily by steam power, I
fit loosely upon the axle which carries the steering wheel, a worm wheel, into
which gears a worm keyed to a crank shaft that lies transversely of the steering
wheel shaft. This worm wheel carries on its nave a conical clutch, and fitted over
a feather carried by the steering wheel axle is the sliding counterpart of this clutch.
When the friction surfaces of this clutch are in contact the worm wheel will be
made fast to its axle. .
The crank shaft which carries the worm in gear with this worm wheel is con-
nected with the piston rod of one or a pair of steam cylinders, and receives rotary
motion therefrom in either direction, according to the will of the steersman, who,
by the rocking of a hand lever, admits steam to either side of the piston.
The steering wheel axle is fitted with a spur pinion which gears into a spur
wheel on a counter shaft; on this shaft is also keyed a double excentric chain pulley,
or two pulleys, counterparts the one of the other, and to these the chains leading
down to the helm are made fast. The excentricity of the pulleys is such relatively
the one to the other that when the helm is placed amidships the chain pulleys will
act with their largest radius, and when the helm is "put up" with their smaller

page_text: radius, thus an increasing effective force in the steering apparatus is obtained in
proportion to the increasing resistance on the helm.
When from any cause it is found desirable to detach the steain power from the
steering apparatus it is only necessary to slacken the clutch, and the steersman may
then by means of the ordinary hand wheel operate the apparatus. The axle of this
wheel may be caused to work an indicator, to shew to the steersman the position of
the rudder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Anthon Steenberg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
October 1877.
ANTHON STEENBERG, Patent Agent, of Copenhagen, Denmark.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEERING APPARATUS." A communication from Etatsraad W. Wain, of Copen-
hagen, in the Kingdom of Denmark.
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus which will admit of
being driven either by steam or by hand power, as found most convenient, and
which will ensure the efficient action of the helm in all its positions.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is an end elevation of my improved steering
apparatus; Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a
transverse vertical section of the apparatus.
In these Figures A is the steering wheel shaft or axle mounted in bearings in the
framing B; C is the ordinary steering wheel firmly secured to the end of the
shaft A. Fitted loosely to the shaft A is a worm wheel D, into which gears a
worm E keyed to a crank shaft F lying transversely of the steering wheel shaft,
and supported in bearings carried by the main framing. The worm wheel D carries
on its nave a conical clutch D₁, and fitted over a feather carried by the shaft A is
the sliding counterpart D of this clutch. The friction surfaces of this clutch are
brought into contact when desired by the lateral pressure of a hand wheel D*
against the sliding clutch D², the threaded nave of which hand wheel turns upon a
screw that forms a continuation of the shaft A beyond the sliding clutch. When
the friction surfaces are thus brought into contact the worm wheel D will be made
fast to the shaft A.
The crank shaft F which through the worm E serves to drive the shaft A, when
steam power is employed, is connected by links with the piston rods of a pair of
steam cylinders G, G, and receives rotary motion therefrom in either direction,
according to the will of the steersman, who, by the rocking of a hand lever H
in connection with the ordinary link motion, admits steam to either side of the
pistons.
The steering wheel axle is fitted with a spur pinion I which gears into a spur
wheel K on a countershaft K¹, for the purpose of transmitting axial motion to that
shaft. On the shaft K¹ is also keyed a double excentric chain pulley, or two
pulleys L, L, counterparts the one of the other, and to these the chains leading
down to the helm are made fast respectively at the points 1, 1. The excentricity of
these pulleys is such relatively the one to the other that when the helm is placed
amidships the chain pulleys will act with their largest radius, and when the helm is
"put up," with their smaller radius; thus an increasing effective force in the
steering apparatus is obtained in proportion to the increasing resistance on the
helm.
When the apparatus is in the position shewn at Fig. 2, that is, with the friction
clutch in action, the steering will be effected by steam power, the steersman directing
the action of the apparatus by means of the handle H. When however from any
cause it is found desirable to detach the steam power from the steering apparatus it
is only necessary to slacken the clutch by turning the hand wheel D³, and the

page_text: steersman may then by means of the ordinary steering wheel C operate_the
apparatus. The steering wheel axle may, if thought desirable, be caused to work an
indicator, to show to the steersman the position of the rudder.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in Steering
Apparatus" as communicated to me as aforesaid, and explained the manner of
carrying the saine into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part
recited Letters Patent I claim, the arrangement of steering apparatus, above described,
which admits of the employment of stenin or of hand power for the working of the
helm, as circumstances may dictate.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anthon Steenberg, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
MAYAN
AARDVAN