IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA- RATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS, VESSELS, BOATS, AND TORPEDOES, AND FOR CHECKING THEIR SPEED
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bridges Heathorn, of Wilton Place, Knightsbridge,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS, VESSELS, BOATS, AND TORPEDOES, AND FOR
CHECKING THEIR SPEED."
Sealed the 5th September 1879, and dated the 26th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th May 1879.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN, of Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS, VESSELS, BOATS,
AND TORPEDOES, AND FOR CHECKING THEIR SPEED."
This Invention has for its object the steering of ships, vessels, boats, and torpedoes,
when floating in or on the water, and for checking the speed of such ships, vessels,
or boats when necessary.
The Invention consists in providing the ship with two rudders placed either close
together or at some distance from each other. To the top of the rudder posts are
fixed two curved and slotted arms, and through these slots a vertical arm or stud
is free to travel. This stud or arm is fixed to one end of the tiller, which is
pivotted at or near its centre to a travelling nut worked by a horizontal screw.
The opposite end of the tiller on being moved to either one side or the other causes
the stud or vertical arm to press against the sides of the slots in the arms, and so
change the position of the rudders to starboard or larboard as the case may be.
In order to retard the motion of the vessel the screw before referred to is made
to revolve, whereby the position of the nut in relation to the slotted arms is changed,
and the change so effected causes the rudders to diverge to such an extent as to
offer great impediment to the continuance of the ship's course.
For boats' use, the arms fixed to the rudder posts may be worked by yoke lines as
usual.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1879.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN, of Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS, VESSELS, BOATS,
AND TORPEDOES, AND FOR CHECKING THEIR SPEED."
This Invention has for its object the steering of ships, vessels, boats, and torpedoes,
when floating in or on the water, and of checking the speed of such ships, vessels,
or boats when necessary.
The Invention consists in providing the ship with two rudders placed either close
together or at some distance from each other. To the top of the rudder posts are
fixed two curved and slotted arms, and through these slots a vertical arm or stud is
free to travel. This stud or arm is fixed to one end of the tiller, which is pivotted
at or near its centre to a travelling nut worked by a horizontal screw. The opposite
end of the tiller on being moved to either one side or the other causes the stud or
vertical arm to press against the sides of the slots in the arms, and so change the
position of the rudders to starboard or larboard as the case may be.
In order to retard the motion of the vessel the screw before referred to is made
to revolve, whereby the position of the nut in relation to the slotted arms is changed,
and the change so effected causes the rudders to diverge to such an extent as to
offer great impediment. to the continuance of the ship's course.
For boats' use the arms fixed to the rudder posts may be worked by yoke lines as
usual.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood, Drawings are
attached hereto, of which the following is a description:-Fig. 1 is a plan of the
stern of a vessel where the screw propeller A is placed abaft the rudders, which lie
close up to the keel when not acted upon by either of the slotted levers B, B, one
of which is fixed to the top of each rudder post. The shaft C is arranged so that
it can be drawn forward or thrust aft, either by manual, steam, or other suitable
power. When placed in the position shown the starboard rudder can be turned to
starboard, or the larboard rudder to larboard. If the shaft is drawn forward the
rudders become locked by the stud D taking into the recess E, and can move
neither way, but if the shaft is thrust further aft, as is shown in Fig. 3, the rudders
shown in dotted lines will be made to diverge in proportion to the extent of the
thrust, and when so operated upon will check the passage of the vessel. Ropes or
chains are fixed to the ends F, F, of the levers B, B, and are carried around suitable
sheaves to the shaft of the steering wheel. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, a
part of the bulwarks being removed to show the disposition of the levers and shaft,
Ġ being the rudder; Fig. 4 exhibits an arrangement of double rudders for rowing
boats, sailing craft, or vessels with twin screws. In the plan the levers B, B, drawn
in full lines, indicate their position and that of the rudders G, G, when closed, while
the dotted lines demonstrate the position they assume when the rudders are drawn
to one side. Fig. 5 is an elevation of Fig. 4, and Fig. is a plan like that of
Fig. 4, with the shaft C thrust to its extremity, so that the rudders G, G, diverge.
The handle H when pulled to the forward extremity locks the rudders, but when
thrust to the after extremity operates as in Fig. 6. An intermediate position of
the handle admits of both rudders being used for steering in the ordinary way.
Fig. 7 is a modification of the plan shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the steering being
done by the aid of the tiller M, while the position of the studs on the cross head Q,
in relation to the slotted levers so as to cause the rudders to diverge, is effected by
the screw L, which is turned by the hand wheel N in connection with a pair of
bevel wheels O and P; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a plan, in
which the rudders G, G, are placed one on each side of the propellor, the slotted
levers B, B, being fixed to the rudder posts as before. In this case there are two

page_text: wheels, one to steer with by means of the ropes or chains I, I, fastened to the ends
of the slotted levers, and the other wheel to operate upon the screw L by the
intermediate gearing K, Fig. 10, in order to change the position of the stud or
vertical aru in relation to the slotted levers, precisely in the same way as in the
plan herein referred to, only in this case the shaft C, which is an auxiliary tiller,
is thrust aft by means of the wheel and screw L, thus causing the rudders to
diverge, as is shown in Fig. 11, when it is necessary to check the vessel's passage;
Fig. 10 is a side elevation of Figs. 9 and 11; Fig. 12 is a plan wherein the rudders
are placed close together and abaft the propellor. In this arrangement there are
two wheels employed, one to steer with, and the other to give motion to the shaft
C for opening or closing the rudders. In Fig. 12 the rudders are shown closed,
and in Fig. 14 they are depicted as open or divergent, while Fig. 13 is a side
elevation of Figs. 12 and 14; Figs. 15 and 16 show the relative positions of the
rudders to the stern of the vessel when the propelling apparatus described in
the Specification referred to in my Letters Patent No. 939, dated March 8,
1878, is adopted. In each of the Figures similar letters relate to the same
parts.
Manual, steam, hydraulic, or other suitable power may be employed to actuate
any or all the moving parts of the apparatus.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements that I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The construction and application of slotted levers to the rudder posts, as
herein described and shown on the Drawings.
Secondly. The shaft C and screw L used in connection with the slotted levers
directly or through the intervention of an auxiliary tiller, as herein described and
shown on the Drawings.
Thirdly. The arrangement of slotted levers, whereby they may be operated upon
by ordinary yoke lines, as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
Fourthly. The use of two or more rudders applied to any part of the vessel, so
arranged as to progressively impede the ship's way, commencing at the lowest
angle of resistance to the water.
Fifthly. Placing double rudders one on each side of the propeller, as herein
described, and in such a manner as to make the water set in motion by the pro-
peller assist in steering.
Sixthly. The arrangement of double rudders, as before described, for the purpose
of assisting to maintain a vessel in an upright position when aground in a dry
harbour.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN. (LS.)