IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS for STEERING VESSELS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Amherst Hawker Renton, of Buckingham Street,
Adelphi, in the City of Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS for STEERING
VESSELS." A communication from Hippolyte Perie, Emile Bellamy, and
Francois Sterling, jun', all of Bourdeaux, in France.
-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Amherst Hawker Renton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th August 1857.
I, AMHURST HAWKER RENTON, of Buckingham Street, Adelphi, in the City
of Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING:
VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved mechanical arrangement for com-
municating the motion of the ordinary steering wheel to the rudder of a ship,
by which a more effective action than has hitherto been attained is secured:
The object is effected by fixing in suitable bearings on a frame a horizontal
toothed wheel C, through the centre of which the upper part of the rudder
stem or axis A is inserted, and in which it is allowed to slide freely, being
made square (by preference) for that purpose. This wheel is moved by two

page_text: tangent or endless screws D, the one having right and the other left handed
threads, both of which, moving in the same direction, concur in turning the
spur wheel round its centre, at the same time that it holds it in any desired
position. On the ends of the screw axes are fixed spur wheels E, into which
an intermediate wheel F is geared, to communicate motion to both screw axes
simultaneously, and in the same direction. On one end of the axis of this
intermediate. wheel the steering wheel B is mounted, so that by turning the
steering wheel, the spur wheel on its axis causes the two spur wheels on the
screw axes together with their screws to turn simultaneously in the same
direction, communicating motion to the wheel on the rudder axis, and
consequently to the rudder, turning the latter either to starboard or port,
as may be desired, and retaining it in the position to which it has been thus
moved. By this arrangement, perfect control over the rudder, and security
and safety to the steersman is insured, the self-retaining action of the tangent
screws and the, wheel in gear with them preventing any possible action of the.
water upon the rudder from being transferred to the steering wheel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Amherst Hawker Renton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th February 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AMHERST.
HAWKER RENTON, of Buckingham Street, Adelphi, in the City of Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Amherst Hawker Renton, Her special licence, that I, the said Amherst
Hawker Renton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Amherst Hawker Renton, my executors, administrators, and
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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING VESSELS," a communication
from Hippolyte Perie, Emile Bellamy, and. Francois Sterling, jun", all of

page_text: Bourdeaux, in France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Amherst Hawker Renton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
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 immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Amherst Hawker Renton, 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 and accompanying Drawing (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to an improved mechanical arrangement for com-
municating the motion of the ordinary steering wheel to' the rudder of a ship,
by which a more effective action than has hitherto been obtained is secured.
The object is effected by operating upon the rudder stem by means of two
tangent or endless screws working into a suitable wheel, through which the
upper part of the rudder stem passes and slides freely, the screws being
actuated by suitable gearing, which connects them with the steering wheel, as
berein-after described. The screws (the threads of which are right and left
handed respectively) being worked simultaneously, and in the same direction,
retain the rudder in any desired position, at the same time that perfect control
is obtained over its motion, thereby protecting the steersman from danger
resulting from the action of the water upon the rudder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of the apparatus, the top casing being
shewn by dotted lines; Fig. 2, an external elevation of the same, having the
top casing also in dotted lines; Fig. 3, a plan of the top plate and niechanism,
the top casing being removed; Fig. 4, an external elevation of the apparatus
complete, as seen in use, the mechanism being entirely encased to protect it
from injury; Fig. 5 shows a modification of the same apparatus as applied to
an axis at the back instead of in the centre of the rudder post, such axis
being always coincident with the axes of the pintles or fixings of the rudder.
The same letters of reference apply to the same parts in all the Figures, so
that a general description will suffice.
A is a plate of metal upon which the mechanism is mounted, having stops
or abutments B, B, cast or fitted thereon, and faced with steel (hardened), for
the purpose of receiving the pressure or thrust, and reducing the friction of

page_text: the tangent or endless screws C, C, which with their axes D, D, turn in
suitable carriages E, E, cast or fitted to the plate A; F, F, are spur wheels
fixed on the ends of the screw axes, and are actuated by an intermediate
wheel G on the spindle or axis H, which turns in suitable carriages I, I, cast
or fitted to the plate A. A steering wheel K, with projecting handles on its
periphery, is fixed on the outer extremity of the axis H, and firmly secured by
a screw and nut; L is a toothed wheel, having inclined teeth on its circum-
ference (either wholly or partially) to suit and work into the threads of the
tangent screws C, C, which, it will be seen, are necessarily right and left
handed. The wheel L is kept in its place by the rim M on the plate A on
the under side, and by a carriage M³ on the upper side. The tangent screws
C, C, may have single, double, or triple threads, as may be found desirable,
for giving the requisite activity to the rudder. A convenient proportion will
be obtained if the mechanism be arranged to move the rudder through an arc
of ninety degrees by two revolutions of the steering wheel; N is a recess on
the centre of the plate A, for the purpose of forming a receptacle for grease or
oil, which is required for lubricating the threads of the screws C, C, the lower
side of which dipping into the grease or oil, carries it round, and transfers it
to the teeth of the wheel L, which is thus kept constantly lubricated; O is the
upper part of a rudder stem, on the top of which is fitted a strong metal cap P,
secured by screw bolts to straps Q, Q, Q, Q, having cramped ends let into the
rudder stem, and secured thereto by cross bolts, and nuts R, hoops or other
convenient means; S is an axis fixed in a socket in the cap P, and sliding
freely through the centre of the wheel L (which is made square by preference)
sufficient space being allowed between the socket of the cap P and the under
side of the plate A to admit of the accidental rising or displacement of the
rudder stem without its coming in contact with the plate A, and destroying
the mechanism. The whole of the machinery is enclosed in a case T, raised
on a suitable pedestal V, which may be secured to the deck of the vessel. The
position of the rudder may conveniently be indicated by a pointer W on the
top of the casing.
From the foregoing description of the proposed arrangement, it will be
obvious that perfect control and safety to the steersman is obtained by the
self-retaining action of the mechanism, which preserves the rudder in any
desired position, relieving the steersman from any strain produced by the
action of the water on the rudder.
Having now described my Invention, and the mode of putting the same in
practice, I would have it understood that I do not claim any of the individual

page_text: parts of the mechanism; but what I do claim is, the combination as described
and set forth in this Specification, by which I effect the movement of the rudder,
viz., by tangent screws actuating a toothed wheel on the axis of the rudder, as
described, whether such screws be actuated by toothed wheels as described, or
by any other convenient mode of producing their rotation.
In witness whereof, I, the said Amherst Hawker Renton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
AMHT H. RENTON. (L.s.)
Witness to the signature of Amh' H. Renton,
this 8th of Feb 1858,
W. C. HARRISON,
26, Stanley St., Pimlico.