Improvements in Steering and Warping Gear.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1898-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1899
Improvements in Steering and Warping Gear.
I, ROBERT RICHARDSON, of 16, Jamieson Street, Govanhill, in the City of
Glasgow, Engineer, 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 steering and warping gear and it has for its object the
better construction of some of the parts whilst readily permitting of steering or
warping by steam or by hand power.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 being a
vertical section of the improved steering and warping gear and Figure 2 a dia-
grammatic plan of a portion of the same.
In carrying out the invention I key upon the lower end of the usual vertical
driving spindle A a toothed wheel B and gear said wheel to three or any convenient
number of toothed wheels C carried upon studs C in the separate plate cover D of
the chain drum casing D¹ so disposed as to balance the chain drum and distribute
the power transmitted thereto. These wheels C which in turn gear with the
internal teeth E¹ on the chain drum or gipsy wheel E are driven by the toothed
wheel B on the vertical spindle A which spindle receives its motion from connec-
tions hereinafter described. I form a footstep bearing F for the lower end of the
shaft which drives the chain drum in a boss G¹ on the bed plate G, said boss G¹
forming the stud upon which the boss of the chain drum E turns. Above the
toothed wheel B on the lower end of the vertical shaft A and on a sleeve H' turn-
ing freely thereon I form or secure the usual worm wheel H which
gears with
the worm I on the power shaft 1. This sleeve H is keyed to the boss J₁ of the
lower portion of the capstan J and is centred in the top cover D2 of the casing D¹,
the capstan J being made in two parts capable of separate movement but normally
secured together by a bolt K the vertical shaft A being carried up to near the
upper face of the capstan. On the upper end of the vertical shaft a disc L is
secured through a hole in which a bolt M is passed to a like hole J2 in the capstan J
when it is desired to carry the capstan J round with the vertical shaft A.
The gear is driven by a pair of horizontal steam reversing engines of common
type used in steering gear, the engines preferably being fore and aft, one to port
and one to starboard.
When it is desired to steer by steam power the bolt K engaging both portions
of the capstan J and the bolt M engaging the capstan and the disc L on the upper
end of the vertical shaft A are left in position and the power for turning the chain
drum E is thus transmitted through the worm wheel I and the capstan J to the
vertical shaft A. When it is desired to warp by steam power the pin M engaging
'

page_text: the capstan J and the disc L on the vertical shaft A is withdrawn, the pin M being
transferred to a hole in the plate cover D of the chain drum casing D¹ where it
engages with one of a series of holes E2 in the chain drum E to prevent jerking of
the drum E, and the capstan J alone is turned by means of the worm wheel H
whose sleeve H is keyed to the boss J1 of the capstan J. When warping by hand
both pins are withdrawn. Should it be desirable at any time to steer by hand
the bolt engaging the capstan J and the disc L on the vertical shaft A is left in
position but the bolt K securing together the lower and upper portions of the
capstan J is withdrawn, the power for turning the chain drum E being transmitted
through the capstan J and dise L by the capstan bars which ship in the upper half
of capstan J.
The usual handing wheel gear is provided for steering from the bridge, and on
the automatic gear spindle N a toothed wheel N is secured which gears with a
pinion on a stud 01 carried in the plate cover D of the chain drum casing D', said
pinion or a second pinion secured to it being geared to the internal teeth, or
as shewn, gearing with external teeth on the chain drum E so that the handing
gear is always in position. A hand wheel on the top of the automatic gear spindle N
allows of the controlling valve being moved in either direction for working the
capstan J by steam, no disconnecting gear being used.
As an alternative the pinions C instead of being carried on studs in the cover D
of the chain drum casing D¹ and gearing with internal teeth on the chain drum E
may be carried in studs upon the chain drum and gear with teeth upon the chain
drum casing.
The capstan J may be dispensed with, the other parts alone being used as a
steering gear, in which case the worm wheel H instead of being loose upon the
central shaft is keyed thereto.
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 I
claim is: -
1. The combination of parts constituting the combined steering and warping
gear hereinbefore described.
2. Combined steering and warping gear composed of a chain drum (E) centred
loosely upon a central boss in the chain drum casing (D¹) and gearing with toothed
pinions (C) carried in said casing (1)¹) and geared to a pinion (B) on the spindle (A)
a worm wheel (H) loosely centred upon said spindle (A) and driven from the worm
shaft (I) said worm wheel (H) having keyed upon its boss the lower portion of the
capstan (J) which is secured to the upper portion by a removable bolt (K) and a
disc (L) keyed upon the spindle (A) and capable of being secured to the capstan (J)
by a bolt (M) substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. Combined steering and warping gear composed of a chain drum (E) centred
loosely upon a central boss in the chain drum casing (D) toothed pinions (C)
carried on the chain drum (E) and gearing with teeth on the stationary casing
and with a pinion (B) on the spindle (A), a worm wheel (H) loosely centred upon
said spindle (A) and driven from the worm shaft (I) said worm wheel (H) having
keyed upon its boss the lower portion of the capstan (J) which is secured to the
upper portion by a removable bolt (K) and a disc (L) keyed upon the spindle (A)
and capable of being secured to the capstan by a bolt (M) substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
4. In steering gear, the combination with a chain drum (E). having internal
teeth, of three or more toothed pinions (C) disposed radially around the central
driving spindle (A) and centred on studs carried by the chain drum casing (D¹)
said pinions (C) gearing with a pinion (B) on the spindle (A) and with the internal
teeth on the chain drum (E) in order to balance the chain drum (E) and distribute
the power transmitted thereto substantially as described.
5. In steering gear, the combination with a chain drum (E) having internal
teeth, of three or more toothed pinions (C) disposed radially around the central
driving spindle (A) and centred loosely on studs carried by the chain drum (E)

page_text: said pinions (C) gearing with a pinion (B) on the spindle (A) and with teeth on
the stationary casing (D¹) in order to balance the chain drum (E) and distribute
the power transmitted thereto substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of October 1898.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agent for the Applicant.