AN IMPROVED DISTRESS RUDDER AND DRAG FOR VESSELS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED DISTRESS RUDDER AND DRAG FOR VESSELS."-A com-
munication from abroad by Heinrich Rabien and Martin
Wellinghoff, both of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America.
Sealed the 19th November 1872, and dated the 24th June 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 24th June 1872.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said. Invention for "AN IMPROVED DISTRESS RUDDER AND DRAG FOR
VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved distress rudder, which is to be
carried on board ship for use in case of the loss of or injury to the main
rudder.
The Invention consists chiefly in so loading the distress rudder by
metal applied to its lower part that it will, whenever lowered into the

page_text: water, at once assume and retain an upright position, floating in this
wise ready for use.
The Invention also consists in the arrangement of hinged wings at the
sides of the distress rudder, for the purpose of converting it into a drag
when desired. The distress rudder is composed of a plank or collection
of planks of the requisite size, according to the capacity of the vessel
on which it is to be carried. This rudder is loaded with lead, which is
concealed within or otherwise applied to its lower part, so. that when
the rudder thrown overboard it will immediately right itself in a
vertical position. By this arrangement of loading the rudder, the
inconvenience experienced in ordinary distress rudders, to wit, their
tendency to lic flat on the water, is entirely overcome, and the manage-
ment of the rudder is greatly facilitated. This rudder is or may be
hinged to a post provided with projecting clasps that may embrace the
regular rudder post or the stump of the old rudder of the vessel, to
steady the distress rudder. In such case the distress rudder is worked
by means of lines applied to its outer end. But it is not necessary to
draw this distress rudder against the stump of the old rudder or against
the rudder post, as it can be worked as well if it drags a suitable
distance behind the vessel, it being drawn by lines which are applied
to its front end, or to its post. Two wings or gates are hinged with their
front ends to the sides of the distress rudder in such manner that they
can be folded into recesses which are formed at the sides of the rudder.
These wings can be drawn open by means of lines attached thereto, to
serve as drags, and can be braced by braces or rods to be held open.
The wings can also be used as rudders to steer the vessel by, in case it
is not desired to steer with the entire rudder.
In order to increase the effect of loading the rudder at the lower part,
its upper part may have hollow chambers to be extra light, and insure
the floating of the rudder on adeo

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my exccutors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, 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, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "AN IMPROVED DISTRESS RUDDER AND DRAG FOR VESSELS," a communication
to me from abroad by Heinrich Rabien and Martin Wellinghoff, both of
the City, County, and State of New York, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, 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 Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to a new distress rudder, which is to be carried
on board ship for use in case of the loss of or injury to the main rudder.
The Invention consists chiefly in so loading the distress rudder by
metal applied to its lower part, that it will whenever lowered into the
water at once assume and retain an upright position, floating in this
wise ready for use.
The Invention also consists in the arrangement of hinged wings at the
sides of the distress midden Con the wurpose of converting it into a dro

page_text: Figure 1 represents a side view of the improved distress rudder;
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same; Figure 3, a vertical
transverse section; and Figure 4 a vertical longitudinal section of the
same. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the distress rudder, being a plank or collection of planks
of the requisite size, according to the capacity of the vessel on which it
is to be carried. This rudder is loaded with lead, which is conccaled
within or otherwise applied to its lower part, as is clearly shown at a in
Figure 3. When the rudder is thrown overboard it will immediately
right itself in vertical position. By this arrangement of loading the
rudder the inconvenience experienced in ordinary distress rudders, to
wit, their tendency to lie flat on the water, is entirely overcome, and the
management of the rudder greatly facilitated. This rudder is or may
be hinged as at b to a post d which has projecting clasps e, e, that may
embrace the regular rudder post or the stump of the old rudder of the
vessel to steady the distress rudder. In such case the distress rudder is
worked by means of lines, applied to its outer end. But it is not at
all necessary to draw this distress rudder against the stump of the old
rudder or against the rudder post, as it can be worked as well if it drags
a suitable distance behind the vessel, it being drawn by lines 9, 9, which
are applied to its front end or to its post d. h, h, are two wings or gates
hinged with their front ends to the sides of the distress rudder in such
manner that they can be folded into recesses which are formed at the
sides of the rudder, in manner clearly shown in Figure 2. These wings
can be drawn open by means of lines i, i, in manner indicated by dotted
lines in Figure 2, to serve as drags, and can be braced by braces or
rods j,j, to be held open. The wings can also be used as rudders to
steer the vessel by in case it is not desired to steer with the entire
rudder A.
"
In order to increase the efficiency of loading the rudder at the lower
part, its upper part may have hollow chambers 1, 2, to be extra light and,
insure the floating of the rudder on edge.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the Invention
to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-

page_text: 1st. A distress rudder loaded at the lower part to float on edge, as set
forth.
2ndly. The post d applied to the distress rudder, as set forth.
3rdly. The wings h, h, combined with the distress rudder, as set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
·
Witness,
JAS. O. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)