Improvements in Ships' Steering Wheels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left 4th Oct.. 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Steering Wheels.
I, CARL HEINRICH MAX DÖRNTE, of No. 29, II Vorsetzen, Hamburg, Germany,
Block Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of ships' steering wheels, which have a metal
hub and a wood rim and spokes; and the object of my invention is to obviate the
mischief making. influences of temperature and weather changes upon joints between
wood and iron.
In carrying my invention into effect, 1 make use of a metal hub divided in two
equal parts by cutting it in a plane perpendicular to the axis. The sockets in the
halves of the nave are trapezoidal interstices having their bases at the joint of said
halves. The inner ends of the spokes are so shaped, that when the two halves of
the hub are bolted together, the spokes shall be rigidly held in their sockets, while
an elastical packing, such as indiarubber, placed in the joint of the two halves of the
nave, will prevent moisture entering the sockets, and protect the spoke-ends from the
influence of the weather.
In the event of the spokes becoming loose, the elastic packing will allow the two
halves of the hub to be drawn together by the bolts, whereby the ends of the spokes
will be rigidly clamped together.
Dated this 20th day of April 1880
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Steering Wheels.
I, CARL HEINRICH MAX DÖRNTE, of No. 29, II; Vorsetzen, Hamburg, Germany,
Blockmaker, 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 steering wheels which have a metal hub or
nave and a wooden rim and spokes; and the object of my improvements is to obviate
the mischief-making influences of temperature- and weather-changes upon joints
between wood and iron.
In order to make my invention more clearly understood, reference is to be made to
the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of my improved steering wheel.
Fig. 2 is a section through the same in the plane of its axis; and
Fig. 3, a plan of the hub of the wheel as employed in my invention.
This hub abis made of metal and divided in two equal parts, by cutting it in
a plane perpendicular to the direction of the axis. The sockets c in these two halves
of the nave, or. hub, for the reception of the inner ends of the wooden spokes f form
in each half of the hub V-shaped or trapezoidal interstices having their base at the
joint of said halves. The inner ends of the spokes are accordingly so shaped that,
when the two halves of the hub are drawn together by bolts m concentrically
arranged around the axis, the spokes are rigidily pressed together in their sockets,
while an elastical packing d, such as indiarubber, inserted in the joint of the two
halves of the nave, will prevent moisture entering the sockets of the spokes, and so
protect the ends of the latter from the influence of the weather.
In the event of the spokes becoming loose in their sockets, the elastic packing d
will permit the two halves ab of the hub to be slightly drawn together by the

page_text: bolts m, and the ends of the spokes are, on account of the tapering sides of the half
sockets, rigidly clamped together.
The heads of the spokes f are secured in the well known manner between the
several segments 9 which form, together with the metal rings k, the rim of the
wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In combination with the wooden spokes of a steering wheel a metal hub
consisting of two equal parts formed by cutting the hub perpendicularly to the
axis of rotation of the wheel, and provided with tapering interstices for the reception
of the ends of the spokes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In combination with a steering wheel having a inetal hub or nave divided in a
plane parallel to that of the wheel, an indiarubber or equivalent ring inserted in the
joint of the nave, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 4th day of October 1880
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.