Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
Амиргоѵещение шотро Duuuss
I HERBERT GEORGE CAMERON of 3 Victoria Avenue Upton Park Essex
Naval Architect do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:―
To obtain, by means of a combination of levers and rods, a gradually increasing
leverage over the rudder as it passes from ainidships to hard over on either side of
the vessel.
For this purpose, I fit at a convenient distance from the rudder, a double bell
crank lever on a vertical spindle, connected to a crosshead on the rudder or on a
transfer spindle from the rudder, by means of connecting rods. The lengths of
the arms of the aforesaid double bell crank lever are so proportioned to the length
of crosshead on the rudder or transfer spindle from the rudder, as to give to the
former the greater angular velocity, and so giving a gradually increasing leverage
as the rudder is put over on either side of the vessel. I propose to actuate this
lever by means of a Rapson's slide and screw, with suitable gearing from the hand
steering wheels or steering engine. Generally, this lever may be actuated from
the steering wheel by any suitable gearing for the purpose of turning it on its
spindle.
11004
H. G. CAMERON.
I, HERBERT GEORGE CAMERON, of 3, Victoria Avenue, Upton Park, in the
County of Essex, 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 :-
.
The object of my invention is to obtain by means of a combination of levers and
rods a gradually increasing leverage over the rudder as it passes from amidships
to hard over on either side of the vessel.
For this purpose I fit on a vertical spindle at a convenient distance from the
rudder a double bell crank lever and connect it to a crosshead on the rudder or on
a transfer spindle from the rudder by means of connecting rods. The lengths of
the arms of the aforesaid double bell crank lever are so proportioned to the length
of crosshead on the rudder or transfer spindle from the rudder, as to give to the
former the greater angular velocity and so giving a gradually increasing leverage
as the rudder is put over on either side of the vessel. I propose to actuate this
lever by means of a Rapson's slide and screw with suitable gearing from the hand
steering wheels or steering engine. Generally this lever may be actuated from
the steering wheel by any suitable gearing for the purpose of turning it on its
spindle.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the

page_text: several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation and Figure 2 in plan a ship steering gear
constructed and arranged according to my invention.
Figure 3 shows in plan a modification of the mechanism for actuating the double
bell crank dever and Figures 4, 4 and 5 shew further modifications of the said
mechanism.
66
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is the rudder, on the head A2 of which, there is
secured, by any suitable means, a two armed lever or crosshead B, the outer ends
of which are connected by rods C, to the arms of the double bell crank lever D,
mounted on a vertical spindle E arranged at a distance from the rudder head A.
The distance between the points of connection of the rods C with the two armed
lever or crosshead B is greater than the distance between the points of connection
of the said rods C with the arms of the double bell crank lever D, by which
arrangement the greater angular velocity is given to the double bell crank lever D
and the relative angular velocity of this lever D to the two armed lever or cross-
head B gradually increases as the rudder passes from amidships to hard over on
either side of the vessel and thus. giving a gradually increasing leverage and
consequently greater power over the rudder as the resistance to its movement
increases. By these means a comparatively small number of revolutions of the
steering engine are required when the rudder is moving (as it is generally) within
a few degrees of the amidship position and consequently greatly economising the
steam. Instead of the crosshead being fixed on the rudder head as shewn, it may
be secured on a spindle which is geared to the rudder in any suitable manner so as
to impart motion thereto. The lever D as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 is operated
by means of what is known as a Rapson's slide" which consists of a block E¹
caused to slide "thwart ships" in a guide E2 the said block having connected to
its opposite ends a chain F passing round pulleys G; motion being imparted to the
chain by means of gearing H driven from a steering motor or by other suitable
means. The arm of the double bell crank lever D passes through and slides in a
swivelling piece in the block E' so that as the said block is moved in the guide E²
the lever D will be turned on its fulcrum and impart through the rods C and cross-
head B motion to the rudder A, the leverage being increased more or less according
to the extent of movement of the block E' from its central position in its
guide E. Instead of operating the lever D by means of a chain as herein before
described, the block E' may be operated by a screw F, as shewn in Figure 3,
working in a screw thread formed in the block, the said block being provided with
pivoted pieces E³ in which prongs 6³, formed on the arm 62 of the double beli crank
lever D, are free to slide to admit of the varying position of the block on the
screw F. The screw F may be rotated by means of gearing H as shewn, or in any
other convenient manner. Or instead of operating the lever D by means of a
sliding block the arm of the said lever may be in the form of, or be provided
with, a segmental rack, as shewn in Figure 4, a worm E', operated by means of
gearing H from the steering motor, being arranged to gear with the rack so as to
turn the said lever on its fulcrum in the desired direction or the worm E¹ and teeth
on the segmental rack 62 may be dispensed with and the lever be turned by means
of chains attached to opposite ends of the segment 62 as shewn by dotted lines
in Figure 4 the chains engaging in grooves in the periphery of the segment as
shewn in Figure 4. Or the double bell crank may be in the form shewn in
Figure the projecting arms being arranged to slide in pivoted blocks E³
through which screws F work so as to move the blocks E3 and thereby turn the
lever Don its fulcrum E. The screws are one right handed and the other left
handed and carry toothed wheels in gear with a wheel 2 so that by turning the
latter wheel 2 rotation will be given to both screws F simultaneously and through
the blocks E³ turn the bell crank lever D on its fulcrum and through the rods C
and crosshead B move the rudder in the desired direction. I have shewn and

page_text: described these several means for operating the lever D as example, but I do not
restrict myself thereto as other devices may be employed for the purpose, but
Having particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In ship's steering gear a double armed lever or crosshead fast on the rudder
head, or on a spindle in gear therewith, in combination with a double bell crank
lever working on a centre situated at a convenient distance from the said rudder
head or spindle and rods connecting the arms of the double armed lever or cross-
head to two arms of the double bell crank lever the points of connection of the
said rods with the said double bell crank lever being closer together than are the
points of connection of the said rods with the double armed lever or crosshead
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improvements in
ship's steering gear whereby a gradual increasing leverage to operate the rudder is
obtained as it passes from amidship to hard over on either side thereof substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved ship's
steering gear substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figure 3 of
the accompanying drawings.
4. The combinations and arrangements of parts constituting the improved ship's
steering gear substantially as herein before described and illustrated respectively
by Figures 4 and 4ª and Figure 5 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 4th day of March 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.