AN IMPROVED METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS AND BOATS, WHICH CAN ALSO BE USED FOR PROPELLING THEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Johnston Russell, of Eagle Lodge, in the City and County
of Limerick, Ireland, Merchant, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF, AND APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS AND BOATS, WHICH CAN ALSO BE
USED FOR PROPELLING THEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Scaled the 30th September 1876, and dated the 17th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Johnston Russell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1876..
JOHNSTON RUSSELL, of Eagle Lodge, in the City and County of Limerick, Ireland,
Merchant "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS
AND BOATS, WHICH CAN ALSO BE USED FOR PROPELLING THEM AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
This Invention consists of one, two, three, four, or any number of arms, blades,
vanes, fans, or spokes of suitable shape and dimensions, fixed or adjusted at or on
the end of a shaft, or on a boss at the end of a shaft, passing through the stern post,
or at either side of the stern post, or through the cut water, or at either side of the
cut water, or at both the bow and the stern above or about the water line, into the
ships and boats, and connected with suitable machinery and steering apparatus, which
can be worked on or from the deck or other convenient place, and which arms, blades,
vanes, fans, or spokes being caused to revolve will steer the ships and boats in a much
more effective manner than a rudder.
By another arrangement any required number of arms, blades, vanes, fans, or
spokes may be fixed or adjusted on a pin or axle, which can be caused to revolve
by suitable machinery, the ends of the pin or axle being supported by and working
in a frame at the bow or at the stern, or at both the bow and stern.. Or the arms,
blades, vanes, fans, or spokes may be fixed or adjusted on a boss or nave, like a
wheel without its periphery, which can be caused to revolve by suitable machinery
on a pin or axle fixed on and supported by a frame at the bow or at the stern, or at
both the bow and stern. Or the boss or nave can be caused to revolve by suitable
machinery on a very strong pin or axle securely fastened at or by one of its ends to
the ships or boats, and without the frame before described. The pin or axle in the
one case, and the boss or nave in the other case, with the arms, blades, vanes, fans,
or spokes belonging to them, being placed above or about the water line, and being
caused to revolve by suitable machinery and steering apparatus as before described
will steer the ships and boats in a much more effective manner than a rudder.
[Price Gd.]

page_text: The arms, blades, vañes, fans, or spokes may be of various shapes and dimen-
sions, and they may be varied in their construction and in their shapes and dimen-
sions to suit the different shapes of bows and sterns in cases where the bows and
sterns are not inade or built specially for them, or altered or adapted to recieve
them. The arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes may be used with or without suit-
able floats or paddles-their shapes and dimensions being varied or regulated
accordingly. In some cases a wheel of suitable construction may be used, or a wheel
may be used with the spokes or arms carried through or beyond its periphery to
the required length, or an endless band or chain having suitable floats or paddles
may be used. The wheels or the endless bands or chains being fixed to the ships
and boats above or about the water line, and being caused to revolve, will steer the
ships and boats in the manner before described. The arms, blades, vanes, fans, or
spokes may have any required number of rings or bands, like the rings or bands of
a paddle wheel, to give them additional strength. The floats or paddles may
be made of either metal or wood, and they may be of various shapes and di-
mensions. The arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes may be constructed of suffi-
cient length to act effectively at all depths to which the ships and boats may be
immersed, or to effect the same purpose they may be so constructed as to be easily
made longer or shorter by suitable pieces or lengths which can be drawn out
and pushed in, in the manner of a telescope, or by the pieces or length sliding in
grooves or in eyes, or additional pieces or lengths may be fixed or adjusted in other
ways, and they may be made broader or narrower to give the exact power or re-
sistance to the water required. Or the arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes, and the
wheels may be so arranged as to be easily raised or lowered to suit the varying
depth of ships and boats when loaded and unloaded. To the arms, blades, vanes,
fans, or spokes, and to the wheels and to the endless bands or chains, or to any of
them, used in the manner described, or in any similar manner, for the purpose of
steering, I give the name of the steerer. "The steerer" may be worked by hand or
by steam, or by water power, or by compressed air, or by other powers, or by a
combination of powers.
For propelling the apparatus before described is fixed, adjusted, or placed on both
sides of ships and boats and is worked by any machinery.
The construction of "the steerer" and its shape and dimensions and the methods
of fixing and working it, and the purposes to which it may be applied, may be
varied in so many ways that they cannot be properly described in a Provisional
Specification, I therefore wish it to be distinctly understood that I have here only
given a general description of my Invention, and of some of the methods of construct-
ing, fixing, working, and applying it, and that I do not confine myself to the con-
struction, nor to the methods of fixing, working, and applying it, which I have
mentioned.
In my Final or Complete Specification I shall more particulary describe my
Invention and the methods of working it out.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Johnston Russell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
October 1876.
JOHNSTON RUSSELL, of Eagle Lodge, in the City and County of Limerick, Ireland,
Merchant. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STEERING SHIPS
AND BOATS, WHICH CAN ALSO BE USED FOR PROPELLING THEM AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
The objects and intentions of my Inventions are based on the consideration of the
purpose for which an apparatus for steering ships and boats is designed, namely, to
guide or turn them to cither side as quickly as inay be necessary, and to do this at

page_text: any time and under any circumstances. Now this cannot be done by the present
method of steering by means of a rudder, because the rudder can produce no effect of
or by itself, its efficiency depending entirely on the motion of the ships or boats,
and the consequent action of the water on the rudder. Without sufficient motion
in the ships or boats and the necessary action of the water the rudder is powerless,
and consequently useless. It must therefore be admitted that the rudder is defective
in consequence of its dependent action, and that from that cause it frequently fails
just at the time when its effect is most needed.
Now the object of this Invention is by an improved method of and apparatus for
steering to guide or turn ships and boats in a quicker and much more effective
manner than they can be guided or turned by the old method of steering, and
when necessary to turn them quickly quite round as on a pivot, and to do this at
any time and under any circumstances, and whether the ships and boats are in
motion or not. All this can be done by the apparatus which I call "the steerer"
because it has an immediate and powerful action quite independent of the motion
of the ships and boats. The apparatus acts effectively at either the stern or
the bow, but when one steerer is worked at the stern and another at the bow
at the same time, they act with very great effect. The advantages of the steerer
over the rudder are so great and so obvious. that it is quite unnecessary to enlarge
on them.
The nature of the Invention whereby I effectuate the above objects and inten-
tions is as follows:-I adopt one, two, three, four, or any number of arms, blades,
vanes, fans, or spokes of suitable shape and dimensions, fixed or adjusted at or
on the end of a shaft, or on a boss at the end of a shaft passing through the stern
post, or at either side of the stern post, or through the cut water, or at either side
of the cut water, or at both the bow and the stern, above or about the water line,
into the ships and boats, and connected with suitable machinery and steering appa
ratus, which can be worked on or from the deck, or other convenient place, and
which arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes being caused to revolve will steer the
ships and boats in a much more effective manner than a rudder.
By another arrangement any required number of arms, blades, vancs, fans, or
spokes may be fixed or adjusted on a pin or axle, which can be caused to revolve
by suitable machinery, the ends of the pin or axle being supported by and working
in a frame at the bow or at the stern, or at both the bow and stern, or the arms,
blades, vanes, fans, or spokes may be fixed or adjusted on a boss or nave (like a
wheel without its periphery) which can be caused to revolve by suitable machinery
on a pin or axle, fixed on and supported by a frame at the bow or at the stern,
or at bow and stern. Or the boss or nave can be caused to revolve on a very
strong pin or axle securely fastened at or by one of its ends to the ship or boat,
and without the frame as before described. The pin or axle in the one case,
and the boss or nave in the other case, with the arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes
belonging to them being placed above or about the water line, and being caused
to revolve by suitable machinery and steering apparatus as before described will
steer the ships and boats in a much more effective manner than a rudder. The
arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes may be of various shapes and and dimensions,
and they may be varied in their construction and in their shapes and dimensions to
suit the different shapes of bows and sterns, in cases where the bows and sterns are
not made or built specially for them, or altered or adapted to receive them, and the
arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes may be used with or without suitable floats or
paddles, their shapes and dimensions being varied or regulated accordingly. In
some cases a wheel of suitable construction may be used, or a wheel may be used
with the spokes or arms carried through or beyond its periphery to the required
length, or an endless band or chain having suitable floats or paddles may be used.
The wheels or the endless bands or chains being fixed to the ships and boats
above or about the water line, and being caused to revolve, will steer the ships and
boats in the manner before described. The arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes may
have any required number of rings or bands, like the rings or bands of a paddle wheel

page_text: to give them additional strength. The floats or paddles may be made of either
metal or wood, and they may be of various shapes and dimensions. The arms,
blades, vanes, fans, or spokes may be made of sufficient length to act effectively at
all depths to which the ships and boats may be immersed, or to effect the same pur-
pose, they may be so constructed as to be easily made longer or shorter by means
of suitable pieces or lengths which can be drawn out and pushed in (in the manner
of a telescope), or by pieces or lengths sliding in grooves or in eyes, or the additional
pieces or lengths may be fixed or adjusted in other ways, and they may be made
broader or narrower to give the exact power or resistance to the water required.
Or the arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes, and the wheels may be so arranged as
to be easily raised and lowered to suit the varying depths of ships and boats when
loaded and unloaded. To the arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes, and to the wheels
and to the endless bands or chains, or to any of them, used in the manner described,
or in any similar manner for the purpose of steering, I give the name of the
"steerer." The steerer may be worked by hand or by steam, or by water power or by
compressed air, or by other powers, or by a combination of powers. The construc-
tion of the steerer and its shape and dimensions, and the methods of fixing and
working it, and the purposes to which it may be applied may be varied in many
ways. For propelling ships and boats the apparatus before described is fixed,
adjusted, or placed on both the sides of ships or boats, and is worked by suitable
machinery thus, inter alia; the details of arrangements are as follows:-For pro-
pelling ships and boats I take one of the arrangements of the apparatus which I
use for steering of suitable dimensions. When used as a propeller the apparatus
must be on a much larger scale than when used as a steerer.
For the purpose of
propelling I prefer the arrangement Figured 3 in the Drawing (but I do not confine
myself to the use of that particular one as a propeller), consisting of double arms
with moveable or adjustable floats or paddles, which can be regulated to suit any
depth to which ships or boats may be immersed when loaded or unloaded. The
propeller may be constructed with any required number of the double arms
with adjustable floats. I prefer not more than four of the double arms and not
less than three, but I do not confine myself to any particular number.
The pro-
pellers are to be fixed on both sides of ships and boats on a shaft, and caused to
revolve in the manner of paddle wheels. The arms of the propellers are made long
enough to suit the greatest depth to which the vessel may be immersed when
loaded, but the floats can be adjusted to suit any depth as required. I prefer the
forked or opening between the double arms to be very wide, forming as it were
a very broad wheel, and the immersion of the floats not to be too deep, but to be
adjusted or regulated according to circumstances so as to give the best results.
By another arrangement the propellers are fixed on a short shaft or axle, the
ends of which are supported by and work in a frame like a paddle box, and on
the ends of the shaft or axle is a toothed wheel which works with or by a larger
toothed wheel fixed on the end of the main shaft, and which increases the revolutions
of the propeller.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 to 11 represent in, various forms elevations of some of the ways in
which the arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes can be constructed.
Fig. 12 is chain arrangement.
Figs. 13 and 14 are sectional elevations of the arrangements mounted on the
steering shaft, to which the arms, blades, vanes, fans, or spokes are attached.
Figs. 15, 16, and 17 shew by elevation the application of my Invention to the
stern, bow, and sides of a ship.
Figures 18 and 19 sectional elevations of paddle propellers, with three and four
paddle floats respectively.
Fig. 20 view of modified arrangements for steering.
Fig. 21 sectional elevation of an arrangement for steering.
Fig. 21 another form of arrangements for steering.

page_text: In the varied forms, Figs. 1 to 11, the arms a are of metal or wood as may be
desired, and so formed at the upper part as to be inserted between the lips b (see
Figs. 13 and 14), and then secured thereto by bolts or other suitable fastenings.
These lips b form part of the portion or boss c which may be varied in shape and
cast with same, said part c being secured to the shaft d.
In the Figs. 13 and 14 allowance is made for only three and four arms to be
secured. These two I have found to answer, but I do not confine myself to this
number of arms. The lines e represent in each of the Figures shewn the line of the
stern post of the vessel and the water line
The forms shewn in Figures 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, are plain flat sheets of metal or
wood of suitable width, but of very small thickness, and I prefer that the edges
be similar to an ordinary knife, that next to the stern poste in each case repre-
senting the cutting part of the knife. In lieu of the boss with lips and moveable
arms or blades attached to the lips by bolts or otherwise as above mentioned, the b
with arms or blades may be cast in one piece and attached to the driving shaft.
6
In Figs. 2 and 6 the blade is somewhat thickened or bulged thus
with a
hollow in its centre to admit the insertion of part a¹, which can be raised or
lowered or moved in and out, as found necessary, and same is secured in position
by bolts passing through it and the blade by the bolt holes shewn.
In Figs. 3 and 4 a moveable part a² is also shewn. That in Fig. 3 being a small
paddle float which is adjustable, and fixed in any position by bolts passing through
the side of arms & in manner similar to that shewn and described in Figs. 16, 18,
and 19. In Fig. 4 the float or projection a² is attached to only one arm as
shewn.
In Figs. 15 and 17 the arrangements with mechanism for steering are shown.
That at the stern (Fig. 15) has similar arms a to Fig.
The shaft d passes
through the stern post e, which is preferably strengthened where the opening is made
for the shaft. At the end of the shaft d, which is supported in any known way,
is the cog wheel g, into which gears the large cog, wheel g¹ attached to shaft /, to
which shaft at the upper part above the deck of the vessel is fixed steering wheel h¹.
This steering wheel as will be seen is of large diameter, which I prefer, and is
placed horizontally. The wheel is provided with handles for actuating the steerer,
and also with holes or openings on its sides, so that it may be worked when
necessary in similar way to a capstan.
Fig. 17 shews the arrangements for steering at the bow similar to that at the
stern, either by an arrangement of cones, bevel wheels, or the drum and rope
arrangement. In most cases I prefer only two arms, and when the same at the
bow is not in action it can be held rigidly by a pin or bar passing through the
bow and into a suitable opening made in the arms, or by a fork or other suitable
means. Or the means of actuating the steerer may be as in Fig. 21, where the
cog or spur wheel g is driven by large steering wheel g', which is provided with
teeth on its inner surface to gear into g, and with handles attached on the outer
periphery for the steersman. Or a combination of toothed wheels or bevilled wheels
may be employed to multiply the power.
Or the arrangement for steering may be such as is shewn in Fig. 22, where
instead of the wheel g', a large drum is mounted on the end of the shaft d.
Around this drum 1 an endless chain or rope k passes as many times as is sufficient
to give the required hold or friction to turn same. This endless chain or rope
passes first round the drum i and hence under the rollers up and over pulley or
small drum . This pulley or drum is placed a sufficient height to be easily
worked above the deck, and is supported free to revolve by rods or straps ≫ secured
to it and the deck. All that is required to actuate the steerer is for the steersman
to pull the rope or chain to the way in which he wishes to direct the vessel. Instead
of working the steerer by direct motion conveyed by shaft d, I sometimes use an
intermittent motion, as shewn in Fig. 20, where the small shaft d¹ actuated by

page_text: steering arrangements above described conveys motion to the shaft d, on which
the steerer is fixed by pinion wheel d', gearing into spur wheel d³ fitted on shaft d.
The shaft & runs loose in bearings in the stern post of the ship and in the frame d
attached to the ship.
In Figs. 16, 18, and 19, my Invention is shewn as a paddle propeller, the same
being an enlarged copy of Fig. 3. The float boards a fit in grooves a³ formed or
cut in the arms a, said arms being secured to portions c¹ which is fixed to the
driving shaft c².
For additional strength the arins a are held at their extremities
by ring of metal at The float boards a² are adjustable, same being effected by
sliding the float boards up or down in grooves a³ or equivalents therefor to the
position required, and then bolting them in position as shewn, holes for that
purpose being provided on the arms as shewn.
I
In Figure 18 an intermittent action is shewn for driving the paddle propeller.
On the end of the shaft c², which is secured free to revolve, is small spur wheel m,
which gears into the larger pinion wheel m', said spur wheel being mounted on
shaft c, which is actuated by the engine or other power in the ordinary way.
prefer my paddle propeller to be of great width in comparison to the diameter of the
wheel, and also that the paddle float should not be immersed too deeply, and also
to strengthen the float board between the arms I insert sometimes an additional
arm to give greater strength, and this I consider desirable when the paddle floats
are of very great width. For steering boats I use the arrangements above described,
adapting the same to the size and shape of the boat.
Figure 23 shews an arrangement whereby the steerer can be raised or lowered
from the deck. The steerer is fixed free to revolve in a frame n, which frame can
be raised or lowered by suitable gearing on the deck. The steerer itself being
worked by endless bands or chains from the deck. In some cases I use a pad of
india-rubber or other suitable substance to fill up the space between the bow steerer
and the cut water, and sometimes I use a similar pad at the stern.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out
in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "An Improved Method of
and Apparatus for Steering Ship and Boats, which can also be used for Propelling
them and for other Purposes," wherein the principal feature is the construction and
application of a steerer or steering apparatus which operates independently of the
motion of the vessel. The adaptability whereof as a propellor is also an important
point.
In witness whereof, I, the said Johnston Russell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOHNSTON RUSSELL. (L.S.)