Improved Method of and Arrangements for Steering Ships.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 12th Feb., 1898.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Arrangements for Steering Ships.
I, WILHELM KUss, of Crossan, a/o, Germany, Shipowner, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved method of steering ships. The method
consists in causing quantities of water, gas, or other fluid, to be expelled or discharged
by means of a propeller, pump, or other well known and suitable device, through
openings made in the side of the ship. The openings may be made at either or
both ends of the ship and they are so constructed that the water, gas, ce other fluid,
used for steering purposes is expelled or discharged at right angles to the direction
of the keel of the vessel. When, for example, the water or gas is expelled or dis-
charged from both ends of the ship simultaneously and it is desired to turn the
ship's head to starboard, the discharges are so arranged as to be from the port side
of the stem and the starboard side of the stern. If it is desired to turn the ship's
head to port the direction of the discharges is reversed.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon:-
Fig. 1 is a side view of a vessel partly in section constructed in accordance with
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line - Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line y-y Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows in section a modified construction of the ship.
It is assumed that the vessel is propelled by means of a screw propeller situated
at the stern.
On the sea or in smooth river water the ordinary rudder m is used when it is not
required to turn the vessel rapidly but in narrow waterways or whenever it is found
necessary to keep out of the way of a ship going at full speed, either behind, or in
front, the small screw propellers a are brought into action.
The screw propellers a are located in passages b formed across the ship. c is the
shaft of the propellers which is rotated by means of bevel gearing d, e. The bevel
wheel e is mounted on the shaft f which is rotated by means of the wheels 9, h. The
wheel h is mounted loosely on the crank shaft of the main engine of the ship.
The crank shaft of the main engine is not as usual firmly connected to the propeller
shaft but is coupled thereto by means of the clutches , n, whenever the ship goes
ahead or astern. When it is desired to turn the ship rapidly the clutch n, which
forms an integral part of the clutch 7, is coupled to the loose toothed wheel h fitted
on the crank shaft i and the propellers a are thus set in motion by the main engine.
The clutches, n, are capable of sliding axially on a feather on the crank shaft
and are rotated thereby. According as the main engine is made to rotate to the
left or to the right hand the propellers a will turn in a corresponding direction
and steer the ship either to port or starboard.
A separate engine, as shown, may be used for driving the propellers a situated

page_text: in the forward part of the ship or separate engines may obviously be used for each
set of propellers instead of using the main engine for driving the rear set.
Fig. 4 shows a modified form of my invention in which cast iron or other pipes o
are used at one or both ends of the ship in place of the propellers a
and
passages b.
Through these pipes water or gas may be forced under pressure to turn-the ship
in a direction opposite to the direction of the outflow. The direction of the outflow
is or may be regulated by means of valves o¹.
For men of war and generally for large ships the method of steering before
described has this advantage, that fluid can be forced out fore and aft on the same
side of the ship and thus give the ship a lateral motion.
In the passage b, Fig. 3, a single propeller only may be used; such propeller
being actuated by means of suitable driving gear for the purpose of steering
the ship.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
consider novel and desire to claim is: -
1. The method of steering ships whereby water, gas, or other fluid, is expelled
or discharged at an angle to the direction of the keel of the vessel in such manner
that the fluid strikes against the water surrounding the ship and turns the latter
in the desired direction, substantially as herein before set forth.
2. A ship having one or more passages 6 across it, said passages having one or
more propellers located therein and revolved by driving gear, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1897
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.