IMPROVEMENT IN STEERING APPARATUS
Year: 1886

page_text: I, WILLIAM JOHN WILLIAMS of No. 7 & 8, Lower Parade, New Brighton in the
County of Chester, Carpenter do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENT IN STEERING APPARATUS, to be as follows:-
34.
Steering Ships by a chain fastened to the outside edge of the Rudder which can
either be used separately, or attached to any steering gear now in use.
The chain is fastened on the outside edge of the Rudder, and passed through
pulleys fixed on Brackets on each side of the Stern it is then run through a tube,
or over the sides to a drum on the Deck, which revolves on an Iron frame, worked
by a' hand wheel.
By this Invention, increased leverage and perfect control of the Rudder is
obtained preventing all strain on the present steering gear attached to the Rudder
post, as the chain being always, tight, the Rudder is held firmly in any position,
absolutely preventing its being unshipped and will enable the Helmsman to more
quickly manoeuver his vessel with far less labour, than by any other known system
of steering.
As a modification of the foregoing or to furthur simplify the application of this
invention to the present steering gear attached to the Rudder-post, the chain
fastened to the Rudder need not be extended on Deck, but may be carried through
the Bracket-pulleys on each side of the Stern and continued thro' a Pulley-block
fixed to the centre of the Stern directly above the Rudder, still acting as a safe-
guard to the Rudder, as the chain always remaining tight keeps the Rudder firm
in any desired position,

page_text: WILLIAM JOHN WILLIAMS Carpenter 7 & 8 Lower Parade New Brighton,
Cheshire I do hereby declare the nature of my invention for STEERING SHIPS
FROM THE OUTSIDE EDGE of the RUDDER and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
Steering ships by a chain fastened to the outside edge of the Rudder which can
either be used separately or attached, to any steering gear now in use.
The chain
is fastened on the outside edge of the Rudder and passed through pulleys fixed
each side of the Stern it is then run through a tube or over the sides to a drum on
the deck which revolves on an Iron frame worked by a Hand or a Steam Wheel.
By this invention increased leverage and perfect control of the Rudder is
obtained preventing all strain on the present Steering gear attached to the Rudder
post as the chain being always tight the Rudder is held firmly in any position
absolutely preventing its being unshipped and will enable the Helmsman to more
quickly manoeuvre his vessel with far less labour than by any known system of
Steering.
As a modification of the foregoing or to further simplify the application of this
invention to the present steering gear attached to the Rudder post the chain
fastened to the Rudder need not be extended on Deck but may be carried through
the Bracket Pulleys on each side of the Stern and continued through a Pulley
Block fixed to the centre of the Stern directly above the Rudder still acting as a
safeguard to the Rudder as the chain always remaining tight, keeps the Rudder
firm in any desired position.
The accompanying Drawings No. 1 shows the Apparatus as arranged when the
Hand wheel is placed at a distance from the Rudder though it is equally adapted
to a position near the Stern of the Ship as shown in Drawing No. 2. The
Drawing No. 1 & 2 shows side elevation of the Apparatus. The letters in each
figure indicate corresponding parts.
Drawings No. 1 & 3. The letters A. A. shows the Rudder post and B. B. shows
the outside edge of the Rudder and the letters C. C. C. shows the Pulley Blocks
each side of the Stern where the chain passes through from the outside edge of the
Rudder. The letters D. D. shows the Pulleys on the Deck where the chain passes
through to the Handwheel.
Drawings No. 3 & 4 represent the Apparatus with the chain fastened to the
outside edge of the Rudder, and then brought on Deck, at a distance from the
Stern or at a nearer distance to the Stern as shown in No. 1 & 2 Drawings.
I wish to be understood I disclaim originality of the chain fastened to the outside
edge of the Rudder as it is now.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim as new and desire to secure by the Letters Patent aforesaid is,
The Steering of Ships from the outside edge of the Rudder, in the manner
substantially as herein before described and indicated, with Chains or Rods or with
Wire Rope.