IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING VESSELS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES " PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Pepper of the Town and County of Kingston-
upon-Hull, Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
STEERING VESSELS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Pepper at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1882.
WILLIAM PEPPER of the Town and County of Kingston-upon-Hull, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING VESSELS, ALSO APPLICABLE
OTHER PURPOSES
"
TO
This Invention relates more particularly to steam steering apparatus the
object being to simplify the construction and improve the working of such
apparatus
The Invention is also applicable to hoisting apparatus, or other apparatus where
a steady pressure under perfect control is required, whether such apparatus be
worked by steam, hydraulic, or other suitable power.
In steam steering apparatus it is necessary that the engine shall work only
when the steersman moves the steering wheel, it must stop when the wheel stops
and reverse when the wheel is reversed
In many apparatus of this class hitherto employed steam is admitted to the
working cylinders through slide valves which are moved by excentrics as in an
ordinary steam engine,--such slide valves being controlled by a third valve worked
by the steering wheel. In other apparatus continuous or reciprocating rotary
valves (either cylindrical or disc) of special construction are used to admit the
steam to the steam cylinders, but in these apparatus complicated arrangements
of compensating gear to bring the valve back to its normal position so soon
as the steersman stops turning the steering wheel or does not turn it fast enough,
are required.
In carrying out my Invention I dispense with the slide valves and their
controlling valve and in lieu thereof I employ a disc valve of special construction
to admit steam to the steam cylinders of which I use two, such valve being

page_text: .
controlled by the steersman. I am also by the use of this valve enabled to
dispense with all complicated arrangements of compensating gear.
The valve which is mounted on a central spindle and enclosed in a small steam
cylinder or case is formed with six or more radial slots and with a corresponding
number of radial recesses on its face
The slots are intended to admit steam to the cylinders and the recesses form
passages for the exhaust steam to pass off.
The end of the valve cylinder which forms the valve seat is provided with four
ports, two of which serve as inlet or exhaust ports as required to either end
of one cylinder, the other two serving in like manner for the other cylinder.
The piston of each cylinder is connected to a crank on opposite ends of a crank
shaft and this shaft carries a worm which gears with a worm wheel mounted on
the axle of the chain drum.
The steering wheel is mounted on one end of the valve spindle, and according
to the direction in which the wheel is turned, a lead is given to the valve, and
the apparatus is caused to work so as to turn the chain drum in the required
direction.
T
-T
*
In order to prevent the steersman over running the engine with the valve,
I provide a stop arrangement which will allow of the steering wheel being moved
sufficiently to open the proper steam port, but will stop further movement of the
wheel until the engine begins to work.
In one arrangement of stop motion which is applicable to steam gear only
I mount on the end of the valve spindle a pinion which gears with a toothed
wheel secured to or forming part of the worm wheel. The pinion is provided, with
an enlarged key-way which will allow of the valve spindle receiving a sufficient
amount of axial motion (independent of the pinion) to move the valve so as to
open the steam port which gives the required lead to the engine.
The movement of the spindle and steering wheel will then be arrested until the
worm wheel begins to move, when the steering wheel and pinion will be free to
turn in the required direction.
As soon as the steersman stops the wheel, steam will be cut off, but the engine
will move sufficiently to bring the feather on the spindle in the centre of the key
way preparatory to the next movement of the steering wheel which may be in
the same or the reverse direction... :
In another arrangement of stop motion which is applicable to both steam and
hand gear I mount on the worm wheel shaft and slightly in advance of the worm
wheel a toothed wheel which is in gear with the pinion on the valve spindle before
mentioned. Between the toothed and worm wheels I introduce a clutch which
gears with both wheels but is so arranged. that when it is desired to steer by hand
it may be put entirely out of gear with the worm wheel; but when steering by
steam it shall be only partially out of gear with the toothed wheel. The teeth of
the clutch on this side are formed slightly taper, so that when they are partially
withdrawn out of gear with the toothed wheel the valve spindle will be allowed
a slight axial motion to open the valve as and for the purpose previously explained.
In this arrangement the pinion will be keyed fast on the valve spindle.
To compensate for the pressure of steam on the valve I provide a small steam
chest or cylinder having a flexible cover against which the end of the valve spindle
may rest.
When steam is admitted to the valve cylinder it will be also admitted
to the compensator cylinder, and will press the flexible lid against the spindle
end, thus easing the pressure of the valve on its seat. Or the spindle may pass
through the cylinder and be provided with a piston or disc enclosed in the
cylinder.
In the apparatus above described one very important feature is presented viz
that the valve makes only one rotation to six of the cranks, or a number equal
to the openings in the valve. Thus the wear on the valve is much reduced and
the power required to work it is considerably less than in other apparatus of
the class.

page_text: I am also enabled to dispense with the gear necessary in some apparatus to
drive the valve quicker than the steering wheel so that the steering wheel may
be turned at a reasonable speed with the engine running quick and thus gaining
power.
Although I prefer to employ a disc valve mounted on the steering wheel axle,
the valve may if desired be mounted on a separate shaft and worked by gearing
an arrangement which may in some cases be advantageous or I may use a
cylindrical valve having the requisite number of inlet and exhaust ports and
mounted either on the steering wheel axle or on a separate shaft.
As before mentioned the apparatus may be used as a hoist, in which case the
boisting drum may be mounted on the crank shaft, or in any other suitable.
position motion being communicated thereto by gearing in any well known
manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Pepper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th May
1883.
WILLIAM PEPPER of the Town and County of Kingston upon Hull Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING VESSELS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES
,,
This Invention relates more particularly to steam steering apparatus the object
being to simplify the construction and improve the working of such apparatus.
The Invention is also applicable to hoisting apparatus or other apparatus where
a steady pressure under perfect control is required, whether such apparatus be
worked by steam, hydraulic or other suitable power..
In steam steering apparatus it is necessary that the engine shall work only when
the steersman moves the steering wheel, it must stop when the wheel stops, and
reverse when the wheel is reversed.
In many apparatus of this class hitherto employed, steam is admitted to the
working cylinders through slide valves which are moved by excentrics as in an
ordinary steam engine, such slide valves being controlled by a third valve worked
by the steering wheel.-In other apparatus continuous or reciprocating rotary
valves (both cylindrical and disc) have been used to admit the steam to the steam
cylinders but in these apparatus complicated arrangements of compensating gear to
bring the valve back to its normal position so soon as the steersman stops turning
the steering wheel or does not turn it fast enough. are required.
In carrying out my Invention I dispense with the slide valves and their
controlling valve and in lieu thereof I employ one valve of special construction to
admit steam to the steam cylinders, of which I use two, such valve being mounted
on the steering wheel axle and controlled by the steersman. I am also by the use
of this valve enabled to dispense with all complicated arrangements of compensating
gear.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown at Fig: 1 in sectional elevation an
arrangement of steam gear provided with a disc valve of special construction
Fig 2: showing the form of the valve and Fig: 3 the arrangement of ports on the
valve seat.
A is the frame of the apparatus and B the chain drum.-This drum is mounted
on a shaft C which is supported in bearings in the frame A.-D is a worm wheel
keyed on the shaft C and by which motion is communicated to said shaft. E is
a transverse crank shaft carrying a worm F which gears with the wheel D At
either end of the shaft E is secured a disc G provided with a crank pin to which
a piston rod from one of the steam cylinders H is connected. I is the steering
wheel which is mounted on one end of an axle J a pinion K being mounted on the
opposite end of the axle J for a purpose to be hereafter more fully described.-
This axle is supported at one end by the valve box or cylinder L and at the other
end in bearings in the frame A.
The disc valve M which is mounted on the axle J is shown as being formed
with six radial slots a and with a corresponding number of radial recesses b on its
face.
The slots a are intended to admit steam to the cylinders and the recesses b
form passages for the exhaust steam to pass off.
The end of the valve box or cylinder L which forms the valve seat is provided
with four ports cc, c¹ c³, which are connected in any convenient manner with the
two cylinders H. Two of these ports c c serve as inlet or exhaust ports as required

page_text: to either end of one cylinder H, the other two ports c' c' serving in like manner
for the other cylinder H.
The steering wheel I, as before mentioned is mounted on the axle J and according
to the direction in which the wheel is turned, a lead is given to the valve and
steam is admitted to the cylinders H, so as to cause the apparatus to work in the
required direction.
In order to prevent. the steersman overrunning the engine with the valve I
provide a stop arrangement which will allow of the steering wheel being moved
sufficiently to open the proper steam port but will stop further movement of the
wheel until the engine begins to work.
Our arrangement of stop motion which is applicable to steam gear only is shown
in Fig: 1 and on an enlarged scale at Fig: 1.-The pinion K which as before
mentioned is mounted on the end of the axle J gears with a toothed wheel D¹
secured to or forming part of the worm wheel D.-The pinion is provided with an
enlarged key way d (see Fig: 1a) to receive the feather d¹ on the axle J and which
will allow of the axle J receiving a sufficient amount of axial motion (independent
of the pinion) to move the disc M so as to open, for the admission of steam, the
steam port which gives the required lead.
The movement of the axle J and steering wheel I will then be arrested until the
worm wheel D begins to move under the influence of the piston of one of the
cylinders H when the steering wheel I and pinion K will be free to turn in the
required direction as long as desired.
So long as the steering wheel is turned, the disc M will also be turned, and steam
will be admitted to the two cylinders H alternately which will thus be caused to
drive the crank shaft E. The motion of the crank shaft will be communicated to
the chain drum B through the worm F and worm wheel D.
As soon as the steersman stops the wheel I steam will be cut off but the engine
will move sufficiently to bring the feather d¹ on the spindle J into the centre of
the key way d preparatory to the next movement of the steering wheel which
may be in the same or the reverse direction.
Another arrangement of stop motion which will allow of either steam or hand
steering as required is shewn at Fig. 4.-B is the chain drum, C the shaft, and D
the worm wheel which in this case is loose on the shaft C.-On the same shaft C
and slightly in advance of
wheel D into which gears
wheel D' and worm w
it may be thrown
•
worm wheel D is mounted loosely a toothed
pinion K before mentioned.-Between the toothed
I introduce a clutch N, which is so arranged that
out of gear with the worm wheel D but only partially
out of gear with tin toothed wheel D.-The teeth of the clutch N on the side
opposite the wheel D' and the counterparts on the wheel D', are formed slightly
taper, as shewn, so that when the clutch teeth are partially withdrawn out of gear
with the teeth on the toothed wheel D' this wheel will be allowed a slight rotary
motion which will permit of the axle J receiving sufficient axial motion to open
the valve M as and for the purpose previously explained.-In this arrangement the
pinion K will be keyed fast on the axle J.
When it is desired to steer by hand the clutch N is thrown out of gear with the
wheel D and into gear with the wheel D.-This wheel is thus locked to the shaft C
and on being driven by the hand wheel I through the pinion K will communicate
its motion to the shaft C and chain drum B.
When it is desired, to steer by steam the clutch is thrown into the position shown
in the Figure in which case the worm wheel D will be locked to the shaft C while
the wheel D which is loose on the shaft is free to move a short distance to allow
the valve to be opened as before explained.
A further modification of stop arrangement is also shewn with reference to
Fig 4 In this case the wheel D' is keyed on the shaft C and the taper teeth
both on the wheel D' and the clutch N are removed.-The clutch, as before, is
arrang d to slide on the shaft into and out of gear with the worm wheel D which
is loose, on the shaft. The pinion K is also loose on its axle and is provided with

page_text: clutch teeth which take into a clutch N' mounted on the same axle, as shown in
dotted lines, and made to slide on a feather on the axle.
When it is desired to steer by hand the clutch N' is thrown into gear with the
pinion K which locks the pinion to the axle J and the clutch N is thrown out of
gear with the worm wheel D. The wheel D* is thus free to turn under the influence
of the pinion K driven through the clutch N¹ from the axle J and being keyed to
the shaft C turns the said shaft and with it the chain drum.
When steering by steam the clutch N¹ is slidden back into the position shown
in the Figure which will allow of the partial rotation of the axle J to work the
valve the required distance to obtain the lead as before explained.-The clutch N is
thrown into gear with the worm wheel D which when put in motion will drive
(through the clutch) the shaft C. The wheel D' which is keyed to the shaft C will
also move with the worm wheel D and drive the pinion K which will thus permit
of the continued rotation of the axle J and with it the valve as long as the
steersman requires.-When the steersman stops turning the steering wheel, the
engine will stop until the steersman again gives the lead in the required direction.
To compensate for the pressure of steam on the valve I provide in rear of the
valve case a small steam chest or cylinder having a flexible cover against which a
shoulder, or its equivalent, on the axle J may rest. When steam is admitted to the
valve cylinder it will be also admitted to the compensator cylinder and will press
the flexible lid against the shoulder, or its equivalent, on the axle J thus easing the
pressure of the valve on its seat.
In the apparatus above described one important feature is presented, viz, that
the valve makes only one rotation to six (or other number equal to the openings in
the valve) of the cranks. Thus the wear on the valve is much reduced and the
power required to work it is considerably less than in other apparatus of
the class.
I am also enabled to dispense with the gear necessary in some apparatus to
drive the valve quicker than the steering wheel in order that the steering wheel
may be turned at a reasonable speed, with the engine running quickly and I thus
gain power.
Although I prefer to employ a valve mounted on the steering wheel axle the
valve may if desired be mounted on a separate spindle and worked by gearing, an
arrangement which may in some cases be advantageous.
Instead of a disc valve I may use a cylindrical valve having the requisite number
of inlet and exhaust ports and mounted either on the steering wheel axle or on a
separate shaft.
I have shown at Fig: 5 in sectional elevation, at Fig: 6 in plan view; and at
Fig: 7 in end elevation, partly in section my steam steering gear provided with a
cylindrical valve of special construction. This valve is shewn in plan and end
views at Figures 8.
The arrangement of steam steering gear shown at Figures 5, 6, and 7 is with the
exception of the valve in all respects the same as that shown with reference to
Fig 1 and further description of these figures will therefore be unnecessary.-O is
the valve which is enclosed in a cylindrical casing P provided with glands and
stuffing boxes for the axle J on which the valve is mounted and also with inlet and
exhaust pipes ef.-The valve casing P is provided with four ports, as in the former
case, two of which are connected with the opposite ends of the steam cylinder H
by the pipes c¹³ the other two ports being connected to opposite ends of the other
steam cylinder H by the pipes c³ ³ (see Figure 7).-The valve ○ is formed with
twelve longitudinal recesses g, h, which are alternately open to steam spaces at
opposite ends of the valve thus six recesses g will be open to the inlet steam space i
and six recesses h to the exhaust steam space ; (see Fig: 5).-Each recess has a
port which comes into communication with the ports in the casing as the valve
rotates and admits steam to or exhausts from one or other of the cylinders H as
the case may be.
As before mentioned the apparatus may be used as a hoist in which case the

page_text: hoisting drum will replace the chain drum B of the steering gear or the hoisting
drum may be mounted on the crank shaft in place of the worm and receive motion
direct from the engines or the hoisting drum may be placed in any other convenient
position motion being communicated thereto by gearing in any well known
manner.
I may here remark that I do not intend to confine myself to the number of
openings and recesses in the valve above mentioned as I may use any other number
consistent with the size of the valve.
Having now described the nature of this Invention for "Improvements in
apparatus for steering vessels, also applicable to other purposes," and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim :-
First: The arrangement of steam steering gear substantially as herein described
and shown in the drawing.
Second: In steam steering gear, hoisting gear, and other apparatus, where a
steady pressure, under perfect control, as required, the use of a disc valve constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as described and shown with reference to
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing.
Third: In steam steering gear, hoisting gear, and other apparatus where steady
pressure under perfect control is required, the use of a cylindrical valve constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as described and shown with reference to
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the drawing.
Fourth: The combination with a disc or cylindrical valve such as above referred
to, of a stop motion or motions constructed and operating substantially as herein
described and shown with reference to Figures 1, 1, and 4 of the drawing, for the
purpose set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said William Pepper have hereunto set my hand
and seal the tenth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.