IMPROVEMENTS. IN MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING THE MOVEMENT OF RUDDERS OF VESSELS, THE STEERING WHEELS OF ROAD WAGGONS, SHIFTING OR RE-. VERSING LEVERS OF LOCOMOTIVES, AND VARIOUS OTHER OBJECTS.”
Year: 1878

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Herbert. Wadsworth, of Geneseo, in the County of Living-
ston, and State of New York, United States of America for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS. IN MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING THE MOVEMENT OF RUDDERS
OF VESSELS, THE STEERING WHEELS OF ROAD WAGGONS, SHIFTING OR RE-.
VERSING LEVERS OF LOCOMOTIVES, AND VARIOUS OTHER OBJECTS.”
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert Wadsworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1878.
HERBERT WADSWORTH, of Geneseo, in the County of Livingston, and State of New
York, United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR EFFECTING
THE MOVEMENT OF RUDDERS OF VESSELS, THE STEERING WHEELS OF ROAD
WAGGONS, SHIFTING OR REVERSING LEVERS OF LOCOMOTIVES, AND VARIOUS
OTHER OBJECTS."
My Invention relates to mechanism for effecting the movements of rudders of
navigable vessels, the steering wheel of road waggons, shifting or reversing levers of
locomotives, and various other objects. The class of mechanism to which my In-
vention relates being, that in which the cyinder piston and valve of a steam or
other fluid motor is the power employed to effect the movements of the tiller or
other object to be moved, the piston rod being connected with the said tiller or
object to be moved by suitable intermediate mechanism, and the whole being so
arranged that when the object to be moved is in its norinal position, or between its
extremes of movement, the piston is midway of the end ports of the cylinder, hence,
when steam' or other elastic fluid is admitted to one end of the cylinder, and the
piston driven towards the tiller, or the other end, the tiller or other object to be
moved is driven in the same direction as the piston, while with a contrary traverse
of the piston the movement of the tiller is likewise reversed.
My Invention in principle consists of a four-way cock or valve, adapted' to control
the entrance and exit of fluid with respect to the cylinder, and the combination
with such valve or cock; of a "cut-off" valve, connected with and moved by the

page_text: Object
De acted upon, and moving over the ports of the valve seat, and with
respect to the ports of the valve, in proportion to the amount of stroke which the
piston accomplishes, in order that when a port is opened to any part of its capacity
to admit fluid to the cylinder, the energy of the motor shall cease the instant the
piston reaches the point in its stroke determined by the extent of opening of the
said port; and upon further advance or attempted advance of the piston beyond
this point, the energy of the motor will be exerted in opposition to such advance of
the piston, the result being that the tiller or other object to be acted upon is held
securely in a given position until the valve is again moved.
The "cut-off" valve, in addition to moving in unison with the piston of the
engine, is actuated by and moves synchronously with the tiller or other object
whose movements are to be controlled, and as the "cut-off" is adapted to function
proportionally with the valve proper, it follows as before stated, that the moment
the tiller reaches the point defined by the movement of the valve, the "cut-off"
exerts its functions to prevent further action of fluid in the cylinder to drive the
piston in the same direction, while if the object whose movements are to be con-
trolled is the rudder of a navigable vessel for instance, and a sea carries such rudder
beyond the point intended by the opening of the valve, the "cut-off" opens one of
the ports of the cylinder, and admits steam to drive the piston in the opposite
direction, until the rudder is restored to the proper point, when the "cut-off" shuts
out further access of steam to the cylinder, and the rudder is held motionless,
The purpose of my Invention is to control the extent to which steam or other
fluid effort shall function, and is especially applicable to steering apparatus or steam
tillers of navigable vessels, or power road waggons, and is also applicable to various
other objects, and generally to controlling the link motions of large engines.
The Drawings accompanying this Specification represent in Figure an isometric
elevation of a device embodying the principle of my Invention, while Figure 2 is a
section of a steam cylinder, piston, and valve, with my Invention added.
Figure 3 is a plan of the valve seat.
Figure 4, an under side view of the cylinder ports.
Figure 5, a plan of the valve; Figure 6, an under side view of the same.
Figure 7, a plan of the "cut-off."
Figures 8 & 9, cross sections of the cylinder, valve, and "cut-off."
Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, & 19, are modifications of the principle of
my Invention, and will be duly explained.
Referring to the Drawings above alluded to, in Figure 1 of which my Invention
is represented as connected and intended to control the movements of the rudder or
tiller of a navigable vessel, it will be seen that A denotes a steam or other elastic
fluid cylinder, supported upon a suitable bed B, and provided at top with a steam
chest C and sliding valve E, the direct ports of the cylinder being shown at a, a¹,
and the exhaust port at b, while the piston is shown at H, and its rod at I, the
cross head at K, and the ways or slides which the latter traverses at J, J, such
parts being practically the same as in stationary steam engines in general use.
In carrying out my Invention in one form in which it is applicable, I construct
the cross head K with a traverse channel L, which contains a sliding carrier M, and
this carrier bears the upright wrist pin N of a crank O, whose base is secured to
the upper part of the post P of the rudder of a navigable vessel; in other words
the crank O is the tiller of such rudder.
It is obvious that reciprocating rectilinear movements of the piston rod I will
effect corresponding movements of the cross head K upon the slides J, J, while such
movements of the cross head effect sympathic movements of the crank O and tiller
P in arcs of circles, the channel L and carrier M permitting of the requisite slip
motion between the cross head and crank.
I do not restrict myself to this mode of connecting the piston rod and tiller,
but it is a simple, strong, and effective means of converting the reciprocating move-
ments of the piston into semi-rotary or rocking movements of the tiller.
Within the steam chest C, and at the upper part thereof, and sliding upon the

page_text: "cut-off" plate S, I place the valve E before named, which is of peculiar construc-
tion, though I do not of course restrict myself to such peculiar construction.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., of the Drawings represent the said construction of valve
and of the steam chest, cylinder, and ". cut-off." It will be seen by referring to
these Figures that the bottom F of the steam chest, or what would ordinarily be
the valve scat, has three oblong rectangular ports c, c', and d placed centrally and
longitudinally of the said bottom F, and alongside of each other, one of such side
ports, viz., c, connecting with the corresponding port a of the cylinder, and the
other, viz., c, with the opposite port a¹ of such cylinder, while the central and
common exhaust port d of said valve seat connects with the exhaust port e of said
cylinder,
These ports c, c, d, are of equal size and shape, with the exception that & has
square ends, while c, c¹, have triangular or V shaped ends, in order to admit steam
gradually to the cylinder, and avoid the shock and thrusts which would follow
the instantaneous opening of the whole width of the port, and to prevent wear of
the edges of the parts.
Within the steam chest, and sliding upon its seat or bottom F, I dispose a thin
flat plate S, which I term the "cut-off," this plate being of a width to fill or about
fill the steam chest, and of a length to more than cover the ports c, c, d, at each
extreme of its movements, and having three orifices or ports e², e³, and f, of a size
and disposition precisely corresponding with the ports c, c¹, d, with which they
operate. This "cut-off," as before stated, is moved by and sychronously with the
tiller or other object to be controlled, and the connection between the two, as shown
in the accompanying Drawings, consists as follows:-To that end of the "cut-off"
plate S nearest the tiller O I secure one end of a rod v (for this explanation see
Figure 1 of the Drawings), the other end of such rod being idle, & having a rack w
of teeth cut upon its under side, which engage the teeth of an upright spur geer x
situated below the rod, and mounted on a rock shaft y, which in turn is supported
at its journals in standards et, et, erected upon opposite sides of the bed B of the
engine. Rocking motions of the shaft y induce corresponding movements of the
geer, and these in turn impart rectilinear movements of the rod v and "cut-off" S
to and fro of the steam chest.
To impart the requisite rocking motions to the geer x, and thus complete the
connection between the "cut-off" and tiller or crank O, I add to one side of the
cross head K a rectangular bar f, and upon the upper edge of the rear part of
this bar, which extends below the shaft y, I cut a series of traverse geer teeth,
while over this toothed portion of the bar f4, and engaging the rack 9³, I mount
upon the shaft y a second spur geer h¹.
It will be apparant that a movement of the crank or tiller O in either direction
will, through the agency of the slide M and cross head K, impart a rectilinear move-
ment of the bar f, which in turn effects a rocking of the geer h* and shaft y,
while this rocking motion of the shaft y, as before stated, imparts rocking motions
to the geer x, and rectiliner movements of the rod v and "cut-off" plate S.
I do not confine myself in any sense to this manner of connecting the "cut-off"
with the tiller, in order that an impulse of the latter shall impel the former, as such
manner of connecting may be varied indefinitely with the exercise of mechanical
skill.
The valve proper E is equal or practically equal in length with 'cut-off," and
like it is a flat plate about filling the width of the steam chest, with exception
in the present instance of a rebate at at one edge, to allow steam from the feed
pipe to enter the steam chest, since this feed pipe happens to be below the top of
the valve, as I place the valve closely up to the top of the chest to prevent access of
steam to the top of such valve, and thereby balance it to a great extent.
The peculiar features of the valve E consists as follows:-It has at each of two
diagonally opposite corners a port g or g' cut entirely through it, these ports being
of the same size and shape as the ports c, c', and the distance between them being
equal to the length of one of such ports c, c', and like them, having V shaped ends

page_text: for the same purpose. The port g of the valve E is adapted and arranged to com-
municate and operate at proper times with the port es of the "cut-off" and the
port c of the steam chest, and the port g' with the port es of said "cut-off" and the
port c¹ of the steam chest, while cach port g and gl is adapted to operate at proper
times with the central or exhaust port f of the "cut-off" and the exhaust port d
of the steam chest by means of a recess or channel h created in the under side of
the valve and connecting the two; and it will be seen that diagonally opposite ends
of this recess are enlarged into pockets i, j, one of which is arranged in the path of
movement of, and to communicate with, the port es of the valve, and the other, viz.,
j, with the port e2, while the said channel hand pockets i, j, have common open
communication with each other and with either of the ports e², e³, but not with both
of the latter at the same time.
In the normal or negative position of parts under the construction above described
the valve and "cut-off" will be central of the steam chest, and the two sets of
ports c, c, d, of the valve seat and e², e³, f, of the "cut-off" coinciding, while the
central ports d of the valve seat and f of the "cut-off" both coincide with the
central channel or recess h of the valve, it being observed that communication
between the steam chest and the ports c, c', and e³, e³, is cut off by the solid portion
k, l, of the valve intermediate between its ports g and pocket j on one side of
the channel h, and port g¹ and pocket i on the other side of such channel, while
the tiller or other object to be moved is supposed to be midway of its extreme
positions.
The valve rod, which is shown at m, is to be operated by a 'screw and wheel, or
in any suitable manner to be completely under control, and when any object to
which the engine is connected is to be moved, for instance, the tiller O, shown in
Figure 1 of the Drawings, the valve E is to be moved in one or the other direction.
We will suppose for illustration the valve to be moved in the direction of the arrow
in Figures 2, and 5, 6, of the Drawings, until it is opened to the desired extent.
As soon as communication begins to open between port g of the valve and e² of the
"cut-off" below, steam rushes into and through such port e2, and into and through
the port c (which, as before stated, is at this time full open to e²) into the port a of
the cylinder, and passing into one end of the cylinder by this port a drives the
piston in the same direction as the valve. The movement of the piston by means
of its rod and the cross head K and slide M moves the tiller O in the arc of a circle,
until the piston and tiller reach the points determined by the position of the valve,.
while at the same tinie the movement of the tiller in its turn moves the "cut-off,"
by means of the intermediate mechanism, in the same direction as that travelled by
the valve, until at the time the tiller reaches the position determined by the valve,
as stated, the solid portion of the "cut-off" has passed over and closed the port c of
the steam chest, and cuts off further entrance of steam to the cylinder and the
piston, and consequently the tiller and rudder or other object acted upon remains
motionless.
While the valve and "cut-off" have executed the movements and performed the
functions last explained the cylinder has exhausted as follows, it being understood
that the central port d of the steam chest and the central port f of the "cut-off"
are at all times in free communication with the central channel h of the valve :-
As the valve moves forward to admit live steam to the cylinder through the ports
g, e², c, and a; it opens (by means of its pocket i) communication between the port a'
of the cylinder, which is now the exhaust port of such cylinder, and the c¹ of the
steam chest with which such port a¹ connects, and the channel h of the valve, the
result being that the exhaust steam passes upward by the cylinder port a' through
the ports c¹ and e³, which, as before stated, always coincide, and into the pocket i
of the valve, thence into the central channel h of said valve, from such channel h
down through the ports of the "cut-off" and d of the stean chest, and makes
its final escape by the common exhaust passage or outlet e of the cylinder.
The movements of the parts in the opposite direction are the same, and need not
be explained.

page_text: If it is desired to move the piston and tiller further in the same direction, the
valve is moved in the same direction with the same results.
If it is desired to drive the tiller or other object in the opposite direction from
that last taken, and from the point to which it was advanced by the movement of
the piston, the valve is pushed in the opposite direction until its port g₁ opens com-
munication with the port es of the "cut-off," and through the latter with the port c²
of the steam chest, and steam passes through such port el into the port a¹ of the
cylinder, and enters the latter at the opposite end, and drives the piston and tiller
in a direction the reverse of that first taken; while at the same time the reverse
movement of the tiller effects a reverse movement of the "cut-off" until the latter
closes or cuts off the port c', and shuts off further entrance of steam to the cylinder,
and the piston and rudder remain motionless.
As the exhaust, during this last-described movement of the valve, is the same
through diagonally opposite ports as that first described, it is not deemed essential
to explain it, as it will be readily understood by persons familiar with steam
engines.
Should the expansion of steam within the cylinder, or great extraneous force
exerted upon the tiller or other object to be controlled, tend to drive the piston
further in the direction in which it was moved by the legitimate functions of the
valve, as for instance, beyond the point first noted in this explanation of the
operation of the ports, the "cut-off" will be moved in the same direction, while the
valve remains motionless, the result of which will be that the port e² of the "cut-.
off" will open communication between the port g of the valve and the port c of the
steam chest, and admit steam to the cylinder through the port a of the latter, as
at first, and the piston will be restored to the position in which it was left by the
legitimate function of the valve, and at the same time return the tiller to the same
respective point; while, with this return movement of the tiller, the "cut-off" by
means of the rod v gears x and h, and bar f is moved in the same direction as the
piston until the solid portion of the "cut-off" closes the port c as at first, and
thereby cuts off entrance of steam to the cylinder, and the piston and tiller are
again motionless.
It will be seen that when the valve is once opened, and set to the extent which
is requisite to move the tiller to the desired point or angle, the operation of the
"cut-off" is automatic in consonance with the movements of the tiller, and irre-
spective of the valve, which remains inactive; and that if the object to be moved
is a rudder, and a heavy sea should strike it and force the tiller beyond the point
indicated by the valve, the "cut-off" exerts its functions to restore the tiller and
rudder to the proper point.
In Figures 10 & 11 of the Drawings I have shown a modification of the valve
and "cut-off." In this instance the valve E has simply transverse ports p, p¹, at
each end, and a central exhaust recess 63, the end ports operating with the ports
a, a¹, of the cylinder A, and the recess b with the exhaust passage e of such
cylinder in manner similar to many engines in use.
The "cut-off" plate S in this instance also is disposed between the valve E and
valve seat F, and has simply transverse ports r, r¹, & t, (corresponding with the
ports a, a¹, &e of the cylinder) near its ends, which operate both with the ports a, a¹,
of the cylinder and the ports p, p¹, of the valve, as the said ports r,, constitute
with the said ports p, p', at different times a common roadway to enable the
fluid to enter the cylinder, and actuate the piston, while after the piston has
effected its movement to the determined extent these ports 1, r², ar
are obstructed
by the valve seat, and no fluid can pass them.
The central part of the "cut-off" S has a central port t, which, in conjunction
with the exhaust recess 62 of the valve and the exhaust passage e of the cylinder,.
constitutes a general exhaust passage for the engine, the recess b² of the valve
being of sufficient length to permit of the movements of such valve and "cut-off."
In this example the valve is moved to the desired point, according to an index.
provided for the use of the attendant in this, as in all other cases, it being supposed

page_text: that the valve, "cut-off," and piston are at the middle of the cylinder, or at their
neutral positions, as shown in said Figures 10 & 11 of the Drawings, in which case
the ports of the valve are over, and are closed by the solid ends of the " cut-off,"
while the ports of the "cut-off" and the ports of the cylinder are in free com-
munication, but closed by the solid portions h2, h3, of the valve, while the three
exhaust ports 62, t, and e are in free communication.
The valve being moved in the direction of its arrows to the extent determined by
the index, its port p¹ opens communication with the ports of the "cut-off" and
a of the cylinder, and allows live steam from the steam chest C, supplied to it
by the feed pipe a6, to enter the cylinder through the port a¹ against the piston, and
put the latter into motion in the same direction as the valve, and through the
agency of the piston, turn the tiller to the desired extent; while simultaneously
with this traverse of the piston and movement of the tiller the "cut-off" also
moves, by reason of its connection with the tiller, until at the moment the piston
and tiller complete their movements the "cut-off" resumes a neutral position with
respect to the valve, and entrance of steam to the cylinder is shut off.
While the valve and cut-off are executing the movement last described, the exhaust
recess 2 of the valve has opened to communication with the exhaust port e of the
cylinder, and the exhaust steam from the opposite end of the cylinder escapes through
the ports a &r into the valve recess 62, thence through the central port t of
the cut-off" into the said exhaust port e, and escapes from the latter.
It will be seen that the "cut-off" in this instance, as in the first, acts as an inter-
mediary to the valve, and piston, and cylinder, and becomes at one time a means of
opening communication between the cylinder and steam chest, and at another a
means of shutting of such communication.
In Figures 12 & 13 of the Drawings, I have represented a circular valve and
cock containing the principle of my "cut-off," which may be applied to a steam
engine.
In these Figures A² and B2 represent the ports leading from the steam chest to
the ends of the cylinder, while 0³ represents the induction or feed pipe or port, and
D³ the exhaust port, all four of which (viz., A2, E², C³, D³,) communicate with the
circular chamber or steam chest E2 of the valve case F2.
The valve or cock is a flat gate G2, arranged axially within the "cut-off" H³,
which is a straight tube or cylinder, filling the bore of the chamber E²; this cut-off
baving four quadrangularly-arranged peripheral orifices or ports 12, J², K², L², two
of which, viz., 12, J2, are adapted to operate with the inlet and outlet ports C³ and
D³, and the other two, viz., K³, L2, with the ports A², B².
The ends both of the cut-off H2 and gate G2 protrude from the ends of the
case F, and each has affixed to one end a lever or shipper N2 or 0%, by which it
can be rotated.
The lever O2 is connected by a suitable mechanism with the tiller or object to be
controlled, and with the piston through the tiller, in order that the movement of
the tiller shall effect a rotary movement of the cut-off, substantially as before
explained.
Turning the gate G2 in the direction of its arrow permits live steam to pass from
the chamber or chest E2, through port B2, to the cylinder and move the piston
therein. This movement of the piston continues till it reaches the point designated
by the gate, when the "cut-off," which has also been rotating in the same direction
as the valve, overtakes the latter, and by its solid portion cuts off further entrance
of steam to the cylinder. The exhaust escapes from port A2 into the lower part of
E2, and thence through exhaust port D².
In Figures 14, 15, 16, & 17 of the accompanying Drawings, I have represented a
second circular valve and "cut-off." In this instance, the valve seat is circular, and
is shown at P3, as having three triangularly-arranged segmental ports Q2, R2, S2, of
which Q2 is the exhaust, and R², S2, the ports leading to the cylinder. The "cut-
off" is circular, and is shown at T2 as having three ports U2, V2, W2, corresponding
in size and position with the ports Q2, R2, S2, above named. The valve is also