IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN CONNECTION WITH STEERING APPARATUS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Davies, of No. 13, Grinshill Street, Toxteth Park,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND IN CONNECTION WITH STEERING APPARATUS."
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 1st March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Davies at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1876.
JAMES DAVIES, of No. 13, Grinshill Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN CONNECTION WITH STEERING
APPARATUS."
The object of this Invention is the utilization of the force of the water through
which the vessel is passing so as to make the labour of steering comparatively
easy, and enable one man to manage a vessel in heavy weather when otherwise it
might be necessary to employ two; or instead of employing the power or force thus
obtained, the steering gear can be so made as to move the rudder at nearly double
the usual speed with the ordinary amount of manual labour.
Where navigation is difficult, or the saving of a vessel from collision depends
upon a quick helm, this application of my Invention will prove invaluable.
The principle upon which the apparatus is based is capable of many modifications,
but it will be understood clearly by the two following plans which I proceed to
describe
-
Firstly. That suited to sea-going vessels which are subject to be tossed on the
waves. In this plan the tiller, which is secured to the rudder head, has a pin fixed
in its under side suited to receive one end of a piston rod which works into an
oscillating cylinder containing a buffer or spring. This spring or buffer must in the
first instance be depressed by mechanical force and the piston rod locked by suitable
means till it be fixed and adjusted on the deck and to the tiller. The releasing
of the piston rod may follow, as the purchase gear will make all desired depressions
of the spring. When the tiller is in a line with the keel and the cylinder on its
dead centre with the spring depressed, it is ready to give out that power either to port
or starboard; on a very slight motion being given to the wheel its force diminishes
as it approaches "hard over." This is deemed expedient, as excessive rigidity at
these points is not desirable, especially in a rough sea. But although the force of
the spring diminishes up to hard over, it can be made to exert considerable pressure
Price 6d1

page_text: even at its weakest point; the next move of the rudder, say from hard over to
the keel line, is partly accomplished by manual labour and partly by the force of
the water through which the vessel is passing, and that without allowing the wheel
to "race," it being understood that as the rudder approaches the keel line so does
the action of the water (on its surface) decrease in force; also that the cylinder
approaches its "dead centre" as the spring (under the action of the piston) becomes
inore depressed & offering greater resistance, and so modifies the thrust in propor-
tion at this point; the purchase gear will, with very slight exertion by the helmsman,
serve to bring the tiller over the keel line, and so on alternately.
The second plan is that best suited to vessels moving in comparatively still or smooth
waters, such as rivers, lakes, and currents, where vessels ride steadily. This plan
although it may not be so generally applicable as that herein-before described, it
nevertheless is far superior to it as regards efficiency, it being capable of such
adjustment as to render the steering of even larger vessels in smooth water a very
casy task, and in such craft will be found superior in economical points to steam
or hydraulic steering gear or other power to save manual labour at the cost of con-
suming fuel.
The utilizing of the force of the water through which a vessel is passing is done
by means of a lever or levers with weights on balls on the ends of the same, the
lengths and weights to correspond with the size of the vessel to be steered; the
wheel purchase may be very simple in construction.
For convenience I describe the action by reference to only one lever and ball.
When the lever with ball are in the vertical position the rudder is also in a line
with the keel, and a slight turn of the wheel will allow the ball & lever to exert
its weight in a downward direction and so pulling the connecting rods, rope, or
chain, which may be fixed to the other end of the lever and to the cross head or
double tiller attached to the rudder. The weight of the ball (at hard over) acts
with increasing force as it approaches the latter point; this is a very desirable
qualification, as the rudder can be brought hard over with but a very little manual
labour, and with a speed equal to almost any emergency. When the lever and
weight are in a horizontal position the rudder will be hard over, or at an angle of
about forty-five degrees from the keel line, and from this point the lever and
weight are brought up to the vertical position at the same time as the rudder is
brought in line with the keel, by the same incaus as herein-before described, viz.,
partly by the power of the man at the wheel, and partly by the force of the water
through which the vessel is passing.
The purchase gear with which the belmsman exerts his power to control the
rudder may be of the usual kinds or modifications thereof now in use, and its
connection with the fore-named mechanism (for utilizing the force of the water
through which the vessel is passing) may be of the simple well-known methods of
conveying power, likewise the connections extended this to the rudder, on which
I fix a tiller of ordinary construction, preference being given to the quadrant tiller
with chain gear, its length to centre of rudder head to correspond with the radius
of the shorter end of the "lever and ball" named above.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st September
1876.
JAMES DAVIES, of No. 13, Grinshill Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN CONNECTION WITH STEERING
APPARATUS."
The object of this Invention is the utilization of the force of the water through
which the vessel is passing so as to make the labour of steering comparatively
pasy, and enable one man to manage a vossel in heavy weather when otherwise it

page_text: might be necessary to employ two; or instead of employing the power or force thus
obtained, the steering gear can be so made as to move the rudder at nearly double
the usual speed with the ordinary amount of manual labour.
Where navigation is difficult, or the saving of a vessel from collision depends
upon a quick helm, this application of my Invention will prove invaluable.
The principle upon which the apparatus is based is capable of many modifications,
but it will be understood clearly by the two following plans which I proceed to
describe:-
Firstly. That suited to sea-going vessels which are subject to be tossed on the
waves. In this plan the tiller, which is secured to the rudder head, has a pin fixed.
in its under side suited to receive one end of a piston rod, which works into an
oscillating cylinder containing a buffer or spring. This spring or buffer must in the
first instance be depressed by mechanical force and the piston rod locked by suitable
means till it be fixed and adjusted on the deck and to the tiller. The releasing
of the piston rod may follow, as the purchase gear will make all desired depressions
of the spring. When the tiller is in a line with the keel and the cylinder on its dead
centre with the spring depressed, it is ready to give out that power either to port:
or starboard; on a very slight motion being given to the wheel its force diminishes.
as it approaches "hard over." This is deemed expedient, as excessive rigidity at
these points is not desirable, especially in a rough sea. But although the force of the
spring diminishes up to "hard over it can be made to exert considerable pressure
even at its weakest point; the next move of the rudder, say frour hard over to
the keel line, is partly accomplished by manual labour and partly by the force of
the water through which the vessel is passing, and that without allowing the wheel
to "race," it being understood that as the rudder approaches the keel line so does
the action of the water (on its surface) decrease in force; also that the cylinder
approaches its "dead centre as the spring (under the action of the piston) becomes.
more depressed and offering greater resistance, and so modifies the thrust in propor-
tion at this point; the purchase gear will, with very slight exertion by the helinsman,
serve to bring the tiller over the keel line, and so on alternately.
"
"
The second plan is that best suited to vessels moving in comparatively still or
smooth waters, such as rivers, lakes, and currents, where vessels ride steadily. This
plan, although it may not be so generally applicable as that hercin-before described,
it nevertheless is far superior to it, as regards efficiency, it being capable of such
adjustment as to render the steering of even large vessels in smooth water a very
casy task, and in such craft will be found superior in economical points to steam or
hydraulic steering gear or other power to save manual labour at the cost of con-
suming fuel.
The utilizing of the force of the water through which a vessel is passing is done
by the application of a lever having a weight of iron or lead on one end; the other
end is fixed on a spindle, which is in connection with the purchase gear, so that
when the rudder is in a line with the ship's keel the lever and the weight
are in a vertical position, and as the helmsman moves the steering apparatus.
to port or starboard, the weight on the lever will exert its power till it reaclics
the horizontal line of spindle or a little further; thus great assistance is given to the
man at the wheel. When the weight has reached the horizontal line or a little
over the rudder is "hard over," and offers its greatest resistance to the man's
power at the wheel. The next move of the rudder, say back again to the keel line,
is done with the combined force of the man at the wheel, and the force of the water
through which the vessel is passing; but by far the greater power in this instance
is derived from the water through which the vessel is passing. Therefore the
rudder can, with this arrangement, be put hard over in about half the time required
by any other hand or manual power steering apparatus. When the lever and
weight are in a horizontal position the rudder will be hard over, or at an angle of
about forty-five degrees from the keel line, and from this point the lever and weight
are brought up to the vertical position the same time as the rudder is brought in
line with the keel, by the same means as herein-before described, videlicet, "partly by

page_text: the power of the man at the wheel, and partly by the force of the water through
which the vessel is passing.
The "purchase gear" with which the helmsman exerts his power to control the
rudder may be of the usual kinds or modifications thereof now in use, and its
connection with the fore-named mechanism (for utilising the force of the water
through which the vessel is passing) may be of the simple well-known methods of
conveying power, likewise the connections extended thence to the rudder, on which
I fix a tiller of ordinary construction, preference being given to the quadrant tiller
with chain gear, its length to centre of rudder head to correspond with the radius
of the shorter end of the "lever and ball" named above.
In order that the nature of my said Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed may be particularly described and ascertained, this Speci-
fication is accompanied by a Sheet of Drawings having figures and letters of
reference marked thereupon; the like letter being used to denote a similar or corre-
sponding part in each Figure.
In the Drawings Figures 1 and 2 are respectively an elevations and plan of one
arrangement according to my Invention, as herein-before described, and at A is
shown the position of lead weight W when helm is hard over; Figure 3 is a
plan view of a similar arrangement; the weight where shewn is marked W in all
views.
Figures 4 and 5 are an elevation and plan of an arrangement more particularly
applicable for small steamers and boats having no spring on tiller.
Figures 6 and 7 shew an arrangement with the spring S.
It will be observed
that this arrangement is applicable more particularly for tillers, and at E is pro-
vided a screw eye pin in gland to lock the piston, and thereby restrain the exercise
of the power when the spring has been depressed, so as to make it ready for fixing;
Figure 5 shews the helm amidships, and Figure 6 the helm hard over port.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively an end and side elevation of another arrange-
ment or modification of iny Invention somewhat on the plan of Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4. It will be clearly understood by reference to that section of this Specifica-
tion referring thereto.
It will also be clearly understood, by reference to the Specification and the accom-
panying Drawings, that these latter only illustrate some modifications of my
Invention, the principle of which is clearly explained in the descriptive portion of
this Specification, and that the arrangement and details may be modified as circum-
stances may require, and that therefore what I claim as my Invention and desire
to secure by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the utilization of the
force of the water through which the vessel is passing, so to (1) lighten considerably
the labor of steering, or (2) to move the rudder over at double the usual speed to give
her a quick helm, the first object being attained by the use of a spring buffer or
accumulator in oscillating cylinder having a piston rod attached to a pin on tiller,
the spring giving out the imparted power, and thus rendering the steering very
casy, the second object being attained by means of the use of levers with weights
or balls on their ends, the weight of the balls and levers being brought into certain
positions by the force of the water, and the power of the man is the power thus
obtained and utilized to assist in the steering of the vessel. I claim therefore the
utilization of the power thus obtained, and its application in the modes and
manners herein in the Specification described, and in the accompanying Drawings
illustrated, and in means and arrangements mechanically equivalent thereto.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Davies, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six
JAMES DAVIES. (L.S.)