IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE FOR STEERING VESSELS IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR FOR A LIFE RAFT
Year: 1883

page_text: -
• LETTERS PATENT to John Philp and Walter Forrester both of Liverpool in
the county of Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
APPLICABLE FOR STEERING VESSELS IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR FOR A LIFE
RAFT
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Philp and Walter
Forrester at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April
1883.
JOHN PHILP and WALTER FORRESTER both of Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE FOR STEERING VESSELS IN
CASE OF ACCIDENT OR FOR A LIFE RAFT
"
When a ship or ocean steamer breaks its rudder it is practically helpless. The
accident usually takes place in a stormn when there is no possibility of rigging up a
temporary rudder and the only thing to do if there be sea room is to drive before
the wind
Now our invention is designed to be immediately available as a steering
apparatus nearly if not quite equal in efficiency to the original rudder. It consists
in a float or pontoon elliptical in plan with sharp ends and preferably rectangular
in longitudinal vertical section. To this above and below are firmly and rigidly
fixed or secured a little forward of the centre line of the pontoon a pair of cross
heads projecting a little beyond the pontoon sides. To the ends of these cross-
heads two links are pivoted connected by chains to windlasses or blocks on opposite
sides of the ship; by hauling or letting out on these chains the pontoon's axis is
brought oblique to that of the ship, and it flies out to the side like a "fishing
otter" through the force of the water drawing the stern of the ship round after it
until the right course is obtained when the axes of the ship and pontoon, are again
allowed to coincide. In this way by regulating the length of the chains the vessel
is steered.

page_text: To prevent the pontoon swivelling right round, besides it being a little longer
aft the crossheads than forward of them, a stop is placed in the forward end which
comes in contact with the draft links when the pontoon is much askew.
The pontoon is divided into compartments and supplied with water ballast so as
to sink nearly level with the water. When not in use as a rudder by the addition
of a few life lines it forms an excellent life raft. The way I prefer to attach the
crosshead to the pontoon is to bolt it down to the pontoon in the centre, so that it
can swivel and hold it firmly at the sides, in spring or other clip, and for additional
safety we link a couple of safety chains one from each end to rings on the pontoon
abaft the crosshead. The water ballast is placed in the lower compartment of the
pontoon and can be filled by withdrawing plugs in the bottom and allowing the air
to escape through an air pipe opening to the surface.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Philp and Walter Forrester in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th October 1883.
"
JOHN PHILP and WALTER FORRESTER, both of Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE FOR STEERING VESSELS IN
CASE OF ACCIDENT, OR FOR A LIFE-RAFT. "
When a ship or ocean steamer breaks its rudder it is practically helpless. The
accident usually takes place in a storm when there is no possibility of rigging up a
temporary rudder, and the only thing to do if there be sea room is to drive before
the wind.
Now our invention is designed to be immediately available as a steering
apparatus nearly if not quite equal in efficiency to the original rudder.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which-Fig. 1-is
an elevation, and Fig. 2-a plan showing the invention in action, Fig. 2-showing
the artificial rudder in two positions, namely when steering straight forward and
when "aport." Fig. 3-shows a side elevation, and Fig. 4-a plan of the rudder
from below.
In these A is a float or pontoon somewhat elliptical in plan but with sharp ends.
It is preferably rectangular in side elevation as shown, but other shapes could be
used. B B are two frames attached to the pontoon by pins C C in sockeus D D.
These fraines are prevented from coming too close to the pontoon while freo to
oscillate in the contrary direction, by means of stud E firmly fitted to frame Bas
shown. To the eyes F in frames B B ropes or chains G are attached and carried to
winches, blocks, or other running gear on each side of the stern of the vessel. The
lower part H of the pontoon is divided from the rest by a diaphragm I shown in
dotted lines, and is provided with a manhole through which water ballast can be
admitted, the air escaping by conduit J passing through the upper chamber to the
air above the pontoon. When used as a life raft a cover is bolted over the man-hole
in the usual way as shown at K' in the drawings. K is the man-hole for entering
the air chamber of the pontoon; a similar man-hole is placed at K' in the ballast
chamber bottom.
LLL L are four eye-bolts, one at each corner. By tying a rope or chain by
four other chains of equal length to these eye-bolts the float at once becomes a drag
or sheet anchor. These eye-bolts are all so useful to attach life lines to when the
pontoon is used as a life-raft.
The mode of action is shown on Fig. 2.
When the ship is in its right course the pontoon is towed astern with equal
lengths of line on each frame but if required to steer to port or starboard, the port
or starboard line is lengthened relatively to the other, and the pontoon's axis is
brought oblique to the ship and it flies out to the side like a fishing otter through
the force of the water drawing the stern of the ship round after it, until the right
course is obtained, when the axes of the ship and pontoon are again allowed to
coincide. In this way by regulating the length of the chains the vessel is steered.
To prevent the pontoon swivelling right round, besides it being a little longer
aft the attachments than forward of them, the stud or stop E is placed in the
forward end or on the draught links as shown, which comes in contact with the
draught links B or the pontoon as the case may be when the pontoon is much
skew.
When the pontoon is not in use a platform is secured to it and life lines, and the
pontoon is laid on its side with the platform on top forming a very convenient
eat or life raft. If required for a steering apparatus or sheet anchor the cover is
emoved.

page_text: It will be obvious that though the plan of attachment shown in the drawings is
he best known to us, the invention would work more or less efficiently with many
ther forms of fastening device differing in degree to that shown, and we do not
ind ourselves therefore to the exact details set forth in the drawings, but what we
elieve to be new and desire to protect under Lotter Patent is:-
st. The floating rudder formed of a pontoon or float towed behind the ship by
lines attached to it in such manner that when said lines are made of equal
length the pontoon shall show very small resistance to the water, but when
one line is lengthened relatively to the other the pontoon shall dart out to one
side and present its broad surface obliquely to the water, thereby causing a
great resistance tending to steer the ship round, substantially as specified.
nd. In a floating rudder for the purposes described, the nearly elliptical doublo
pointed borizontal section and the nearly or quite rectangular longitudinal
section divided into air and ballast compartments, substantially as described.
rd. In combination with a floating rudder substantially as described, eye-bolts or
rings or their equivalents at or near the corners, to which chains or ropes can
be attached so as to convert it into a sheet anchor, or life-lines so as to convert
it into a life-raft, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Walter Forrester for and on behalf of myself and
he said John Philp have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of October
n the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
WALTER FORRESTER (L.S.)