Improved Means for Indicating the Position of a Ship's Helm.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Indicating the Position of a Ship's Helm.
We, HENRY SKINNER, of 43 Singlewell Road, Gravesend, Engineer, and
JOHN BALSIR CHATTERTON, of 51 Singlewell Road, Captain Half Pay List,
Bengal Army, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to provide improved means for indicating the
position of a ships rudder to approaching vessels.
To effect this we secure to the fore mast at a suitable distance from the deck and
above the ordinary white light an arm carrying another light preferably a red
light this arm is made to project forwards from the mast and close to the mast is
jointed to it by a vertical pivot. The arm we gear with the rudder in such a
manner that when the rudder is amidships the red light is vertically above the
white one and when the rudder is turned to one or other side the arm is turned
with it and so the position of the rudder is indicated to any approaching ship. To
turn the arm with the rudder we preferably lead cords or chains from the tiller
along the sides of the vessel and up the mast and then over pullies at the end of
arms which stand out from the mast and then secure them to the arm.
The lamps we draw up into place by lines which are led down to the deck and
we cause their upper part to be received into conical sockets at the ends of the
arms that carry them in this way they can be raised into place or lowered by a
man from the deck. Colored balls or discs may be used in day time instead of the
lamps.
Dated this 10th dow of M 1890
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Indicating the Position of a Ship's Helm.
We, HENRY SKINNER of 43 Ginglewell Road, Gravesend, Engineer, and
JOHN BALSIR CHATTERTON of 51 Ginglewell Road, Gravesend, Captain Half-
pay List Bengal Army 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 :-
This invention which relates to an improved means of indicating the position of
a ships lielm has for its object to provide vessels or ships with means for indicating
the position of their helms to approaching vessels or ships.
In carrying out our said invention we secure to the foremast or foretopmast at
any desired distance from the deck, and above the ordinary white mast-head light,
a swinging arm carrying another light preferably a red one; the said arm is made
so as to project forwards from the mast to which it is jointed by a vertical pivot,
and is geared in such a manner with the rudder that when the rudder is amidships
the red light is vertically above the white one, and when the rudder is turned to
the port or starboard side the said arm and red light is turned with it, thus
indicating the rudder's position to approaching vessels or ships.
But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood, and.
easily carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 Sheet one of which are side elevation and plan respectively of
our said improved means. Figure 3 Sheet 1 a side elevation of a modification of
same, and Figure 4 Sheet 2 a front view of Figure 1 shewing position of lights
when helm is turning to port.

page_text: Referring to the said drawings we secure a swinging arm A, preferably by
means of an adjustable collar B, to the foremast C, Figures 1 and 2, or foretop-
mast C, Figure 3, at any desired distance from the deck, and above the ordinary
white mast head light D, which is carried by a small arm E, attached to an
adjustable collar F, the said swinging arm A carries another light preferably a red
one G, at its outer end, and is pivotted at its inner end to a snug or projection b,
provided on the adjustable collar B, by means of a vertical pivot H; the said
adjustable collar B is also provided with two projecting arms J each of which are
. provided at their outer ends with guide pullies or wheels 7, so as to enable the
operating ropes or chains K, to work freely, the said operating ropes or chains
being suitably attached to the said swinging arm A, and connected at their other
ends to the rudder, tiller, rudder chains or steering gear in such a manner that
when the rudder is amidships the red light is vertically above the white one and
when the rudder is moved to either side the said arm A, and red light G, moves
with it as shown in dotted lines Figure 2, suitable guide wheels, pullies or sheaves
being provided where necessary so as to guide the said operating ropes or
chains K.
The said white and red lights are carried by suitable lamps L preferably having
their upper parts so formed as to fit into conical sockets M, attached to the outer
ends of the arms A and E, into which they may be drawn up and placed, or drawn
down from, by means of cords or ropes N, from the deck, suitable eyelets, sheaves,
or guide wheels being provided where necessary for their guidance, thus enabling
the said lamps to be raised or lowered from the deck.
In lieu of the said white and red lights and lamps we may employ colored balls
or discs in the daytime.
As a modification of our said swinging arm A, Figures 1 and 2, we may form it
after the shape of bracket as shown in Figure 3, that is we may provide it with an
under arm or stay A¹, the lower end of which is formed as a steadying pivot a',
.the socket in which the said pivot works being formed in or attached to the white
lights arm E. Or as a further modification we may provide the said arm A
Figures 1 and 2 with a top stay, its one end being connected near the outer end of
the said arm and its other end to the mast, and in lieu of the said projecting
arms J, we may employ two sheaves one of which is suitably connected to either
side of the mast. And if desired we may so arrange the whole that should any
accidents occur, such as the vessel not being able to obey her helm from accident to
tiller rope or other cause, we may throw the said indicating red light out of gear
with the rudder by means of suitable backstays, so as not to mislead any approaching.
vessel.
The said red and white lamps and conical sockets may be so mounted as to
remain in a vertical position, no matter how the ship may be moved through stress
of weather, so as to be always vertically above each other, as if the vessel were on
an even keel. And if desired the said lights may be mounted on the stay in lieu of
the mast.
The whole of the said arrangement, which is applicable to any class of vessel
that is or may he afloat, is such that, supposing a ship as at present constructed,
180 feet long and from 30 to 40 beam, steaming at 12 knots per hour,-it will
occupy the said vessel about two minutes to turn so as to shut out her ordinary red
side light from view, and expose her green side light to an approaching vessel, and
thus indicate that she has starboarded her helm, whereas by the employment of our
red indicating light on the foremast operated from the rudder, the intelligence is
flashed a few seconds before the vessel begins to obey her helm thus saving an
amount of time and so tending to prevent collisions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts

page_text: constituting our improved means for indicating the position of a ships helm, all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. In indicating the position of a vessel's helm to an approaching vessel, the
employment of a red or other movable light or ball above the ordinary white mast
light or ball so arranged and operated as to follow the movements of the rudder,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
u .: נים
1001
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.