IMPROVED MODES OF ATTACHING RUDDERS TO FLOATING VESSELS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Nugent Nixon, of Ramsgate, in the
County of Kent, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MODES OF
ATTACHING RUDDERS TO FLOATING VESSELS."
Sealed the 7th November 1854, and dated the 12th May 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Nugent Nixon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th May 1854.
I, CHRISTOPHER NUGENT NIXON, of Ramsgate, in the County of Kent,
Gent", do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
MODES OF ATTACHING RUDDERS TO FLOATING VESSELS" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of certain modes of attaching the rudders so that
they can be readily shipped or unshipped when necessary.
1stly, with ships. Into the face of the stern-post, where the rudder is usually
hinged, is formed or affixed a groove or socket, with a narrow mouth or opening
in front. The groove or socket may be entire from top to bottom, or may be
divided into two or more sections or parts. Into this groove or socket a bar
of similar form, and which is attached to or forms part of the hinge, is fitted, so
as to slide up and down, and admits of the rudder being readily shipped and
unshipped when necessary. Or, in place of having a groove in the face of the
stern-post, I attach to the hinge of the rudder an elongated spanner or clip,
which slides up and down upon the stern-post, either in grooves or upon

page_text: flanges. The spanner or clip may be in one or more parts, as in the case of
the sockets above mentioned.
2ndly, with smaller vessels.-In place of hinging the rudder to a sliding
bar or sliding groove or spanners, as above described, I attach a bar or pin to
the rudder by means of grooves and tongues, feathers or clips, at the top,
bottom, and middle of the said pin or bar, intermediate openings being left
between the same and the back of the rudder, for the sides of the grooves on
the stern-post to pass when the rudder is moved to the right or left. In or to
the stern-post I form or attach grooves or sockets, similar to those before men-
tioned, but with intermediate spaces left for the tongues or clips of the bar
attached to the rudder to pass, sufficient space being left to allow the rudder
to be partially raised in any position, and to be readily unshipped and
re-shipped when necessary..
The hinge bar or pin last mentioned may be made fast to the stern-post
and-the sockets attached to the rudder; in either case the pin can be let
into a spur from the keel at the bottom of the vessel.
3rdly, with boats. By this mode of letting the hinge pin into the spur of
the keel, and securing the same at top by a sliding eye and ring or other
similar contrivance, and by an eye and straps fixed near the bottom, and
hinge sockets attached to the rudder, similar facilities for raising and
lowering, and shipping and unshipping the same, are obtained.
I make the hinges, bars, sockets, pins, &c. of galvanized iron, or other
suitable metal or.material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Christopher Nugent Nixon in the Great Seal Patent Office 25
on the 11th November 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHRISTOPHER
NUGENT NIXON, of Ramsgate, in the County of Kent, Gentleman,-send
greeting.
3:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 30
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
'did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Christopher Nugent Nixon, Her special licence that I, the said Christopher:
Nugent Nixon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 35
I, the said Christopher Nugent. Nixon, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: 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
Invention for "IMPROVED MODES OF ATTACHING RUDDERS TO FLOATING VESSELS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Christopher Nugent
Nixon, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Christopher Nugent Nixon, 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:-
My Invention consists of certain modes of attaching rudders to floating
vessels, and is designed for the purpose of enabling such said rudders to be
more readily shipped and unshipped when necessary; and also to admit of
their rising on coming in contact with any obstacle upon which they may
accidentally strike, and thereby becoming lost or ineffective. The nature of
my Invention will, however, be more readily understood by the following
description thereof, and modes of applying the same to ships and boats :-
Firstly, as regards ships.-In or upon the face of the stern-post, where the
rudder is usually connected by a hinge or hinges, I either form or affix a
groove or socket, with a narrow mouth or opening in front thereof. This
groove or socket may either be formed entire from the top to the bottom, or
it may be divided into two or more sections or parts. Into the aforesaid
groove or socket I fit a bar or rod of metal of similar form thereto, which bar;
when attached to the said groove or socket, forms a hinge for the rudder to
turn upon and to slide up and down, and thus admits of the rudder being
readily shipped and unshipped when necessary. Or, instead of having a groove
in the face of the stern post, as above mentioned, I attach to the hinge of the
rudder an elongated spanner or clip, which is capable of sliding up and down
the stern-post, either in grooves or upon flanges fixed to or formed thereon;
and I form the said spanner or clip in one or more sections or parts, as in
the case of the sockets before mentioned.
Secondly, as regards smaller vessels. Instead of hinging the rudder to a
sliding bar; or to a sliding groove, or to spanners, as before stated, I attach a
bar, rod, or pin to the rudder-by means of grooves and tongues, feathers or clips;

page_text: on the
which are arranged and disposed at or near the top, the bottom, and the
middle of the said bar, rod, or pin, leaving intermediate openings or spaces
between such said grooves or tongues, feathers or clips, and the back of the
rudder; to enable the sides and edges of the grooves which are
stern-post of the vessel to pass freely around the aforesaid bar, rod, or pin
when the rudder is in action, and moving from right to left; or vice versa..
And I further attach to or form upon the stern-post grooves or sockets,
similar to those before mentioned with reference to ships, but with inter-
mediate openings or spaces between the said grooves or sockets, for the
tongues or clips of the bar, which is attached to the rudder, to pass freely
around the same when the rudder is in action, as before stated, taking care to
leave sufficient space between the tongues or clips of the said bar and the
grooves or sockets to allow the rudder to be partially raised or to be entirely
raised when it is required to be unship'd. If desirable, the bar, rod, or pin,
above mentioned, may be made fast to the stern-post, and the grooves or
sockets be attached to the rudder; in either case the bottom of the said bar,
rod, or pin can be let into a spar or projecting piece fixed to or formed upon
the bottom of the keel of the vessel. I would, however, remark, that I do
not intend to limit or confine myself to this mode of attaching rudders to
stern-posts of small vessels only, as the same may be employed with
advantage in ships or large vessels.
Thirdly, as regards boats.-I proceed in a similar manner. to that lastly above
stated, observing, that by the above mode of letting the bar or hinge-pin into
the spur of the keel of the boat, and securing the said pin at the top by a
sliding bar and ring, or other similar and suitable contrivance, and by an eye
and straps fixed near the bottom thereof, and by attaching hinge sockets to
the ruler, I obtain similar facilities to those above mentioned for raising and
lowering the rudder.
But in order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawing
hereunto annexed, and forming part of this my said Specification, and to
the numeral figures and letters of reference marked thereon respectively, as
follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. I is a side view, complete, of a rudder and stern-post, constructed
according to my said Invention, applicable to ships and other floating vessels;
Fig: 2 is a side view of the said rudder and stern-post detached from each other;
Fig. is a side view, complete, of a rudder and stern-post, constructed
according to my said Invention, applicable to ships and other floating vessels;
Fig: 2 is a side view of the said rudder and stern-post detached from each other;

page_text: Fig. 3 is an horizontal section through the line A, B, (at Fig. 1,) of the said
stern-post and rudder; Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 5 represents a
side view of another mode of constructing and attaching the rudder and stern-
post; Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 7 is a side view, complete, of another
mode of constructing and attaching the rudder & stern-post; Fig. 8 is a side
view of the said rudder and stern-post detached from each other; Fig. 9 is an
horizontal section through the line C, D, (at Fig. 8,) of the above stern-post and
rudder; Fig. 10 is a top plan view thereof; Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, exhibit four
views of another mode of constructing and attaching a rudder to a stern-post;
Fig. 11 is a side view, complete, of the said rudder & stern-post; Fig. 12 is
a side view of the rudder and stern-post detached from each other; Fig. 13
exhibits the removeable bearing, herein-after described, detached from the
rudder and stern-post; Fig. 14 is an horizontal section through the line E, F,
(at Fig. 11,) of the above rudder and stern-post; Figs. 15 to 21 inclusive,
exhibit several views of these modes of connecting together rudders and stern-
posts applicable to boats; Fig. 15 is a side view, complete, of one of the said
rudders and stern-posts; Fig. 16 is a side view of the same detached; Fig. 17
is an end elevation of the stern of a boat constructed according to my
Invention, the rudder being exhibited detached therefrom, as at Fig. 18, which
is a side view of said rudder; Fig. 19 is an horizontal section of the above
rudder and stern as they would appear when connected together; Fig. 20 is
a side view, complete, of a rudder and stern-post, constructed upon the same
principle as that exhibited at Figs. 7 & 8; Fig. 21 is an horizontal section
through the line I, K, at Fig. 20. At each of the foregoing Figs. I employ
similar letters of reference to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such
parts appear or can be seen at each of the said Figs. respectively.
At Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, A is the stern-post; B, the rudder; Care straps of
metal, with eyes D formed therein; these straps are fixed to the stern-post by
bolts or pins, as shewn: the three upper straps have slits formed therein to
allow the straps on the rudder to pass freely through the same. D' is a rod of
metal, to which are securely fixed in. any convenient manner straps a; these,
straps are fixed to the rudder by bolts or pins passed through the same: the
extreme upper and lower straps a' are formed with shoulders or collars, which
rest respectively upon the extreme upper and lower straps C', which are upon
the stern-post. The lower part of the stern-post has a spur or projecting piece
E fixed to or formed thereon, and the lower strap C₁ has a recess formed
therein to receive the lower end of the rod or hinge pin D, which rests and
turns therein when connected thereto and the rudder is in action. Fis a
plate or. cap hinged to the upper end of the stern-post, and serves to retain the

page_text: hinge pin D in proper position when the rudder is in use, a screwed pin or
bolt being passed through lugs c, which holds the plate or cap F close down to
the stern-post, and yet allows the rudder to rise, upon the bottom thereof being
accidentally struck. The difference of construction between the rudder and
stern-post lastly above described, and that exhibited at Fig. 5 & 6, is as
follows: At Figs. 2 & 3 the stern-post A has a T shaped piece of metal G
fixed thereto in any convenient manner, which extends nearly the whole length
of the stern-post. The part d of the piece of metal G is embraced by straps h,
fixed to or formed upon another piece of metal H, which is somewhat shorter
than the piece G, to allow the rudder to rise partially when in use, as before
stated. The upper and lower parts of the piece H are formed with projections
e, which fit and take into corresponding openings in metal straps f, which are
securely fixed by bolts or pins to the rudder at suitable distances asunder. The
part H¹ of the piece H has a hole formed through the same, which receives
a hinge pin I, which, passing through holes in the straps f, forms a hinge, and
thus connects the rudder and the stern-post together. The bottom of the pin I
rests in a spur or projecting piece K, and thus supports the rudder and allows
it to turn freely when in use, so that in the event of the bottom of the rudder
being accidentally struck, or coming into contact with any obstruction, the
rudder will rise partially by the sliding of the straps h upon the piece H. The
construction of the rudder and stern-post exhibited at Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, is as
follows: The face of the stern-post A has a metal groove i inserted therein,
and the sides and a portion of the stern-post have plates of metal L securely
fixed thereto, as shewn, so as to leave a long slit or opening g of nearly the
length of the stern-post. B is the rudder, to which is fixed by bolts and pins
three or more straps of metal M. These straps have holes formed therein, into
and through which the hinge pin N passes. This pin is formed with a T shaped
projection, extending between the upper and lower straps M, and the lower
end of the hinge pin N takes into a hole in a metal plate fixed upon the
spur
of the stern-post, as exhibited; thus it will be seen-that-by-inserting the
Tshaped projection of the hinge pin N into the groove i, the rudder may be
readily connected to the stern-post, which is secured thereto by a hinged plate
or cap k, in which there is a hole, which passes over the top of the hinge pin
N; and finally a pin or screw is passed through the said pin, which keeps
the plate or cap close down upon the top of the stern-post, sufficient space
being left between the upper strap M on the rudder and the plate or cap k to
allow the rudder to rise and fall, as before stated. I would here remark, that
instead of forming a groove in the stern-post and attaching a hinge pin to the
rudder, the hinge pin may be made with a clip piece, of the same length as

page_text: the T shaped piece, and a T shaped piece be fixed to the stern-post, in a some-
what similar manner and upon the same principle as the arrangement before
described with reference to Figs. 3 & 4. And as regards the construction of
the rudder and stern-post exhibited at Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, it is as follows:-
To the stern-post A a hinge pin O is securely connected by straps of. metal·
fixed thereto. The upper part of the stern-post has plates of metal m fixed
to the sides thereof, said plates being bent, so as to embrace a portion of the
front of the stern, and thus form a slit or opening opposite to a groove n in the
upper part of the stern-post; into this groove a piece of metal P, (shewn de-
tached at Fig. 13,) takes and fits, the:
he same being formed with eyes o, which pass
over the upper, part of the hinge pin, and thus form rests for the upper straps
on the rudder, and serve to strengthen the pin when the rudder B is connected
thereto by the straps Q, which are fixed thereto. The-upper end of the stern-
post is also furnished with a plate or cap and pin or screw, for keeping the
rudder in its proper position, and allowing it to rise partially, when necessary,
as before stated.. The construction of the rudder and stern-post exhibited at
Figs. 15 and.16, is as follows:-To-the stern-post A of a boat I affix by screws
or other convenient means a tube of metal A³, with slits and openings 1 and 2
therein, the bottom of said tube resting upon or in a spur or projection 3
fixed to or formed upon the stern-post; B is the rudder, to which I fix straps
of metal 5 and 6, which have short hinge pins 7 and 8 fixed to or formed
thereon, or it may be one long hinge pin. These pins fit and slide and turn in
the said tube, and the shoulder of the upper pin 7 rests upon the cap 9,
which is hinged to the top of the stern-post, as shewn; the lower pin together
with the rudder being free to move from right to left, by cutting a piece out
of the tube, as at 2. And as regards the arrangement exhibited at Figs. 17,
18, 19, it is as follows:-To the stern of the boat I securely fix a piece of
metal R, of the shape exhibited at Fig. 17, and I securely fix by straps pl
and screws or pins, a hinge pin p, shewn at Fig. 18, which fits into the piece
R, the straps p' passing through the slits 10 in the piece R; and I hollow out
the wood of the rudder, to allow it to clear the piece R when the rudder is in
action. And lastly, as regards the arrangement exhibited at Figs. 20 and 21,
it is simply a modification of the arrangement before described and repre-
sented at Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, the principal difference consisting in substituting a
sliding eye q in lieu of the removeable piece of metal P, at Fig. 13. It is
therefore only necessary to lift up the sliding piece q into the position denoted
by the dotted lines, to disconnect the rudder from the stern-post.
Having now. described the nature and object of my said Invention of
Improved Modes of attaching Rudders to Floating Vessels," and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be and may be performed, for carrying my said Inven-
tion into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I do not claim
the use of any particular material for the purposes of my said Invention, but
employ any suitable material; neither do I confine myself to the precise.modes
set forth, as the same may be varied without departing from the principle
thereof; but I claim as my Invention the modes above particularly described,
set forth, and represented, of attaching rudders to floating vessels, by con-
structing them in the manner and for the purposes above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Nugent Nixon, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, A.D. 1854.
Witness,
RICH. EDW. HAYWARD.
CHRISTR NUGENT (L.S.) NIXON.