STEERING APPARATUS FOR VESSELS
Year: 1880

page_text: "
IMPROVEMENTS
LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of
IN STEERING APPARATUS FOR VESSELS." A communication from abroad by
James Findlay Guild and Arthur Edward Knight, both of Shanghai, China.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1880.
FOR
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS
VESSELS." A communication from abroad by James Findlay Guild and Arthur
Edward Knight, both of Sanghai, China.
These improvements relate to apparatus for steering vessels by steam and other
power. The objects of the Invention are to move a vessel's rudder easily, quickly,
and with perfect regularity, to have it completely under control, and almost silent
in its action, thus in a great measure overcoming objections to the usual steam
steering apparatus, especially on passenger steamers. The objects are further to
provide for steering vessels either by hand or power, to provide for the relief of the
operative mechanism from the injurious effects of shocks by strokes of waves
against the rudder, and to reduce the power usually required in apparatus of this
character.
The Invention consists in the combination with the rudder and steering chains
or rods of a vessel of steam cylinders having pistons connected directly with the
chains or rods ; in liquid buffers or regulators for retarding and accelerating
the travel of the steam piston and also for locking the piston when required; in
the combination with the steam cylinder of a valve of peculiar construction for
regulating the steam pressure, and in the combination with the steering mechanism of
differential eccentrics for application of the power progressively in proportion to
increase of water pressure on the rudder. These features will be more particularly
described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying Drawings forming part
of this Specification, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of steering apparatus
embodying the improvements; Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the
steam cylinder and valve; Figure 3 is a horizontal section of one, auxiliary cylinder
or regulator; Figure 4 is a plan view, and Figure 5 a section of the differential

page_text: eccentric; Figure 6 is a vertical cross section of the steam and liquid cylinders ;
Figure 7 is an end view of the wheel standard; Figures and 9 are sectional
front and side views of the regulator valves.
Similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the various Figures.
A is the steam cylinder, and B, B, the liquid cylinders placed at opposite sides of
cylinder A. These cylinders have separate pistons, the rods a of which extend
through the heads at both ends, and are connected by cross heads b. The steering
chains or ropes c are connected to heads b by shackles or eyes, and pass around
fixed sheaves a¹ and along the deck to the eccentrics C, from which chains or ropes c²
pass around a quadrant d that is fixed on the rudder post 6', the ends of the chains
or ropes being connected to the fore arm of the rudder head or shaft, which may be
extended to any desired height as required; D is the steam chest containing slide
valve e, and provided with inlet ports c' to the cylinder A and exhaust port d¹.
Above the steam chest in suitable bearings is a cross shaft f carrying the steering
wheel g, and also carrying eccentric e', from which rods extend to a cross head on
the valve rod f¹, so that the valve is moved by operation of shaft f. The valve e
is so formed and placed in relation to the ports that when it is at the middle
position both ports c¹ are open for admission of steam and the exhaust closed,
thereby giving equal pressure at both sides of the piston head, while the movement
of the valve in either direction from the centre closes the port c¹ at that side to
steam and opens it to the exhaust, thus relieving the pressure at one side.
The cylinders B are provided with passages g¹ to allow the fluid to pass from
one side of the piston head to the other. Both the cylinders are connected by a
pipe at each end, which connects the passages g'. The passages g¹ of one cylinder B
communicate with a valve chamber E containing valves, by which passage of the
fluid is permitted or stopped. At the ends of cylinder B are screw taps i' which
extend into the openings or ports g² from passages g₁ to the interior of the cylinders,
so that these openings can be closed more or less by turning screws i, and the
escape of fluid regulated. As shown in Figure 6, the rods of valves i are
connected to a cross head that is in turn connected to the rod of an eccentric 7
on shaft f, so that the valves are simultaneously operated with the steam valves.
The chamber E is divided by a central partition h2, in which is a port for
passage of the liquid from one passage g¹ to the other. The valves i are fitted at
opposite sides of partition 2, so that they close the port when in their middle
position, and open it by movement in either direction. There being two valves
the pressure comes on them alternately at the back, thus keeping their faces pressed
over the port.
The cylinders B will be preferably filled with oil. At k are reservoirs used for
supplying the oil, and in which a supply is maintained to keep the passages full in
case of accidental waste. The ports g' are placed a short distance from the ends
of cylinders B, so that the piston heads will be cushioned by the oil. The cylinder A
may have spiral springs fitted to prevent undue strain on the heads by the piston
through negligence. The outer end of shaft and wheel g are sustained by a
standard, which also carries a vertical shaft that will be suitably connected
with and moved by the rudder to show by the pointer 12, carried by shaft 1,
the angle of the rudder at all times on a fixed dial m. The standard / also
carries a ring shaped index plate m' and mechanism to move the same for
indicating the travel of the steam valve. On the wheel g is a pointer which shows
on the plate m¹ the position of the steam and oil valves. The arrangement of the
marks is thus -When the pointer on the wheel is at the word "port" it indicates
that the steam valve is at the extreme length of its travel with the exhaust port
and oil valve open to the port end of cylinder A, thus allowing escape of steam
pressure sufficient for the travel of the piston in that direction. When the pointer
is at "steady port" it indicates that the valve is in position to entirely close the
steam port and oil passages, thus entirely locking the apparatus at any point in
the movement. The same applies in the opposite or starboard direction. When the
pointer is at a mark "steady" it will indicate that the oil ports are open, and the

page_text: steam valve in the middle position, so that steam is admitted equally on both sides
of the piston head with the rudder in the fore and aft or central position. The
eccentrics C are constructed for operation on the principle of a crank lever having
one arm shorter than the other. With ordinary devices for steering the movement
is usually multiplied by blocks or other devices, and in case the rudder has been
put hard over, and then let go, the rudder seldom accomodates itself or runs
amidship, because of the difficulty of overhauling the chains through the blocks,
and because when the rudder is near the amidship line the water pressure is
comparatively small. The rudder has consequently to be helped amidship. The
eccentrics C are arranged so that as the resistance is increased the power is
multiplied in proportion, and at the same time the chains are kept taut. The
construction is simply that of two eccentrics on a single axis arranged in proper
relation. The chain or rope c is connected to the rim of the smaller eccentric, and
the chain or rope c² from the rudder head is connected on the rim of the larger
eccentric. The movement of the chains c is thus multiplied on the chains c², the
multiplication decreasing as the rudder moves from the centre to either side, and
increasing as the rudder moves to the centre. These eccentrics may be made for
greater or less power to meet any case, and may be fixed in any desired angle or
position. They may also be used with or without the quadrant, and arCapplicable
for hand steering apparatus in any desired manner. They render the helm more
sensitive, and for that reason have great advantages for bad steering vessels. .
With the steering apparatus as described the rudder can be operated quickly,
regularly, and almost silently. Slight movement may be given to the rudder, and
the same quickly moved from one extreme to the other. In keeping a vessel on
her course in ordinary weather very little change is required, while in an emergency
or when navigating tortuous channels the rudder must be quickly moved. The
valve arrangement of this apparatus provides for the movements required by the
circumstances. The rudder being in its middle position the movement of wheel g
in either direction moves the valve e correspondingly, thereby relieving the steam
pressure at one side of the piston head which moves by the pressure on the other
side and moves the rudder. The oil valves i being moved at the same time the oil
passes from one side of the piston heads to the other. To lock the wheel it is only
necessary to return the valve to the central position by turning the wheel, and the
oil valve being thereby moved to close the oil port the rudder is locked. To return
the rudder the wheel is to be turned in the opposite direction, and held until the
indicator shows the rudder to be in the position desired.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would remark that I do not limit myself to the use of a single steam
cylinder, nor to any special number or arrangement of regulating cylinders, but
what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
1st. In apparatus for steering by steam or other power one or more cylinders
having pistons connected directly to the steering chains, and a valve fitted for
movement by a hand wheel for admitting steam or other fluid under pressure to
either or both sides of the piston head combined for operation, substantially as
shown and described.
2nd. In apparatus for steering by steam or other power the combination with a
cylinder and piston fitted to move the rudder of an auxiliary cylinder or cylinders
containing fluid, and having pistons connected to the piston of the steam cylinder,
and a valve or valves fitted to move simultaneously with the steam valve to allow
or prevent passage of the fluid from one end of the cylinders to the other,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3rd. In apparatus for steering by steam or other power applied to move a piston
in a cylinder, a valve for regulating the pressure so constructed and combined with
the mechanism that when the piston is in its middle position both ports are open
for admission of steam to equalise the pressure on the piston, substantially as
shown and described.
4th. In apparatus for steering by steam or other power the steam cylinder A,

page_text: steam chest D having ports c¹ and containing valve e, liquid cylinders B having
passages g', chamber E provided with partition 2, and valves i, and pistons a
connected with the steering chains, combined together and provided with a hand
wheel for giving simultaneous movement to the valves, substantially as shown and
described.
5th. In steering apparatus the combination with the rudder head and chains of
eccentric C made in the double form, substantially as shown and described for
operation as set forth.
6th. In apparatus for steering by steam or other power the shaft f, wheel g, and
eccentrics e, r, combined with the steam cylinder A, liquid cylinders B, and their
valves e, i, substantially as shown and described, for the simultaneous operation of
the valves.
In witness whercof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)