Improvements in Means for Steering Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Means for Steering Vessels.
I WILLIAM WALLACE, 129 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, Mechanic in Wood do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An invention for the more effective and rapid turning of vessels. It consists of
a vertical shaft fitted with two revolving blades. Its mode of operation is as
follows. The shaft has its upper end put in connection with the motive power,
the lower end is securely fixed in the centre of an axled part, on which the two
blades are fitted, each blade having its inner end formed with circular, bevilled
pinions. These pinions fit into a circular, bevilled pinion rail which is combined
to the top of a sole. The sole has a socket in the centre for the reception of a pivot
on which the shaft revolves. The blades are secured to the axled part by collars
and cotters, and are so placed that the edge of one blade is horizontal when that
of the other is perpendicular. The pinioned parts having equal number of pinions,
one revolution of the shaft produces one revolution of each blade on its own axis
and also on the axis of shaft and by this motion turns the vessel in the direction
desired. The sole is securely fixed to the bottom of a chamber made in the hull
of vessel. A stuffing box is attached to shaft and fixed on the upper part of
chamber. Two of these chambers are formed in the hull, near the keel, and at
suitable distances from stem and stern of vessel, each chamber containing
mechanism as above described. The chambers to be made V shaped at the two
ends so as to offer the least resistance when moving through the water.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig 1. Side view of Revolving Steer, showing full length of blades.
Fig 2. Side view of blade H shewing full breadth.
Fig 3. Side view of blade E showing least breadth.
Fig 4. Plan of centre part D with axles N and O, and collars F and F¹.
Fig 5. Side view of centre part D and pinion spaces G and J on blades.
Fig 6. Side view of sole part M.
Fig 7. Part plan of sole part M.
Fig 8. Plan of collar F.
Fig 9. Side view of collar F.
Fig 10. Side view of vessel shewing position of the two chambers S and T.
Dated this 29th day April 1897.
improvements in Means for Steering Vessels.
I WILLIAM WALLACE, 129 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, Mechanic in Wood do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
- [Price 8d.]

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
-
The invention relates to the steering of ships or navigable vessels and consists
in a form of steering wheel with pivoted blades, connected by gearing to a main
vertical shaft, so that the blades revolve round the axis of said shaft and also about
their own axes. The gear wheels form an epicycle train in which the horizontal
bevel pinion is a dead wheel. The above mechanism is actuated by steam or other
motive power and the object is to provide more effective apparatus than heretofore.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Left with my provisional specification.
Fig 1 is a front elevation of my steering mechanism showing it in full action.
Fig 2 is a side elevation of one of the blades showing full breadth.
Fig 3 is side elevation showing least breadth of blade.
Fig 4 is a plan of axled part.
Fig 5 is a side elevation of axled part showing part of vertical shaft and pivot.
Fig 6 is a side elevation of sole. Fig 7 is a part plan of sole. Fig 8 is a plan
of one of the collars. Fig 9 is a side view of collar. Fig 10 is a side elevation of
ship or vessel showing the two chambers for the reception of steering mechanism.
In all the views the same letters denote like or equivalent parts.
A is the vertical shaft enclosed in stuffing box tube C. B is the stuffing box.
The lower end of the vertical shaft A is inserted and securely fixed in the centre
of top of axled part D, which has in combination with it the two axles N and O,
and pivot K on centre of its under side. E and H are the two blades, having in
combination with them the bevilled pinioned circles G and J. N¹ and O¹ are the
two borings to fit the two axles. F2 and F3 are two apertures in the blades for
the admission of the collars F and F and cotters V and V₁ which hold the blades
to the axled part D. M is the sole which is securely fixed to the under part of chamber
in hull and has in combination with it the bevilled pinion rail L which fits the
pinions on the blades E and H. P is the socket for reception of pivot K. S and T
are two chambers made through hull, near the keel and at suitable distances from
stem and stern of vessel, each containing one of the steering appliances as above
described.
The mode of operation is as follows. Commencing with the revolving blades,
E and H. in combination with the axled parts N DO and revolving shaft A, are
placed athwart the ship or vessel. To produce a side or steering power, a feathering
action is produced on the blades by placing the edge of the blade E horizontal
while the edge of the blade H is placed perpendicular and in those positions the
pinions of the blades fit into the pinioned rail L on sole M. The three pinioned
parts GJ and L have equal numbers of teeth. The motive power is con-
nected to the upper end of shaft A which revolves on pivot K in socket P, conse-
quently one revolution of shaft A produces one revolution of the blades E and H
on their own axes as also on the axis of shaft. By these motions the ship or
vessel is turned in the required direction. By reversing the motion on the shaft
an opposite movement is produced.
The chambers S and T in hull, would require to be V shaped to offer the least
resistance to the water.
In their first or stationary position the two blades are at the angle of 45°. It
will be obvious that the area of the blades will vary to suit circumstances and that
the power of the motor will be determined according to the weight to be moved
and the speed to be obtained, and that the construction of the shaft, axles, blades
and other parts may be varied without departing from my invention.
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 is
First. Revolving blades for ships and navigable vessels constructed and
operating substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second. The combination of revolving steering blades E and H, axled combina-
tion N DO, collars FF¹, collars VV, pivot K with revolving shaft A for
connection to motor for the purpose set forth.
Third. The combination as stated in second claim involving pinioned parts G
and J, sole M, pinion rail L, socket P' combined to motor for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The construction of revolving steering blades E and H, pinioned
circles G and J, borings N¹ and O', apertures F2 and F3 for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 28th day of October 1897.
WILLIAM WALLACE.