Improvements in Steering Gear.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steering Gear.
A communication from THE PNEUMATIC STEERING GEAR AND MANUFACTURING
COMPANY, of New York, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., 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 relates to steering gear.
The object is to produce an apparatus in which the necessary movement of the
rudder of a vessel will be effected in a speedy and reliable manner by compressed
aeriform fluid, with or without the intervention of liquid; furthermore to produce
an apparatus by which, after the rudder has been moved to a certain position, it may
instantly be checked against further movement at the time and be held there
elastically while the steersman may know what position the rudder is in from the
situation of the moving parts; furthermore to produce an apparatus in which a
piston will be cushioned without the intervention of springs to prevent it from
striking the heads of its cylinder and the rudder from going too far hard over;
furthermore to produce an apparatus in which cords or chains to the valve may be
done away with, and the valve be operated through pipes containing fluid placed
below the water line; furthermore to produce an apparatus in which rope or chain
connections and guide pulleys may be done away with and the power be applied
immediately to the rudder, thus making direct connection between a piston and the
rudder, and thereby lessening liability of accident, and preventing sudden and
violent motions of the rudder from seas striking it and consequent strain by getting
the direct benefit of the aeriform fluid confined on both sides of the piston; and
finally to produce an apparatus by which after the rudder has been moved to a position
it will be checked and held automatically.
To these ends the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a steering apparatus embodying the invention, showing
the rudder post provided with a quadrant and connected by rope or chain with the
piston rods of the steering cylinder; showing also means for operating the valve by
hand to open a supply port at either end and an exhaust-port at the other, and admit
motive-fluid to either end, with escape from the other; or for operating the valve by
hand instantly to close both the supply and exhaust ports at both ends of the cylinder,
to arrest further operation of the piston after the rudder has been sufficiently moved
in either direction, and hold it elastically.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the cylinder and its valve chest, showing
the arrangement with employment of one piston when no liquid is used in the
cylinder; showing also the valve the ports for the admission and escape of motive
fluid and the arrangement of the parts with relation to the piston, whereby the
piston will cover the escape port at either end when near the end of its stroke, and
thus cause aeriform fluid then to be retained between it and the end of the cylinder
to form a cushion.
Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the cylinder and its valve chest, showing
the arrangement with employment of two pistons when liquid is used in the cylinder;
showing furthermore, in addition to what is shown in figure-2, the liquid, the
perforated partition, and the liquid reservoir.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the cylinder when arranged for
liquid, and taken on the line x x of figure 3.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a steering apparatus in which a body of liquid is
interposed between the steering wheel. or pilot house and the valve to do away with
operating rods, cords or chains also to allow operation of the valve by connections
which can readily be placed below the water-line...
Fig. 6 is a view of a steering apparatus in which the operation of the valve from
the pilot house as illustrated in figure 5 is shown applied to a single steering cylinder
the pistons of which are connected with the rudder by ropes or chains passing over
pulleys and secured to a quadrant fixed upon the rudder post; in which also bodies
are shown (in this instance a system of levers) located between the rudder and the
valve of the steering cylinder and moved by parts operated from the steering
cylinder, automatically to close the valves of the steering cylinder immediately after
opening the inlet; that is, being operated by the inner portion of the quadrant
having diminished motion, instantly to close both the supply and the exhaust ports, to
arrest further operation of a piston after the rudder has been sufficiently removed in
either direction and hold it elastically, and operated by the inner portion of the yoke
having decreased motion, and so arranged that the valve upon the steering cylinder
will be moved automatically, instantly to close the ports of the cylinder after each
movement given it from the steering wheel, and thus elastically hold the rudder in
the position to which it has been moved.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention showing two
cylinders for co-operation and the application of force directly to a part fixed to and
moving the rudder head; showing also bodies, (in this instance again levers) located
between the rudder and the valve of the steering cylinder.
Fig. 8 is a view exhibiting in side elevation the steering cylinder, its piston rods
and the piston rods of two other cylinders, and in longitudinal section, pipes and
cylinders connected and containing a body, (in this instance a liquid) located between
the rudder and the valve of the steering cylinder and moved by parts operated from
the steering cylinder, automatically to close the valves of the steering cylinder
immediately after opening the inlet, that is, reduction of motion being effected by
the employment of the liquid, instantly to close both the supply and exhaust ports to
arrest further operation of the piston after the rudder has been sufficiently moved in
either direction and hold it elastically.
Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the same showing the piston rods of the steering
cylinder attached to the piston rods of a second cylinder containing a liquid, pressure
upon which, through pipes to another cylinder, operates the piston of such other
cylinder to close the valves of the steering cylinder immediately after it has been
opened, etc.; showing also the valve chest, its valve-stem, connections between the
same and an adjunctive cylinder to close the valves, and connections from the same
toward the wheel house to let motive fluid into either end of the cylinder.
In these drawings A designates a cylinder to be placed upon the deck of a vessel,
or 'wherever' convenient; and this cylinder contains a piston or pistons B connected
by piston rods 6 either by ropes or chains or by direct attachment, to the rudder
head through a quadrant, yoke or tiller c fixed upon the rudder head.
D designates a valve chest containing a valve d'operated by a valve stem-d'. This
valve stem is moved in one direction or the other from the pilot house the bridge or
any other suitable place in the vessel by connections therefrom with the 'valve stem
operating to cover and uncover ports a a¹ a³ a leading to and from the ends of the
cylinder, compressed aeriform fluid being supplied from, a suitable source through a
piped and escaping after use through a pipe ds; and the valve, from the situations
in the vessel named, is to be capable of operation in such manner that it may uncover
an induction port at one end of the cylinder covering an eduction port there, and
uncover an eduction port at the other end covering an induction port there, and then
uncover an induction port at the other end, covering an eduction port there, and
uncover an eduction port at the first and covering an induction port there; or

page_text: after, opening an induction port at either end with the corresponding action incident
thereto described, by slight movement in an opposite direction, cover both the
induction and the eduction ports of the cylinder at both ends; this operation to be
performed either by hand, by throwing the valve back slightly after having moved it
to uncover a port, or automatically by connection of the valve stem with some of
the moving parts.
Of the ports for the admission and exhaust of motive-fluid to and from the
cylinders A, a and a³ are for the admission ports and a¹ and a³ are the exhaust ports
the exhaust ports opening into a central or other escape port.
The eduction ports are so arranged in the cylinders as to be covered by the piston
when near the end of its stroke thus confining some aeriform fluid between itself and
the end of the cylinder and forming a cushion.
The valve stem is moved preferably through a wheel or lever E and these are
moved directly from the steering wheel at the pilot house or other situation in the
vessel, by a cord or chain e or its equivalent a liquid in pipes acted on by pressure
from the wheel and moving pistons connected with a lever or wheel as shown in
figures 5 and 6.
To close the ports automatically immediately after a port has been opened at
either end of the cylinder, a system of levers is provided or its equivalent liquid in
cylinders, or cylinders and pipes forced in one direction or the other by a piston or
pistons, said system or its equivalent being actuated by a moving part or parts
between the rudder and the valve of the steering cylinders and operating to move
the valve a short distance in the direction epposite to that in which it was moved to
admit aeriform fluid into one end of the cylinder or the other, and thus effecting
closure of all the ports, the purpose being, after the rudder has been moved a sufficient
distance in either one direction or the other instantly to stop it, and to hold it there
elastically by having aeriform fluid confined on both sides of the piston or pistons
which will yieldingly receive pressure from the rudder preventing injury thereto or
to the steering mechanism from sudden or violent shocks or concussions and
obviating strain upon any of the parts,-the confined air acting as a spring or
springs.
As illustrated in figures 1 and 6 a rope or chain is fastened to a quadrant; as
illustrated in figure 7, rods, the equivalents of the rope or chain, are attached to a
yoke the equivalent of the quadrant.
As illustrated further in figure 1 a wheel E is moved in one direction or the other
from the wheel-house or other situation in the vessel to operate the valve stein and
admit aeriform fluid into one end of the cylinder or the other, by means of a cord or
chain e; as illustrated in figures 5 and 6 a lever E the equivalent of the wheel, is
moved in one direction or the other from the wheel house or other suitable situation
upon the vessel to operate the valve stem and admit aeriform fluid into one end of
the cylinder of the other by means of a liquid e the equivalent of the cord or chain,
the liquid being conducted in pipes and forced in one direction or the other by
pistons attached to the steering wheel against the piston a rod attached to which
actuates the lever E.
Turning the steering wheel in a direction to depress one piston and raise the other,
presses the liquid out of one cylinder and through its pipes into its corresponding
cylinder and moves the two pistons which are connected by the rod that operates the
lever E; as for example, shown in dotted lines. The liquid in the opposite cylinder
is forced through its pipe into its corresponding cylinder, the piston in this cylinder
being raised as much as the piston in the opposite cylinder is depressed; and the
cylinders being of equal size the displaced liquid in one cylinder finds room in the
other. The upper cylinders need not be placed in the pilot house but may be put
below the water line under the pilot house rods and chains if desired, leading up to a
wheel there.
The chief purpose of this arrangement is to do away with tiller or valve rods and
chains and also to present means for operating a valve which means may be placed
below the water-line.

page_text: In figure 1 the wheel E has a pinion to operate the parts following; in figures 5
and 6 the lever being one of the first class, the part beyond the fulcrum, that is,
between the fulcrum and the weight, corresponds to the pinion.
As illustrated furthermore in figure 6 after the motive fluid has been admitted
into either end of the cylinder further ingress thereof into either end as well as
egress of fluid from the other end is automatically arrested from the moving parts,
by a system of levers operating in direction opposite to the movement of the piston
to close the ports of the cylinder; as illustrated in figures 8 and 9 after the motive
fluid has been admitted into either end of the cylinder further ingress thereof into
either end, as well as egress of fluid from the other end is automatically arrested
from the moving parts, by liquid in the cylinder, pipes and another cylinder, forced
in one direction or the other by a piston, the rods of which are attached to the piston
rods of the steering cylinder, so that the liquid forced in one direction or the other,
bears against a piston in the second cylinder the rod of which operates the valve stem
in the chest of the steering cylinder and moves the valves over the ports.
As shewn in Fig. 3 the steering cylinder A has a central partition a¹ dividing it
into two compartments of equal size. The partition is provided with a central
opening a to allow communication between these apartments. Two pistons B B are
also provided one in each compartment. Between the pistons oil, glycerine or other
suitable liquid is supplied and is there retained for the purpose of forming a check.
As before stated the inlet and exhaust ports for the admission and discharge of
operating fluid to and from the pistons are near the ends of the cylinder, are upon
the outer side of each piston head, and so arranged that the piston, when near the
end of stroke outward, will close an eduction port, and, compressing the contained
fluid will cushion itself.
When motive fluid is admitted at one end of the cylinder it drives the piston at that
end toward the central partition the oil being pressed and driven through the opening
therein against the opposite piston head, forcing this piston head toward the opposite
end of the cylinder. The speed with which the piston will move depends of course
upon the size of the opening a. The fluid between the pistons is preferably a liquid
such as oil or glycerine, since aeriform fluid will admit of too great an amount of
compression to cause the piston to act readily, and will for the same reason fail to hold
the rudder steadily against the force of the waves, while such liquid as water fails to
present the advantage of requisite density and lubrication and the great advantage of
decreased liability to freeze.
Upon the top of the cylinder and preferably formed with it, is provided a small
compartment A' filled with liquid, which serves as a reservoir and communicates
with the space between the piston heads by ducts shown in dotted lines in figure 4,
to supply any leakage from the cylinder, thus insuring perfect action and a good
supply at all times.
Following figure 1 pulling the chain in the direction indicated by the arrow 1,
moves the valve in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, uncovering the port in
the right hand end of the cylinder A, whereupon motive fluid enters this cylinder
and forces the piston B and its rod b in the same direction and this pulls upon
the rope or chain and moves the quadrant in the direction indicated by the
arrow 3.
Suppose the piston be travelling from right to left the motive fluid enters the
cylinder through the port a³ and the exhaust fluid on the left hand side of the
piston escapes through the port a until the piston travels up to and over it, closing
it and preventing any exhaust fluid from escaping. The aeriform fluid thus held
in the cylinder is compressed by the further movement of the piston until the
pressure of the compressed exhaust fluid is sufficient to arrest the motion of the
piston. The admission port a is then uncovered as the piston is stopped before
reaching it and fluid can be admitted for the return stroke. The object is to furnish
a means of preventing the piston from striking the heads of the cylinder or the
rudder from going too far independent of the pilots or steersman's care in moving
the rudder hard over.

page_text: In figure 7 the closing of the supply and the exhaust ports instantly to arrest
further operation of a piston after the rudder has been moved in either direction and
to hold it elastically may be automatic by a system of levers arranged between the
rudder or the parts moving the rudder and the valve of the steering cylinder; and
steering cylinder or system of levers etc. are here shown arranged in pairs the
cylinders being bolted upon a sole-plate and the power being applied directly from
the piston rods to a quadrant, yoke or tiller on the rudder post.
In this figure A A indicate the steering cylinders containing the pistons B before
described (not here shown) having rods bb; C is the rudder head having fixed upon
it a yoke c. DD are the valve chests containing the valves d d (not here shown);
and d' d' are the valve stems d² being the supply pipes provided with suitable
valves for the purpose of shutting off the supply of motive fluid to either of the
cylinders in case of accident to the other. E is a wheel moved by a cord or chain e
and provided with a pinion, a portion of a lever, or a crank el, a pinion being shown
in this figure, and e2 is a lever provided with a rack meshing with the pinion e¹ and
pivotted to a lever e³ which in turn is pivotted to the valve stem d' and centrally held
and operated from the wheel E.
F indicates a portion of the yoke or quadrant between its attachment to the piston
rod and the rudder head and at this portion, near the rudder head where the arc of
motion of the quadrant or yoke is not so great as at the outer parts, are pivotted
levers to which again are pivotted levers f¹ having their fulcrums at o beyond
which are pivotted levers f which are finally pivotted to the levers e³ connecting
with the valve steins.
The motion of the yoke will be nearly simultaneous with the opening of the valve
and admission of motive fluid and, as the movement of the part near the rudder head
is just sufficient to close the valve, the rudder will move only a certain distance and
then be held elastically until motive fluid is again admitted; and furthermore as the
rudder will move only as the chain or cord e is moved, the steersman will know what
position the rudder is in from the amount of motion and the direction of the move-
iment of the valve cord or chain e; so that the placing of the wheel or lever that
operates this cord or chain in a certain position, will place the rudder in corresponding
and known position.
The chief objects of this arrangement shown in figure 7 are to apply power directly
from the cylinder to the rudder, thereby reducing liability of accident by doing away
with rope or chain connections and guide pulleys and relieving shock to the rudder by
concussion by seas striking it, and obviating strain upon the parts by making a more
direct communication between the cylinder and the rudder head, thus getting the full
benefit of the elastic fluid which is confined between the piston heads and the
cylinder upon closing the ports after the rudder has been moved to the desired
position while, by the arrangement of cylinders in pairs, power can be applied in
opposite direction to each side of a yoke or quadrant upon the rudder head.
In figures 8 and 9 are shown a modification of the means for automatically closing
the ports at the cylinder, to arrest further operation of a piston after the rudder has
been moved in either direction and to hold it elastically, there being in this instance
instead of a system of levers a body of liquid forced in one direction or the other by
a piston operated by rods attached to the piston rods of its steering cylinder, against
a second piston connecting with the valve of the steering cylinder the whole being
also arranged between the rudder or the parts moving the rudder and the valve of the
steering cylinder.
In these figures A again indicates the steering cylinder containing the piston B
(not shown) having the piston rods b. The piston rods may connect with the rudder
head C (not shown) carrying a quadrant or yoke c (not shown) either by ropes or
chains and guide pulleys as shown in figure 1 or directly as shown in figure 7.
Dagain is the valve chest containing the valve d (not shown) having a stem d¹.
E again is a wheel moved by a chain e from the vessel and e¹ is a crank upon said
wheel, the equivalent of the pinion e', the same wheel in figure 7 connecting with the
lever which is pivotted to the lever that is pivotted to the valve-stem. But

page_text: instead of the system of levers between the moving parts and the valve and moved
from the inner end of part F of the yoke c there is a combination of bodies, solid
and liquid between the moving parts and the valve, moved from the piston rod
of the steering cylinder or any other suitable moving part by haugers G (the
equivalents of the parts F) and to this are attached rods 9 (the equivalents of
the levers ) connecting centrally with the piston in a cylinder H which is attached
to the steering cylinder A the piston operating against the liquid gl the equivalent
of the lever 1, which is contained in the cylinder H and in the pipes I attached
to the cylinder H and to a second cylinder K that portion of it which is in the
cylinder H being equivalent to that part of the lever f1 which is between its
pivotal connection with the lever ✓ and its fulcrum o and that part which is in
the pipes I and the cylinder K being equivalent to that part of the lever f which
is in the other side of its fulcrum; and the liquid g¹ operating against the piston
in the cylinder K having attached to it a rod 93 (the equivalent of the lever f³);
the piston rod finally connecting pivotally with the lever e³ pivotally connecting
with the valve stem and the lever e.
Motion of the wheel E from right to left will move the lever e³ pushing the stem d¹
inward and so admitting motive fluid into the left end of the cylinder A and forcing
the piston and its rod d to the right.
The rod g being connected to the piston rod b will move with it, and as the
cylinders B and K and the pipes I are filled with liquid, the movement of the pistons
will displace the liquid, forcing it through a pipe I into the cylinder K against its
piston, and pushing this piston in a direction opposite to that of the rod 6 as the
piston is connected to the lever ea by its rod 9' this lever will pull the valve stem d¹
outward thus closing the valve in the chest d.
The result is the same as from the operation of the parts exhibited in figures 6
and 7 and the purpose is the same, the chief point of the modification being to reduce
motion without the intervention of a long lever or levers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, 1 declare that what I claim is ;-
1. The combination with a rudder of a vessel and located on the deck or elsewhere,
of a steering cylinder provided with a perforated partition and with pistons which
connect with the rudder and which has supply and exhaust ports in its ends and a
valve chest containing a valve connected with and operated from the pilot house first
to open a supply port at one end and an exhaust port at the other and then close the
ports at both ends substantially as described.
2. The cylinder provided with a central partition dividing it into two separate
chambers, communicating with each other by means of an opening in said partition
each chamber having an independent piston and there being a liquid interposed
between such pistons whereby motion of either piston is at once communicated to the
opposite piston substantially as described.
3. The cylinder divided into two equal communicating chambers each provided
with an independent piston, and there being a liquid interposed between the pistons
whereby motion of either piston is at once communicated to the other piston, the
cylinder having a separate chamber communicating with the space between the piston
heads, which chamber serves as a reservoir for an additional supply of interposed
liquid to prevent leaking and insure a full supply at all times substantially as
described.
4. The combination with a cylinder provided with a perforated partition and having
an inlet and an exhaust port at each end the inlet port being beyond the exhaust
port at or near the end of the cylinder, of pistons arranged as described and at the
end of the outward stroke covering an exhaust port, thus compressing the confined
fluid, cushioning and preventing the rudder from going too far over substantially as
set forth.

page_text: 5. The combination with the steering wheel of cylinders having pistons and con-
taining liquid against which the pistons bear, pipes containing liquid, further
cylinders having pistons and containing liquid which bears against them and a rod
which actuates a wheel or lever connected with the valve-stem substantially as set
forth.
6. The combination with the rudder of a vessel having a yoke upon its head of
steering cylinders, the pistons of which connect directly with the yoke on the rudder
post and operate in opposite directions the cylinders having supply and exhaust ports
at their ends, and valve chests containing valves connected with and operated from the
pilot house and controlled first to open supply ports at opposite ends of each cylinder
and exhaust ports at these ends and then close the ports at both ends substantially as
described.
7. The combination with a steering cylinder having a perforated partition and the
rudder having a quadrant, yoke or tiller, of devices interposed between the same and
the valve at the ports of the cylinder the devices being operated from a moving part
such as the rudder, automatically to close the ports immediately after the movement
of the rudder, whereby aeriform fluid will be confined in the cylinder on both
sides of its piston or pistons and the rudder will be held elastically substantially as
specified.
8. The combination with a steering cylinder having a piston rod or rods and
provided with a valve chest containing a valve provided with a stem of two cylinders
containing pistons of a pipe connected with both cylinders the cylinder and pipes
containing a liquid and a rod or rods connected to the piston rod or rods of the
steering cylinder or other part moved thereby, the rod or rods being fixed to the
piston in the one cylinder, and operating to push the piston and force the liquid in its
cylinder through a pipe against the piston in the other cylinder, the piston rod of
which connects with the valve stem of the steering cylinder and causes the valve to
close the ports as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of Inna 1889
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.