аци Apparatus for Utilizing Electricity as a Motive Power for same.
Year: 1888

page_text: аци
Apparatus for Utilizing Electricity as a Motive Power for same.
I RICHARD RICHARDSON HUTCHINSON of 114 Edith Grove Brompton London, S.W.
Electrical and Mechanical Engineer 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 :-
My Invention relates to that class of apparatus usually employed for actuating the
rudder of ships, the steersman merely moving a comparatively light wheel in order to
set in motion the mechanism that moves the rudder-Hitherto such apparatus has
been operated by steam or hydraulic power, but according to my Invention I provide.
a means for utilizing a current of electricity as a motive power for this purpose, and
thereby admit of a movement of the rudder that may be synchronous with the corre-
sponding movement of the steering wheel by the steersman, without imposing a strain
upon said wheel-I am enabled to construct the whole apparatus in a more compact
manner, and occupying less space than is the case when steam or water power is
employed, and in practice, it is simpler to conduct the requisite current of electricity
from the engine room of the ship than to transmit power by means of long steam
pipes and hydraulic mains, and their concomitant waste of energy through leakage,
radiation and loss of pressure.
In order that my Invention may be better understood, I have appended the accom-
panying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an end elevation of the
steering apparatus according to my Invention; with the upper part thereof in section,
and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a diagram of the electrical
circuit and connections appertaining thereto, Figure 4 a view of the friction and chain
wheels, shewn detached, and Figure 5 is the indicator dial.
In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a hand steering whee! A, Figures 1
and 2, of the usual type, and mount said wheel upon a casing or pillar B adjacent to
the binnacle, and either placed upon the bridge, hurricane deck, or spar deck of the
ship to which the Invention is applied-A chain or rope grooved wheel (is fixed
upon the axle or spindle of the steering wheel A, and a pitched chain c or rope is
passed, inside the casing B, through the deck, to the corresponding chain or rope,
511

page_text: grooved, wheel which is mounted upon a gudgeon, working freely in a bracket
attached to the frame of the machine, which is preferably.fixed upon the lower deck,
or in any case, below the steering wheel A. Said wheel is fitted loosely upon the
gudgeon (shewn more particularly by Figure 4) and is interiorly coned to receive
}
the projecting male cone of the wheel or drum k, which is firmly attached to the
gudgeon l, and carries a cross bar, or beam Figure 1, which is provided at each
extremity with triangular, or wedge-shaped contact slips ff so that a depression of
the beam upon either side will establish electrical contact between either said lever i
and the spring contacts g g or between these, when each are separately connected to
different leads. A spring serves to maintain the beam in a perfectly horizontal
position when the pressure caused by the tension of the endless chain or rope upon
the wheel is relaxed; the electric circuit then being entirely broken. I provide
two electric motors E E¹ so arranged as to revolve in an opposite direction to each
other, and both armatures being fixed upon one spindle, to which I also attach a
pinion F, gearing with a spur wheel D, which is mounted upon, or attached to a
chain barrel El, round which is wound a chain J, the two ends or bight of which
are carried under the guide pullies II, and lead aft to the tiller.
The exact position of said tiller is indicated to the steersman by means of the
indicator, shewn by the enlarged view Figure 5, the index a of which is operated by a
vertical shaft upon the lower extremity of which is fixed the bevil wheel d, driven by
a corresponding wheel e fixed to the axle of the chain barrel H.
The electrical connections may be better understood by reference to the diagram
Figure 3. The tipping beam i may make contact with either g or g', according to the
direction of its inclination, which is governed by the direction of rotation of the
steering wheel A. The contacts g g' are connected by cables or leads p p to one
brush of each motor m. n the opposite brushes of each being coupled by the cable
or lead o to the terminals of the dynamo electric generator or other source of
power.
The method of operating the device or contrivance according to my Invention is as
follows, that is to say,
It is essential in every mechanical steering apparatus for use on large ships, that
the point of application of same, viz. the steering wheel, shall not differ in its applica-
tion from steering wheels in which the power is actually applied to the rudder from
the axle thereof, or a windlass attached thereto.
22
Therefore, for example, if the steering wheel A be turned to port, the "grip or
adhesion of the chain or rove wheel jupon the conical face of the wheel or disc k,
causes the beam i to tip, and make contact at f¹ with the contact springs g¹-This
being accomplished, any further rotation of the steering wheel A in the same direction
simply maintains said contact, and allows the chain or rope wheel j to slip upon the
conical friction surface of k-The electric contact so established, causes the electric
motor E to revolve in one direction, the armature of E meanwhile revolving idly
within its field-The pinion F gearing into the spur wheel D causes the chain
barrel H to revolve, hauling upon one end of the chain J and correspondingly
slackening the opposite end of said chain, and thus moving the rudder of the ship-
While the steersman moves the steering wheel in the same direction, electrical
contact is maintained at one end of the beam i, and the electric motor corresponding
thereto, operates the rudder in one direction, but when the steersman ceases to move
the wheel A, the spring returns the beam i to its normal horizontal position and
breaks the electric contact, and stops the motion of the barrel H.
If however the wheel A be moved in the opposite direction, the other electric motor
becomes actuated, and the barrel H, and consequently the rudder, is moved in the
opposite direction.
The barrel H being "pocketed" or pitched to suit the chain J, the movement of
said barrel H must correspond to that of the rudder, hence the indicator a invariably
shows the exact position, or angle thereof, irrespective of the degree of slip of the
contact wheels ik or the speed ratio of the motors E E¹ relatively to that of the
barrel H.

page_text: I may as an alternative device, employ a single motor, to which a reversal of
the direction of rotation may be imparted by means of the reversal of the current
through the field magnets, said reversal of current being, performed by the beam i
and contacts g g' as hereinbefore described. Or I may cause the beam i to vary the
angle of commutation upon the brushes and commutator of a single motor, and thereby
reverse the direction of rotation at will.
The steering mechanism is not necessarily fixed directly under the wheel A, but may
in any case where such a method is desirable, be fitted over the tiller the chain c being
carried to the wheel j over guide pullies, and being piped or cased in to prevent
damage.
Or I may, where necessary, employ a lever to operate the beam i directly without
the intervention of either a steering wheel A, or chain pullies C J.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. In steering apparatus for ships or other craft the combination of an electric
motor or motors with a chain or rope barrel for applying power and giving motion
thereto, substantially as herein described and shewn.
Second. In steering apparatus for ships or other craft, the application of a contact
beam i, Figures 1 and 2, with contacts g g' and friction wheels j and k with
equilibrium spring h, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn.
Third. In combination with steering apparatus, as referred to in the preceding claims,
the employment of an indicator Figure 5 and shewn by Figures 1 and 2 substantially
as herein described and shewn.
Fourth. The combination of a chain or rope barrel H with contact appliances g g¹
and one or more electric motors E E¹, chain gear c, C and J and directly driven
indicator a Figure 1, with electrical connections as shewn by the diagram Figure 5,
substantially as herein described and shewn the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th day of October 1888.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.