Improvements in and relating to Means for Steering and Manoeuvring Ships and Boats.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Means for Steering and Manoeuvring
Ships and Boats.
GEORGE EDWARD Morgan, 52, Torrington Square, W.C., London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of employing a double blade working horizontally at
the bottom of a ship, this double blade forming a portion or section of the keel
near the centre, this double blade is fitted to a vertical shaft passing up into the
centre of the ship, and driven by a separate engine or geared to the ships engine,
this double blade being practically a portion or section of the ships keel when not
in use, but when this double blade rotates by the motive power employed the
ship at once. begins to turn in its own length or turning the head from right
to left as desired, for the purpose of better avoiding the attack of torpedo boats
and the ram also for the better manoeuvring in general, this invention applies
to ships of war and all other ships and boats. Any ship can be fitted with my
invention by having the, double blade fitted below the ordinary keel, the keel
and bottom portion of the ship will be so constructed to receive the double blade
and shaft.
Improvements in and relating to Means for Steering and Manœuvring
Ships and Boats.
GEORGE EDWARD MORGAN, 52, Torrington Square, London, W.C., 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:-
My invention consists of employing a blade or blades revolving horizontally
near the ships keel for the purpose of turning a ship in her own length, steering
and manoeuvring in general.
Two or more blades are fitted to a vertical shaft, this shaft is driven by engines
constructed for the purpose and placed amidships-when the blades revolve
the effects on the ships are as follows-presume you are looking forward from
the stern, and the blades are revolving to the right this will cause the ships head
to turn to the port side-but if the blades revolve to the left it turns the head
to the starboard side.
This invention fitted to a ship will not interfere in any manner with the present

page_text: steering arrangements now in use on board. I do not propose to use my system
as the ordinary means of steering, but only on certain urgent occasions-for
instance, a ship of war going into action which requires more rapid movements....
or to act as a substitute in place of the present steering gear that may be destroyed,
or for the same object in passenger or other ships.
The drawing accompanying this Specification will illustrate the nature of
my invention.
Fig.
1 shows a double blade fitted to vertical shaft (C). . . .
A is a recess constructed in the ships bottom to receive the blades.
Fig. (2) shows the double blades fitted into keel.
Fig. (3) an arrangement of two blades by the means of a bar (G) fitted to the
vertical shaft (C) both ends of this bar are slotted in such manner to receive
each a blade and a working joint is made by means of a pin (L)-on the face of
the blade (B) a cranked lever rod is fixed (M) in such form to allow it to pass
freely over the side of the bar (G) the crank on rod (M) projects beyond the inner
edge of the blade. When the shaft (C) is lowered the blade (B) is held in check
by means of the crank on rod (M) working against and along the edge of
recess (A) until free of the recess. when it will fall into position as shown in
Fig. (4). The pin (L) not being central but nearer the inner edge of the blade
this gives the outer portion sufficient weight to extend outward as shown in
Fig. (4) this extends the radius and gives a better grip of the water... The blades
are returned to their position in the recesses by the shaft (C) being raised, then
the crank on rod (M) is forced against and works along the edge of the recess (A)
and (K) by this means the blades gradually take a vertical, position on reaching
the top of recess (A). These recesses are constructed in the ships bottom and
near the keel line and of sufficient length, width and depth to receive the blades
when not in use. The blades will be made, various shapes and forms and size
in gain the most resistance of the water. The blades can be arranged to extend
the radius or to enlarge the surface of resistance by any contrivance best suited
for the purpose...
propose to drive the vertical shaft (C) by two horizontal
cylinders driving a cog wheel set in bearings working horizontally, and sufficiently
near to the vertical shaft (C) which shaft has a similar cog wheel. When the
main shaft (C) is lowered-say--5ft. the two cogwheels come into gear, this
gives the motion to the vertical shaft (C). By this shaft being lowered the ft.
this lowers the blades a corresponding distance from the top of recess, or recesses.
Then the blades are free and below the keel line (K)-The vertical shaft (C)
passes up through the top of recess (A) and stuffing box (E) Fig. 1, a ring of
stuffing resting on a collar (1) on shaft (C) when the shaft is drawn up the
stuffing ring is pressed against the top of the recess (A) making it water tight..
The shaft (C) can be lowered and raised by the means of steam or otherwise.
The blades can be also driven by using shafting and bevel gear from the propeller
engines, or, from any other engines placed in any part of the ship by the same
means or can be driven by compressed, air... electricity or any other motive force
best suited for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. Horizontal revolving blade or blades, fitted to a ship-for the purposes
herein described.
Second. Any arrangement of blades or bars to entend by lever or other means-
for the same object described herein.