IMPROVED STEERING APPARATUS AND IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS . FOR WORKING THE SAME, THE SAID IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR WORKING WINDING, HOISTING, OR OTHER APPARATUS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Carnegie Kirk, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of
:
:
•
"IMPROVED STEERING APPARATUS AND IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS
.
FOR WORKING THE SAME, THE SAID IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS
BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR WORKING WINDING, HOISTING, OR OTHER
APPARATUS.”
Sealed the 17th June 1873, and dated the 24th December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Carnegie
Kirk at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 24th December 1872.
I, ALEXANDER CARNEGIE KIRK, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVED STEERING APPARATUS AND IMPROVED MOTIVE-
POWER APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE SAME, THE SAID IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER
APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR WORKING WINDING, HOISTING, OR OTHER
APPARATUS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention comprises various improvements in steering apparatus
and in motive-power apparatus for working the same; and the improve-
ments in motive-power apparatus are also advantageously applicable for
working winding, hoisting, or other apparatus. Thus when the improved

page_text: motive-power apparatus is provided on board ship for working steering
apparatus it may also be used when required for working winches or
other separate machines.
The improved motive-power apparatus may also be used with advan-
tage either on board ship or on land, wherever it is desirable to work one
or more machines at a greater or less distance from the source of the
power, and particularly when the machine or machines work only at
intervals and not continuously.
In one modification of the improved steering apparatus a cross head
lever or double tiller is fixed on the rudder stock, and each end of this 1
lever is connected to the piston of a differential double-acting hydraulic
cylinder. This arrangement renders the force applied to turn the rudder
almost exclusively. torsional and devoid of side thrust, and allows of
the cross head lever being made small, of the hydraulic cylinders being
made with short' strokes, and of the entire apparatus being rendered
more compact and convenient than heretofore. Each cylinder is made
differential by applying a trunk or large piston rod of about half the
area of the piston to one side of the piston, and the trunk end of the
cylinder is always in communication with the water or liquid under
pressure by which the apparatus is worked, the action being obtained
by admitting the liquid to or allowing it to escape from the other end.
The manual control of the steering apparatus is obtained by arranging
an ordinary steering wheel or equivalent appliance to act on a valve or
valves regulating the admission or exit of the liquid under pressure into
or from the larger ends of the hydraulic cylinders. The necessary
passages are arranged in a valve chest, which is made to move in concert
with the rudder either by being fixed directly on the rudder-stock or by
being connected thereto in any convenient way. The steersman moves
the valve or valves, or a cam or equivalent detail acting on the valve or
valves into a position corresponding to that which he wishes the rudder
to assume, and the rudder in taking up that position moves the valve
chest into a position which restores the mean or neutral relative position
of the valves or cam, and thereby terminates the action.
The valves employed are by preference simple conical valves opened
against the pressure by rods entering the valve chest through stuffing
boxes; but slide or other valves may be used if preferred. These

page_text: improved valve details are also applicable to hydraulic starting and
reversing apparatus for large engines, and may of course also be used
with one double acting cylinder, or with two single acting cylinders, and
the cylinder or cylinders may be applied close to or at any convenient
distance from the rudder.
The water or liquid for working the steering apparatus has the neces-
sary pressure imparted to it by a set of steam pumps specially arranged
for the purpose, as hercin-after described, the delivery pipe from the
pumps being led directly to the valve chest of the steering apparatus.
In a similar way pipes or branch pipes are led from the steam pumps to
winches, or to any machine that is to be worked by liquid under pressure.
In other words, the motive power is obtained by means of a steam
engine, and is transmitted therefrom by being communicated through
pumps to water or other liquid, which liquid proceeds along piping to
the steering or other apparatus to be worked.
The accumulator or equivalent apparatus used in existing arrange-
ments is not required, and the great inconvenience on board ship of the
weight and bulk of such apparatus is avoided.
The steam pumps are made to comprise at least two steam cylinders
with their pumps, and connected to one crank shaft, in order that they
may start from any position whenever the resisting pressure of the water
is relieved by the opening of the valve admitting it to the steering or other
apparatus. It is however preferred to use in combination three steam
cylinders connected to one crank shaft, and acting on six plunger pumps.
Instead of the valves of the pumps being acted on by the water in the
ordinary way they are arranged to be opened and shut like those of a
steam engine by means of the crank shaft. These pump valves are either
slide or piston valves or conical seated valves, and are actuated by the
eccentrics or cams so as to keep open until quite the end of the stroke.
The pump valves are arranged in this way in order to admit of yielding
on the occurrence of any excessive reversed strain, such, for example,
as might arise from the sea striking the rudder in the case of steering
apparatus, or from sudden stoppage when lowering a weight in the
caso of hoisting apparatus. When such reversed pressure occurs it
makes the pumps and parts in connection work reversely, and so
becomes relieved, whereas with common pump valves it would have nọ
outlet,

page_text: When using the improved motive-power apparatus the pressure of the
steam is maintained in the cylinders of the pump engines, and on the
admission valves of the steering or other apparatus being opened the
pumps at once start into action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 23rd June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CARNEGIE KIRK, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IN-
PROVED STEERING APPARATUS AND IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS FOR
WORKING THE SAME, THE SAID IMPROVED MOTIVE-POWER APPARATUS BEING
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR WORKING WINDING, HOISTING, OR OTHER APPARATUS,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander
Carnegie Kirk, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be 3
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say :--
My said Invention comprises various improvements in stecring
apparatus and in motive-power apparatus for working the same; and
my improvements in motive-power apparatus are also advantageously
applicable for working winding, hoisting, or other apparatus. Thus
when the improved motive-power apparatus is provided on board ship
for working steering apparatus it may also be used when required for
working winches or other separate machines.
My improved motive-power apparatus may also be used with advantage
either on board ship or on land whenever it is desirable to work one or
more machines at a greater or less distance from the source of the power,
and particularly when the machines work only at intervals and not
continuously.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of
explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to, and representing
various modifications of my improved apparatus. In these Drawings
the same reference numerals and letters are used to mark the same or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a partially sectioned plan of steering
apparatus embodying a modification of one of my improvements. A
cross head lever or double tiller 1 is fixed on the rudder stock 2, and
each end of this lever is connected to the piston 3 of a differential double
acting hydraulic cylinder 4. This arrangement renders the force applied
to turn the rudder almost exclusively torsional and devoid of side thrust,
and allows of the cross head lever 1 being made small, of the hydraulic
cylinders 4 being made with short strokes, and of the entire apparatus
being rendered more compact and convenient than heretofore. Each
cylinder 4 is made differential by applying a trunk 5 or large piston rod
of a size to make the effective area on one side of the piston 3 about
half what it is on the other side. For convenience of construction, and
to assist in guiding the piston, the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 is
made with trunks or enlarged rods 5, 6, on both sides of the piston, but
one is made smaller than the other to give the desired difference of

page_text: effective arca. Each cylinder has the end of it with the smaller effective
area in constant communication with the water or liquid under pressure
by which the apparatus is worked, the action being obtained by admitting
the liquid to or allowing it to escape from the other end.
Figures 2 and 3 are a sectional plan and an elevation of an arrange-
ment which whilst having the improved features and action of that
shown in Figure 1 is modified to render the packings more accessible
and to obtain other advantages. Plungers 7, 8, are substituted for the
pistons (3), and the differential action is obtained by having a small
one and a large one united in line and working in large and small
cylinders 9, 10, facing each other, whilst those in connection with one
arm of the tiller or cross head lever 1 are transposed as regards those
connected to the other arm. Each arm of the lever or tiller 1 is forked
to pass above and below the plunger bar 7, 8, and each forked part is
slotted to receive a block on a pin 11, fixed in the plunger bar.
The manual control of the steering apparatus is obtained by arranging
an ordinary steering wheel or equivalent appliance to act on a valve or
valves regulating the admission or exit of the liquid under pressure into
or from the larger cylinder ends (9). The steersman moves a valve or
valves, or a cam or equivalent detail acting on a valve or valves into a
position corresponding to that which he wishes the rudder to assume,
and the rudder in taking up that position moves the valve chest or other
parts so as to restore the mean or neutral relative positions of the valves
or other parts, and thereby terminates the action, the cam or detail acted
on by the steersman still remaining in the position to which he moved it
and continuing to remain so until he again moves it with the view of
shifting the rudder.
It is an important feature of the cam and valve combination that the
valves are not gradually closing during the whole of the movement of
the rudder as in some existing steering apparatus, but only begin to
close when the rudder has very nearly reached the intended position.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of one modification of my arrangements
for obtaining the manual control of the steering apparatus. Figures 5
and 6 are a plan and an elevation of the cam 12 as shaped and arranged
for acting on two valve spindles 13, 14. In Figure 4 this cam 12 is
shown as forming part of a bevil wheel 15 in gear with a bevil pinion 16
on a shaft 17 which has fast on it, but not shown, the usual steering

page_text: wheel. The cam wheel 12, 15, is mounted so that it can turn on a
pedestal 18 fixed to the rudder head 19, and forming part of a casting
answering as a valve chest. Figure 7 is a horizontal section of the
neck 20 of this casting, showing three passages a, b, c, formed down
through it; and Figures 8 and 9 are sections as through horizontal parts
of these passages.
One, a, of the passages communicates by a conical
plug joint 21 at the top with a pipe for leading the discharged water to
the cistern, a second passage 6 communicates by a cylindrical joint
picco 22 with two pipes 23, 24, leading to the two larger cylinders 9, 9,
Figure 2, or to the ends with the larger effective area Figure 1, and the
third passage c communicates by a cylindrical joint piece 25 with a pipe
by which the water or liquid under pressure from the pumps, accumu-
lator, or other source has access to the apparatus. The joint pieces 22, 25,
are shown as packed with cup leathers. The valves d, e, are simple
conical valves formed on the spindles 13, 14, and both ends of each
spindle pass through stuffing boxes (one end of each being slightly
smaller than the other) so as to remove a portion of the pressure off the
valves.
It will be seen on considering the Figures that if the cam 12 is turned
in the direction of the arrows in Figures 5, 6, the valve d will be lifted
and admit water from the passage e to the passage a, in consequence of
which the rams 7 will be moved in the direction of the arrows Figure 2,
and will turn the rudder in the direction of the arrows in Figures 5, 6;
but the rudder in turning thus will carry round the valve chest 18, 20,
with the valve spindles 13, 14, until the latter come into the samc
positions relatively to the cam 12 as before moving the cam, so that the
spindle 13 will have moved from over the raised part of the cam, and the
valve d will close and the action of the rams stop. Springs may
be applied to the valves d, e, to insure their closing. The joint
pieces 21, 22, 25, admit of the valve chest 18, 20, turning with the
rudder without moving the pipes leading the water to and from it. The
cam 12 may be turned by a tiller or hand lever attached directly to it
instead of being geared as described to a steering wheel shaft. The
parts of the cam 12 which act on the two valve spindles 13, 14, are by
preference so placed relatively to each other as that a continuous
relative movement of the cam would not begin to lift one spindle the
instant it lowered the other one to the closed position, but so that there
is a slight movement or interval between the two actions (and which

page_text: interval may be made different in different cases). During this interval
the water or liquid is shut into the cylinders, and the rudder is kept
steady and prevented from moving unless subjected to a strain greater
than that corresponding to the pressure of the water or liquid working
the cylinders. When an excessive strain such as that referred to occurs,
the water acted on by it lifts either the valve d or a separate relief
valve by which it returns into the supply pipe.
I prefer to use separate relief valves as is commonly done in hy-
draulic apparatus worked by water under pressure, but have not
complicated the Drawings by showing them.
Figure 10 is a vertical section of a modification, in which a slide
valve fis substituted for the two conical valves d, e. The passages a, b, c,
are as in the previously described modification formed in a casting 18, 20,
fixed on the rudder head 19, but have ports in a face on which the
valve slides, and which is enclosed by a casing or cover 26. The
cam 12 is in the form of a cylinder, having round its inside a groove in
which there is an antifriction pulley 27 carried by the valve rod 13, and
the cam groove is shaped to have the same action as the raised parts
have in the other modification.
Figure 11 is a partially sectioned elevation of a modification differing a
very slightly from that shown in Figure 10. The groove of the cam 12
acts on antifriction pulleys 27 which are on pins fixed in the rudder
head 19, so that the cam action makes the cam 12 itself rise or fall, and
this motion is transmitted to the valve rod 13 by a second groove 28 in
the cam, such second groove being entirely cylindrical so as not to 2
affect the spindle 13 by the turning movement, but only by the rising
and falling of the cam 12. In this example the cam piece 12 is shown
as formed with grooved sectors 29 for the application of chains when
the cam is to be actuated from a distance. When the cam 12 and parts
in immediate connection therewith are modified as described with a
reference to Figure 11, it is obviously unnecessary for the valve clicst
and parts with the passages a, b, c, to be carried round by or even
attached to the rudder head 19, and they may be quite distinct, as
shown in Figure 12, and be carried on a bracket or frame 30, or
otherwise. This arrangement will do away with the necessity of the 3
joint pieces 21, 22, 25, Figure 4, for the connection of the pipes. The
valve rod 13 or a rod transmitting the motion to the valve in any

page_text: convenient way may be connected to the cam piece 12 by a central swivel
joint, as shown in Figure 13, so as to partake of the axial, but not of
the rotatory movement thereof.
It is in some cases more convenient to arrange the cam piece 12, not
5 as herein-before described on the rudder head, but on a separate head or
spindle 31, Figures 2, 3, 13, connected to the rudder head 2, so as to
turn therewith in any convenient way, as for example, by an arm 32
and rod 33 jointed to the tiller 1. In Figures 2, 3, the valve chest 26 is
carried by a bracket 34, and the various pipes are marked with the
same reference letters as the corresponding passages in Figures 4, 7, 8,
9, 10, 12. The cam arrangements described with reference to Figures 10
to 13 may be adapted to conical valves instead of slide valves, by
interposing a lever to give opposite motions to the two valves required
when using conical ones.
My various improved valve details, herein-before described, are also
applicable to hydraulic starting and reversing apparatus for large
engines, and may be used with one double-acting cylinder instead of
two, or with two single-acting cylinders instead of four; and the
cylinder or cylinders may be applied close to or at any convenient
distance from the rudder.
The water or liquid for working the steering apparatus has the
necessary pressure imparted to it by a set of steam pumps specially
arranged for the purpose, as herein-after described, the delivery pipe c
from the pumps being led directly to the valve chest 18, 20, or 26, of the
steering apparatus. In a similar way pipes or branch pipes are led
from the steam pumps to winches, or to any machine that is to be
worked by liquid under pressure. In other words the motive power
is obtained by means of a steam engine, and is transmitted therefrom by
being communicated through pumps to water or other liquid, which
liquid proceeds along piping to the steering or other apparatus to be
worked.
With my improved arrangements the accumulator or equivalent
apparatus used in existing arrangements is not required, and the great
inconvenience on board ship of the weight and bulk of such apparatus
is avoided, whilst the steam power can all be contained in or near the
main engine room; and when a surface condenser is used the exhaust
steam can be led into the condenser, thereby avoiding a serious loss

page_text: arising from leading steam to various small engines working at different
parts of the ship.
Figure 14 is an clevation of a set of steam pumps, as arranged for
carrying out the last mentioned part of my Invention, and which may
be fixed against a bulk-head or wall, and Figures 15, 16, are enlarged
sections, as at right angles to each other, of the pump valves. The
steam pumps are made to comprise at least two and by preference three
steam cylinders 35 with their pumps 36 (each cylinder working two single-
acting plunger pumps), and connected to one crank shaft 37 in order
that they may start from any position whenever the resisting pressure
of the water is relieved by the opening of the valve (d) admitting it
to the steering or other apparatus.
Instead of the valves of the pumps being acted on by the water
in the ordinary way they are arranged to be opened and shut like those
of a steam engine, by means of the crank shaft 37; being in the
example delineated simple slide valves 38, worked from eccentrics 39
on the crank shaft. The pump valves may however if preferred be
either piston valves or conical seated valves, the eccentrics or other
gear for working them being in all cases arranged to keep them open
until quite the end of the stroke. The pump valves are arranged in
this way in order to admit of yielding on the occurrence of any excessive
reverse strain, such for example as might arise from the sea striking
the rudder in the case of steering apparatus, or from sudden stoppage
when lowering a weight in the case of hoisting apparatus. When such
reversed pressure occurs it makes the pumps (36) and parts in
connection work reversely and so becomes relieved, whereas with
common pump valves it would have no outlet.
When using the improved motive-power apparatus the pressure of
the steam is maintained in the cylinders of the pump engines, and on
the admission valves of the steering or other apparatus being opened
the pumps at once start into action and maintain the pressure of the
water whilst it is being used.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I have to state that
I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or
delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original, and

page_text: claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of steering
apparatus, substantially in the improved manner herein described and
delineated.
2. The working of the rudder by a cross head lever or double tiller,
to each end of which there is connected a differential hydraulic cylinder
or differential pair of cylinders, substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before described.
3. The arranging or combining of the valve details of the steering
apparatus, and particularly the cam piece (12), in any of the improved
modes herein-before described.
4. The leading of the water or other liquid under pressure directly
from the steam pumps to the steering or other machinery or apparatus
to be worked by it, without the intervention of accumulators or other
equivalent apparatus; the said steam pumps being arranged, combined,
and worked, substantially in the improved manner herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of Junc,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-three.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
ALEXANDER C. KIRK. (L.S.)