Improvements in and relating to Steering Apparatus for Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steering Apparatus for Vessels.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from abroad by Julius Louis Hornig of No. 7 Mandeville
Avenue, Jersey City, in the County of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, one of the
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that kind of steering apparatus for vessels in which the
rudder of the vessel is moved by the admission to a cylinder of a fluid such as air,
steam, or water, under pressure, which acts upon a piston in the cylinder and
connected with the rudder, so as to move the same, the admission of the fluid to the
cylinder being controlled by a band operated valve. One object of the inventor is
to provide a convenient and simple arrangement of apparatus, by means of which
the valve will be brought back to its position of closing the cylinder ports by the
movement of the rudder, so that upon the stoppage of the movement of the steering
wheel or handle which controls the valve, such valve will be at once returned to its
closing position. A further object is to so combine the power-steering apparatus
with the hand steering apparatus that if at any time the power apparatus becomes
inoperative, or if for any other reason it is desired not to use it, the hand apparatas
may be readily used instead.
Another object is to so construct and arrange the fluid pressure motor which moves
the rudder that less space will be required for it than heretofore, and so that the
connections between it and the rudder will be greatly simplified.
In carrying out the first two objects above named, the inventor provides a fluid
pressure motor consisting of a suitable case or cylinder within which is a moveable
body or piston connected with the rudder so as to move the same, and having a
valve which controlls the admission and exit of the fluid on one side or the other of
the moving body, whereby such body is moved and turns the rudder in the required
direction. He also connects with the rudder a drum, having hand wheels for turning
it, the connection being by suitable ropes or chains passing over the drum and
connected with the rudder. The power steering wheel or handle is placed on a shaft,
which has bearings at one end in the side of a suitable box having a removeable
cover, and at its other end in the centre of a bevel gear wheel, which is placed on the
shaft of the hand drum, with which the shaft of the power-steering wheel is in line,
but not in mechanical connection. Upon the said power steering shaft is a bevel gear
wheel, and also a loose wheel provided with spokes and having teeth on its lower
side, which engage with a third bevel gear wheel placed on a vertical shaft. Upon
one of the spokes of the said loose wheel is loosely mounted a fourth bevel gear
wheel, which engages with both the gear wheels on the drum shaft and the power
steering shaft. This furnishes an epicyclic train of gearing, in which the turning of
the loose spoked wheel is due to the motion of the bevel gear wheel on its spoke,
which motion is dependent on the relative motions of the gear wheels on the drum
shaft and the power steering shaft, and the turning of the said loose spoked wheel
turns the gear wheel that is placed on the vertical shaft. The said vertical shaft
usually extends down through the deck of the vessel, and is provided at its lower end
with a pulley, from which a chain or cord extends to a pulley on a shaft geared or
connected with the valve rod of the motor. The said vertical shaft is enclosed in a
hollow shaft, which has a handle for turning it, and which carries a pulley, from which
a chain or cord extends to a shaft or spindle, which is connected with relief cocks or
valves in the ends of the cylinder, and to a valve or cock in the inlet pipe of the
cylinder, so that by turning the said hollow shaft the relief cocks and inlet cock are

page_text: To move the rudder, the operator moves his power steering wheel, and since the
hand steering drum is at this time stationary, this motion is communicated to the
vertical shaft and thence to the valve rod, and the valve is moved so as to affect
the pressure in the cylinder and move the piston therein, and this motion will be
transmitted to the rudder. The rudder being however also connected with the hand
drum, snch drum is now moved and the gear wheel on its shaft moves with it. So
long as this gear wheel and that on the power shaft move at the same speed, the loose
spoked wheel evidently will not turn, but when the helmsman stops moving the power
wheel, the continued movement of the piston will act through the rudder and the
hand drum and cause the loose wheel to turn, so that the valve will be brought back
to its closing position again, and all motion will be stopped. So long as the helms:nan
continues the movement of the power steering wheel, the valve will be kept steadily
in the same position, it being at first moved to the desired position, because the power
wheel begins to move before the piston does. The helmsinan can always see what is
the position of the rudder by observing the position of the band drum, and the loose
wheel is provided with a finger or projection extending through a slot in the case, so
that by observing its position, the helmsman can always determine what is the position
of the valve.
If for any reason it is required to steer by hand instead of by power, the operator
turns the handle of the hollow shaft, which is placed so as to be conveniently accessible,
and so closes the valve in the inlet pipe of the cylinder and opens the relief valves
at the end of the cylinder, so that there can be no pressure in the cylinder to interfere
with the hand steering, and such hand steering is then accomplished by means of the
hand wheels attached to the drum in the ordinary manner.
It has been usual heretofore in steering by power to use a piston which will move
back and forth in a straight line in the cylinder, the piston rod being connected with
the rudder so that this rectilinear movement of the piston is communicated to the
rudder to turn it. The features above described may be used with arrangements of
this character. The inventor prefers however to employ another form of motor,
which forms a further feature of this invention. The old form of motor has the
disadvantage of requiring too much room for the straight moving piston rod, which
.must move a long distance across the vessel to give the full movement to the rudder;
and it also required the placing of the motor at some distance from the rudder and
the use of ropes or chains extending from the piston rod to the rudder to communi-
cate the motion thereto. This inventor provides a motor which has a motion in a
curved line, that is to say, similar to that which is to be given to the rudder, so that
such motor can be attached directly to the rudder post if desired, or coupled to it in
any suitable way, whereby space is saved and the use of the rope or chain gearing is
avoided. Such motor is a pendulum engine or motor, that is, one whose moving part
is a pivotted fan, piston, or other hody, placed in a tight enclosing case and moved by
fluid pressure with a pendulum movement on its pivot, which movement is of course
similar to that required for the rudder, and therefore enables the piston or fan to be
coupled directly to the rudder.
It is evident that such a motor may assume various different forms. One form
which the inventor has found to be a suitable and convenient one consists of an air
tight case, which is fan shaped in horizontal section, and somewhat pear shaped in
vertical section. The case is made in two parts, an upper and a lower part, which
are bolted together and closed by said pieces. The case is open at its smaller end,
and here the upper and lower valves of the case terminate in sleeves, which form
bearings for the pivotted piston. Such piston consists of a central body or core, on
each side of which is a wide plate or flange, such plates nearly filling the case.
Between these plates is a packing ring, which is pressed outwardly by several flat
springs secured to the core. Such core is attached to, or made in one piece with, a
cylindrical hub, which fits in the bearings formed at the small end of the case.
Suitable packing rings and strips are placed at the points where they are necessary,
so that the case is closed air tight on all sides. The case should be bolte.! to the deck
of the vessel at a convenient point. At its larger end passages extend through its

page_text: walls to its interior on each side of the moving body, such passages extending from a
valve chest which contains a valve, whose function it is to open and close such passages,
so as to admit the air, steam, water, or other fluid on either side of the moving body.
The valve may be operated in the manner hereinbefore described, or in any other
suitable manner. The case should be provided with relief valves as already described.
The side plates of the piston have each a rib and in each side of the case there is a
recess opposite such rib, whereby near the end of the stroke on each side, an air
cushion is formed to stop the stroke gradually.
A moving fan or piston may be connected directly with the rudder, that is to say,
the rudder post may pass through the hub so as to turn therewith when the piston is
moved, or any suitable coupling or gearing may be used to connect the hub with the
rudder. A convenient mode of connection is by means of a tiller arın extending
from the rudder post back over the motor, and an arm extending from the motor hab
directly to such tiller arm and coupled to it at its inner end; by this arrangement the
steering may be performed by hand by means of the tiller arm or by a. hand steering
wheel connected with it in the manner above described or otherwise, when it is not
desired to use the power steering apparatus.
Dated this 1 of Wahu1880
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steering Apparatus for Vessels.
1, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from abroad by Julius Louis Hornig of No. 7 Mandeville
Avenue, Jersey City, in the County of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, one of the
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, 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 that kind of steering apparatus for vessels in which the
rudder of the vessel is moved by the admission to a cylinder of a fluid such as air,
steam, or water, under pressure, which acts upon a piston in the cylinder and
connected with the rudder so as to move the same, the admisssion of the fluid to the
cylinder being controlled by a hand operated valve. One object of the inventor is to
provide a convenient and simple arrangement of apparatus by means of which the
valve will be brought back to its position of closing the cylinder ports by the move-
ment of the rudder, so that upon the stoppage of the movement of the steering
wheel or handle which controls the valve, such valve will be at once returned to its
closing position. A further object is to so combine the power-steering apparatus
with the hand steering apparatus that if at any time the power apparatus becomes
inoperative, or if for any other reason it is desired not to use it, the hand apparatus
may be readily used instead.
Another object is to so construct and arrange the fluid pressure motor which moves
the rudder that less space will be required for it than heretofore, and so that the
connections between it and the rudder will be greatly simplified.
In carrying out the first two objects above named the inventor employs apparatus
such as is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1, is a general view of steering apparatus embodying this portion of the
invention.
Figure 2, a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section of the
operating parts; and
Figure 3, a cross section thereof.
A is the rudder and B the tiller attached to the rudder head. C is the fluid-
pressure cylinder within which is a piston, and from which the piston rod D D extends

page_text: at both ends. From the ends of the piston rod, chains E E extend passing over
sheaves a a to the tiller B, so that the movement of the piston moves the rudder in
one direction or the other.
F is the valve chest containing the controlling valve of which 6 is the valve-rod ;
c is the inlet and d the outlet for the air or other fluid; e e are relief cocks for the
ends of the cylinder and e¹ a cock in the inlet pipe.
G is a hand-steering drun having hand wheels H H for turning it, and connected
by a rope I running over sheaves ff to the tiller B.
K is the steering-wheel on a shaft g having its bearings in the end of a box or
case L, which has a removable cover, and in the bevel gear which is on the shaft i
of the hand-drum G, with which shaft g is in line, but not in mechanical connection.
Upon shaft g is a bevel gear wheel k, and also a wheel loose on the shaft, the lower
side of which has teeth engaging with a gear wheel m. Upon one of the spokes of
wheel is loosely mounted a bevel gear wheel n engaging with both gear wheels h
and K. A projection o on wheel m extends through a slot in the top of box L and
forms an indicator of position of the valve. This furnishes an epicyclic train of
gearing, the turning of the wheel 7 being due to the motion of the wheel », which is
dependant on the relative motions of wheels and K.
The shaft p of gear wheel m extends down preferably through the deck and has at
its lower end a pulley 9 from which a chain or cord M extends to a pulley r on a
spindle N having a pinion s which engages a rack on the valve rod 6 for moving the
same.
O is a casing for shaft p within which also is a hollow shaft t having a handle u
tp
for turning it and carrying a pulley v from which a chain or cord P extends to a
pulley won spindle w¹, the last being connected by rods x a with cocks e e and e².
The operation of this apparatus is as follows:
When it is desired to move the rudder the operator turns the wheel K in the
required direction whereby the wheel k is turned and this moves the wheel 1, shaft i
and wheel & being at this time stationary, and the motion is transmitted by wheel m
shaft p pulley
chain M, pulley r, spindle N and pinions to valve rod b and the
valve is moved so as to effect the pressure in the cylinder and move the piston
therein whose motion will be transmitted by piston rod D and chain E to the rudder.
It is evident that so long as the two gear wheels and turn at the same speed the
gear wheel n between them will be stationary. But if one moves when the other is
still, or if one moves faster than the other, the wheel n will have a bodily movement
which will move the wheel in one or the other direction. Thus when the piston
moves, its motion is transmitted through the rudder and through rope I to drum G,
shaft and wheel and so, as long as the helmsman keeps moving the wheel k in
conformity with h, the wheel / does not turn. But when he releases the wheel K or
holds it still, the piston, through drum G will cause the wheel to turn and the valve
will be brought back to its central or closing position again.
So long as the helmsman continues the movement of the wheel K the valve will
be kept steadily in the same position, it being at first moved to the desired position
because the wheel K begins to move before the piston does. The helmsman can
always see what is the position of the rudder by observing the position of the wheel H;
and he also has a constant indication of the position of the valve by the position of
the projection o.
If for any reason it is required to stear by hand instead of by power, the handle u
is turned, and by means of hollow shaft t and chain P the inlet cock e' is closed and
the relief cocks ee are opened so that the cylinder will not interfere with the hand
steering. Then the steering is accomplished by the hand wheels H H through rope
in the ordinary manner.
I
It will be seen that the whole apparatus is very conveniently arranged, so that the
operator of the power steering apparatus can readily control its use and substitute
the hand steering apparatus at any time; and so that such operator has always full
indication of the effect both on the valve and on the rudder of his movements of the
steering wheel.

page_text: All the operating parts are readily accessible for inspection or repair.
It has been usual heretofore in steering by power to use a piston which will move
back and forth in a straight line in the cylinder, the piston roll being connected with
the rudder so that this rectilinear movement of the piston is communicated to the
rudder to turn it. The features above described may be used with arrangements of
this character. The inventor prefers however to employ another form of motor which
forms a farther feature of this invention. The old form of motor has the disadvantage
of requiring too much room for the straight moving piston rod which must move a
long distance across the vessel to give the full movement to the rudder; and it also
required the placing of the motor at some distance from the rudder and the use of
ropes or chains extending from the piston rod to the rudder to communicate the
motion thereto. This inventor provides a motor which has a motion in a curved line,
that is to say, similar to that which is to be given to the rudder so that such inotor
can be attached directly to the rudder head if desired or coupled to it in any suitable
way, whereby space is savel and the use of the rope or chain gearing is avoided.
Such motor is a pendulum engine or motor, that is one whose moving part is a
pivoted fan, piston, or other boly placed in a tight enclosing case and moved by fluid
pressure with a pendulum movement on its pivot, which movement is of course
similar to that required for the rudder, and therefore enables the piston or fan to be
coupled directly to the rudder. It is evident that such a motor may assume various
different forms.
Apparatus embodying this portion of the invention is illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6
and 7 of the drawings.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the pendulum motor with the valve chest in
elevation.
Figure 5, a vertical longitudinal section thereof; and
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate different ways of connecting the motor with the rudder.
The motor consists of an airtight inclosing case CD which is fan-shaped in
horizontal section as shown in Figure 4 and pear-shaped in vertical section as seen
in Figure 5.
The case is made in two parts, an upper part C and lower part D, bolted together
at a and closed by side pieces E E. At its open end the upper and lower parts of
the case terminate in sleeves which are the bearings for the pivoted piston. The
parts C and D have strengthening ribs or flanges c c.
The moving portion or piston consists of a central body or core G on each side of
which is a wide plate or flange H, such plates nearly filling the case.
Between these plates is a suitable packing ring K which is constantly pressed
outwardly by flat springs d d secured to the core G.
The core G is connected with or preferably made in one piece with a cylindrical
hub F, having an enlarged middle part, and fitting in the bearings formed by the
sleeves bb. Packing rings M M' are placed between the sleeves band the shoulders
of the hub provided with set screws X X for adjusting their pressure and packing
strips N N are placed at the junctions of the side pieces EE with the moving hub.
It will be seen that the case is thus closed air tight on all sides.
The case is secured to the deck or elsewhere by bolts passing through lugs P P.
At the larger end of the case, passages ff extend through the walls thereof to the
interior of the case on each side of the moving body, from the valve chest R. This
chest contains a valve whose function it is to open and close the passages ff so as to
admit the air, steam, water or other fluid to either side of the moving body. S is
the valve stem extending from the valve chest and preferably arranged to be operated
from a distance in the manner above described or in any other suitable and convenient
manner by means of a cord passing over grooved wheel T which is geared to the
valve stem. U is the inlet and V the outlet pipe for the fluid.
W W are relief valves for the sides of the case whereby the same may be opened
to permit the steering to be done by hand if desired and as hereinbefore described.
The plates H H have each a rib and the side pieces Ę Ę of the case have each a

page_text: recess whereby near the end of the stroke on each side an air cushion is formed to
stop the stroke gradually.
The connection of the fan or piston to the rudder N may be made directly as in
Figure 6, the rudder head passing through the hub so as to turn therewith when the
piston moves; or the hub may be connected by any suitable coupling or gearing
with the rudder.
The inventor prefers the mode of connection illustrated in Figures 5 and 7, wherein
an arni or tiller B extends from the rudder head, and an arm A extends from the
pendulum hub parallel to the tiller and is coupled to it at k. It will be seen that by
this arrangement the steering may be performed by hand by means of the tiller or by
a wheel suitably connected therewith, when it is not desired to use the power steering
apparatus.
The pear-shape for the piston is found to be that which enables the packing strip K
to be applied to the best advantage, as it brings the ends of the packing strip K
close down to the body G of the piston, where they project into the bearing part and
enables the adjustable packing rings M to be placed over it on each side and prossed
closely down against it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The apparatus for steering vessels having in combination with the rudder the
fluid
pressure motor containing a piston connected with the rudder, the hand steering
wheel also connected with the rudder, the power steering wheel, a bevel gear on the
shaft of said hand steering wheel, a bevel gear on the shaft of said power steering
wheel, a bevel gear engaging with both said gears, a gear wheel carrying said. last
mentioned bevel gear, another gear wheel with which said carrying wheel engages,
and connections from the shaft of said last mentioned gear wheel to the valvo, which
controls the admission and outlet of fluid for the motor, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The combination of the rudder, the fluid pressure motor having a piston connected
with the rudder, the hand steering apparatus and the relief cocks and inlet valve for
the motor connected with a handle at the place where the steering is performed so as
to enable the hand steering apparatus to be used, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
'
3. The use in steering apparatus, in combination with a rudder, of a motor
consisting of a tight case which is fan-shaped or approximately so, and a movable
piston within such case which is pivoted at the apex or small end of the case so as to
be moved on its pivot in a curved line by the pressure in said case, said piston being
connected with the rudder head, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 1st day of November 1889.
SITI TA
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, Agents.