IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM STEERING ENGINES AND THEIR VALVE GEAR FOR SHIPS AND NAVIGABLE VESSELS."
Year: 1880

page_text: ss
LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wilden King, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, and Alfred Cliff, of Osborne Road, Forest Gate, in the County of
Essex, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO STEAM
STEERING ENGINES AND THEIR VALVE GEAR FOR SHIPS AND NAVIGABLE
VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wilden King &
Alfred Cliff at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June
1880.
CHARLES WILDEN KING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and ALFRED
CLIFF, of Osborne Road, Forest Gate, in the County of Essex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO STEAM STEERING ENGINES, AND THEIR VALVE GEAR, FOR
SHIPS AND NAVIGABLE VESSELS."
Our Invention has for its object the construction of a simple and reliable steam
steering engine of the self controlling type, or that type in which steam having
been given by the hand the engine automatically stops after having run the
required distance in either direction.
In carrying out our Invention, we, by preference, use an engine of the three
cylinder type, for example of the type patented to us, No. 1963, dated 16 May 1878.
Under the first part of this our present Invention we attach the three cylinder
engine to a frame in the form of a dished disc, the main shaft of the engine passing
through a stuffing box in the centre of the frame. Fixed onto the shaft is a small
eccentric, and round this eccentric and forming the strap thereof there is a toothed
spur wheel having, say, seventy six teeth. Outside this internal spur wheel is a
dished disc, or wheel with internal teeth, into which gear the teeth of the internal
spur wheel. The dished disc or wheel has, say, eighty teeth, and is attached to
and forms part of the barrel which carries the steering rope or chain leading to the
tiller or helm, which said barrel, with its disc or wheel is mounted loosely ou
the engine shaft between the dished frame and a standard bearing. The dished
frame is provided with two vertical guides, and the internal spur wheel is provided
with two horizontal guides. In each of these guides there is a guide block, namely,
one guide block common to one vertical guide in the frame and one horizontal
TD 031

page_text: guide in the spur wheel, and the other block common to the other vertical guide in
the frame, and the other horizontal guide in the spur wheel. The movement of the
internal spur wheel caused by the rotation of the eccentric on the engine shaft
causes the toothed dished disc, or wheel in connection with the chain barrel, to
rotate at a speed of one to twenty of the engine, that is with, say, eighty teeth on
the dished disc or wheel, and seventy six teeth on the internal spur wheel.
A modification consists of bolting the engine onto a fixed dished disc with
interior teeth. The shaft of the engine passes centrally through this disc and
carries a small fixed eccentric. Round this eccentric, and forming the strap thereof,
there is a double spur wheel of differential diameter, the inner wheel of which
works into the internal teeth of the fixed dished disc, and the outer wheel of
which works into the internal teeth of a second dished disc or wheel of larger
diameter than the first dished disc, and on which is mounted the barrel which
carries the rope or chain leading to the tiller.
Under the second part of this our Invention, the valve of the three cylinder
engine is of a circular type, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent
before referred to, and the reversing gear is of the type known as the wedge
motion. The wedge is attached to a hollow spindle with an external fine threaded
screw, and is carried by and over the engine shaft. On the screw of the hollow
spindle there is mounted a nut or block with a female screw corresponding with
the screw of the hollow spindle; and a male or external screw, of coarse pitch,
corresponding to a female screw in a barrel which is held in position between
suitable bearings, and upon which is mounted the hand steering wheel. The screw
block or nut travels on three fixed spindles, and the action is thus:-The outer
barrel with the coarse screw thread being actuated by the hand wheel, the nut or
block actuates the screwed hollow spindle, and thereby the wedge, and gives steam
in advance of the engine. The cut off is effected by the rotation of the engine
shaft which brings back the wedge to its central position. The travel of the block
or nut is sufficient for the engine to run over to port or starboard, as the case
may be.
A modification of the valve gear consists in having a spindle with a fine
threaded screw attached to the wedge and working into a female screw on the
blind end of a barrel on which a coarse screw is cut. This coarse screw is actuated
by a female screw on a fixed barrel which is actuated by the hand steering wheel
which is mounted on it.
In operation the turning of the hand wheel barrel moves the interior barrel, and
with it the wedge spindle and wedge in or out, as the case may be. The cut off is
effected by the rotation of the engine, which screws the wedge spindle back into
the barrel and brings the wedge into the central position, and thereby cuts off the
steam.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Wilden King & Alfred Cliff in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st December 1880.
CHARLES WILDEN KING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and ALFRED
CLIFF, of Osborne Road, Forest Gate, in the County of Essex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO STEAM STEERING ENGINES, AND THEIR VALVE GEAR FOR
SHIPS AND OTHER NAVIGABLE VESSELS."
Our Invention has for its object the construction of a simple and reliable steam
steering engine of the self controlling type, or that type in which steam having
been given by the hand the engine automatically stops after having run the
required distance in either direction, and the following is a full, clear, and exact
description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying three Sheets of
Drawings, making a part of this Specification, and to the letters and figures of
reference marked thereon, like letters and figures being used to denote the same or
corresponding parts throughout the various views.
In the carrying out of our Invention we, by preference, use an engine of the
three cylinder type, for example, of the type Patented to us, No. 1963, dated
16 May 1878.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a steam steering engine constructed according
to our Invention, and coming under the first part thereof, and provided with valve
gear under the second part therec
Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1.
The
Under the first part of this our Invention, we attach the three cylinder engine A
to a frame B. This frame B is constructed in the form of a dished disc, as shown
at Figure 1. The main shaft C of the engine A passes through a stuffing box C¹,
in the centre of the frame B. Fixed on to the shaft C there is an eccentric D, and
round this eccentric, and forming the strap thereof, there is a toothed spur wheel E
having, say, seventy six teeth. Outside the spur wheel E is a dished disc or
wheel F with internal teeth, into which gear the teeth of the spur wheel E.
dished disc or wheel F has, say, eighty teeth, and is attached to and forms part of
the barrel G which carries the steering rope or chain leading to the tiller or helm.
The barrel G, with its disc or wheel F, is mounted loosely on the engine shaft C,
between the dished frame B and the standard bearing H. The dished frame B is
provided with a guide J, into which takes the pin I on the toothed wheel E.
movement of the internal spur wheel E caused by the rotation of the eccentric D
by the engine shaft C causes the toothed disc or wheel F, in connection with the
chain barrel G, to rotate at a speed of one to twenty of the engine A; that is with
say eighty teeth on the wheel F, and seventy six teeth on the wheel E.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a modification of our Invention.
Figure 4 is an interior view of the frame B, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the eccentric D.
The
Upon reference it will be seen that this modification consists in bolting the
engine A onto the fixed dished disc B, having interior teeth. The shaft C of the
engine passes centrally through this disc B and carries the fixed eccentric D. Round
this eccentric D, and forming the strap thereof, there is a double spur wheel E, E¹,
of differential diameter. The inner wheel E of which works into the internal
teeth of the disc B, and the outer wheel E' of which works into the internal teeth

page_text: of a second dished disc or wheel F, and on which is mounted the barrel which
carries the rope or chain leading to the tiller.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the valve gear, and the second part of this our
Invention. The same is also illustrated at Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a plan of the valve disc.
Figure 8 is a section at A, A, Figure 6.
Under this the second part of our Invention the valve of the three cylinder
engine A is of the circular type, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent,
No. 1963, A.D. 1878, before referred to, and the reversing gear is of the type
known as the wedge motion.
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be seen that L is the valve; L¹, the valve
disc; M, the wedge. The wedge M is attached to or forms part of the hollow
spindle N, which has an external fine threaded screw, and is carried by an over
the engine shaft C", having travel in a keyway thereon. On the screwed hollow
spindle N there is mounted a nut or block P with a female screw corresponding
with the screw of the spindle N, and a male or external screw of course pitch
corresponding to a female screw in a barrel R, which is held in position between
suitable bearings, and upon which is mounted the hand steering wheel S. The
screw block or nut P travels on three fixed spindles T (see also Figure 8), and the
action is thus:-The outer barrel R with the coarse internal screw being actuated
by the hand wheel S, the nut or block P actuates the screw spindle N, and thereby
the wedge M, and gives steam in advance of the engine A. The cut off is effected
by the rotation of the engine shaft C, which brings back the wedge M to its
central position. The travel of the block or nut P in the barrel R, and on the
spindle N, is sufficient for the engine to run over to port or starboard, as the case
may be.
A modification of the valve gear consists in having a spindle with a fine threaded
screw attached to the wedge, and working into a female screw on the blind end of
a barrel on which a coarse screw is cut. This coarse screw is actuated by a female
screw on a fixed barrel, which is actuated by the hand steering wheel, which is
mounted on it.
In operation, the turning of the hand wheel barrel moves the interior barrel, and
with it the wedge spindle and wedge, in or out, as the case may be. The cut off is
effected by the rotation of the engine, which screws the wedge spindle back into
the barrel and brings the wedge into the central position, and thereby cuts off the
steam.
Figure 9 is an outside elevation illustrating our Invention, fitted with a worm
and wheel gear V; the chain barrel G in this case is mounted on the same shaft as
the worm wheel, as shown in the plan, Figure 10.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we
would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
Under the first part we claim,-
First. A steam steering engine consisting of a steam engine, such as A, attached
to a disc frame, such as B, the shaft of the engine C imparting motion by the
eccentric D to the wheels E, F, and thereby to the barrel G, as herein described, and
as shown at Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. The arrangement of the shaft C, eccentric D, disc B, wheels E, E³, and
disc F, substantially as herein described, and shown at Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the
Drawings hereto annexed.
Third. The arrangement of the engine A, and the valve gear shown at Figure 6,
with the worm and worm wheel U, and chain wheel or barrel G, substantially
as herein described, and shown at Figures 9 and 10 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.

page_text: Paro
Effecting the cut off or controlling movement requisite in steam steering engines
by means of a gear, such as herein described, and illustrated at Figures 1, 6, 7,
and 8 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Wilden King and Alfred Cliff, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
CHARLES WILDEN (L.S.) KING.
ALFRED
(L.S.) CLIFF.