IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Knight Kilbourn of Brixton in the County of:
Surrey and George Fossick of Stockton-on-Tees in the County of Durham for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING APPARATUS”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Knight Kilbourn and
George Fossick at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
4th December 1883.
JOSEPH KNIGHT KILBOURN of Brixton in the County of Surrey and GEORGE.
FOSSICK of Stockton-on-Tees in the County of Durham "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEERING APPARATUS "
The said Invention relates to improvements in steering apparatus and has for its
object the relieving of rudders and the mechanical appliances that actuate them
from the effects of the violent concussive shocks caused by wave action and from
the excessive rigidity which has hitherto been common to all methods of steering
other than by manual labor. The constantly growing demand for ships of larger
tonnage and greater speed and the consequent necessity of rudders of greatly
increased dimensions and of quicker action has made it a necessity to employ
mechanical power to move the rudder and a power that is equal to working a
rudder of a modern 5000 ton Ship under full speed will hold Tiller levers and
chains with an unyielding grip. Against this unyielding force the rudder in rough
seas is constantly receiving blows of varying force from the action of the waves.
The present Invention has for its object to provide appliances suitable for
cushioning these blows and strains by overcoming the herein before mentioned
excessive and objectionable regidity-For this purpose I employ two or more
springs in close proximity to the rudder head and so arranged that the whole
power used to move the rudder is transmitted through these springs which also
serve to counteract or absorb the hereinbefore mentioned shocks received by the
rudder. The said springs may be of various forms such as spiral volute or
eliptical or the like and the material used for them may be steel or brass or they
may be made from rubber in suitable form for reasons of simplicity economy and
Dmine 71

page_text: durability. I prefer to employ steel spiral springs either alone or combined with
rubber. These springs are arranged on a disc or plate made fast to the rudder
stem with a loose tiller or its equivalent-Or the said disc or plate carrying the
said springs may be part of the loose Tiller or its equivalent and in this case
caused to work against a short double ended boss secured to the Rudder stem-In
either case the two parts are so arranged in respect to each other that the action
against the springs is always at or near the same angle irrespective of the position
of the rudder the said springs being also arranged in such a manner that there is a
neutral position beyond which neither spring or set of springs can pass; by this
means whenever the rudder receives a blow from either side the action of the
springs begins at this neutral point and is not followed up by the opposing spring
or springs-In the event of steel springs being used they would if exposed be
subject to corrosion from frequent wettings by the salt water or spray-It is
therefore proposed to encase the springs in such a manner that they are free to
move and can be readily replaced and yet entirely shut out from water or spray.
In many modern built ships large wheels are used as substitutes for the single
ended tiller. These wheels are often more than 20 feet in diameter and consequently
more or less cumbersome. A further improvement consists in supporting these
wheels on their connection with the rudder stem in such a manner as to move with
a minimum degree of friction and thereby be sensitive to the action of the
herein before named springs; this may be effected by the use of a series of metal
balls or conical rollers--It will frequently be found difficult to apply these springs
to ships already completed on account of the fixtures on the rudder stem being
difficult to remove, this difficulty may be obviated in the following manner. The
different parts or pieces that have to be fixed upon the rudder stem are formed in
section and in such a manner that when applied they are thoroughly secured and
have ample strength for any strain that can be put upon them. By this method of
construction these parts can be readily applied and as readily removed The tension
of the springs may be increased and the springs themselves may be removed and
replaced without stopping the vessel or disconnecting the gear by so placing a
wedge as to operate on the short, end of the Tiller thereby rendering the springs for
the time being inoperative. The large wheels before spoken of used as substitutes for
the tiller are an outgrowth of the necessity for more elasticity than had otherwise
been attainable. The system of springs herein set forth will give elasticity to a
degree never before attainable and far more than is possible to be derived from
the largest wheel used and in the event that these wheels in turn by the use of the
springs should be superseded by the less cumbersome Tiller I provide a balanced
Tiller in order that it also may be extremely sensitive to the action of the said
springs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Knight Kilbourn and George Fossick in the Patent Office
on the 4th June 1884.
"
JOSEPH KNIGHT KILBOURN of Brixton in the County of Surrey and GEORGE
FOSSICK of Stockton on Tees in the County of Durham "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEERING APPARATUS "
-
+
The said Invention relates to improvements in steering apparatus for relieving
rudders and mechanical appliances that actuate them from the effects of the violent
concussive shocks caused by wave action and from the excessive rigidity which has
hitherto been common to all methods of steering other than by manual labour.
The constantly growing demand for ships of larger tonnage and greater speed and
the consequent necessity of rudders of greatly increased dimensions and of quicker
action has made it a necessity to employ mechanical power to move the rudder and
a power that is equal to working a rudder of a modern Five thousand ton ship (for-
example) under full speed will hold Tiller levers and chains with an unyielding
grip. Against this unyielding force the rudder in rough-seas is constantly receiving,
blows and strains of varying force from the action of the waves.
The present
Invention has for its object to provide appliances for cushioning and overcoming
these blows and strains more effectively than any as hitherto constructed For this
purpose we employ two or more springs in close proximity to the rudder head and
so arranged that the whole power used to move the rudder is transmitted through
these springs which in their reverse action also serve to counteract or absorb the.
herein before mentioned shocks received by the rudder. The said springs may be
of various forms such as spiral volute or eliptical or the like and the material used
for them may be steel or brass or they may be made from rubber in suitable form
but for simplicity economy and durability we prefer to employ steel spiral springs.
either alone or combined with rubber. These springs are arranged on a disc or
plate made fast to the rudder stem with a loose. tiller or its equivalent working
between the springs Or the said disc or plate carrying the said springs may be
free to turn on the rudder head and in this case there would be a short double
ended boss secured to the rudder stem which combined with the loose disc forms
the tiller or its equivalent In either case the two parts are so arranged in respect.
to each other that the action against the springs is always at or near the same
angle irrespective of the position of the rudder the said springs being also arranged
in such a manner that there is a neutral position beyond which neither spring or.
set of springs can pass; by this means whenever the rudder receives a blow from
either side the action of the springs begins at this neutral point and is not followed
up by the opposing spring or springs. The springs would, if exposed be subject to-
corrosion or deterioration from frequent wettings by the salt water or spray. It is
therefore proposed to encase the springs in such a manner that whilst their action
is not impeded they can be readily replaced and yet be entirely shut out from water:
or spray. In many modern built ships large wheels or sectors are used as substitutes
for the single ended tiller. These wheels or sectors have often more than ten feet.
radius and consequently are cumbersome.
A further improvement consists in supporting these wheels on their connection
with the rudder stem in such a manner as to move with a minimum degree of
friction and thereby be sensitive to the action of the hereinbefore named springs;
this may be effected by the use of a series of metal balls or conical rollers applied,
as hereinafter-more particularly described,

page_text: It will frequently be found difficult to apply these springs to ships already
completed on account of the fixtures on the rudder stem being difficult to remove;
this difficulty may be obviated in the following manner.
The different parts or pieces that have to be fixed upon the rudder stem are
formed in sections and in such a manner that when applied they are thoroughly
secured and have ample strength for any strain that can be put upon them. By
this method of construction these parts can be readily applied and as readily
removed. The tension of the springs may be increased and the springs themselves
may be removed and replaced without stopping the vessel or disconnecting the
gear by so placing a wedge as to operate on the short end of the Tiller thereby
rendering the springs for the time being inoperative The large wheels before
spoken of used as substitutes for the tiller are an outgrowth of the necessity for
more elasticity than had otherwise been attainable The arrangement of springs as
herein set forth will give elasticity to a degree never before attainable and far more
than is possible to be derived from the largest wheel used and in the event of these
wheels being superseded by the less cumbersome Tiller, in combination with springs
I provide a balanced Tiller in order that it may be extremely sensitive to the action
of the said springs.
And in Order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1 and 2 represent in sectional plan and sectional elevation respectively
apparatus constructed according to our Invention wherein the tiller A is loose on
the rudder head A2 the plate or casting B which carries the spring devices being
fast to the said rudder head Between the tiller and casting B, there is a clear
space on either side as shewn allowing the tiller to move against the pressure of
the springs to the extent of the said space. The boss of the tiller has a circular
groove in it at a and there is a similar groove a² in the abutting part of the plate B,
these grooves between them containing a number of metal balls or rollers by which
the friction between the said parts is lessened.
The springs C are contained in recesses in the casting B, their forward ends
entering casings or hollow bearing pieces d capable of moving longitudinally in
the said recesses, their motion being limited outwardly by the flange d resting
against a shoulder 6 in the said recess. The rear ends of the springs bear against
closing pieces 62-63 are packing rings which may be inserted in the said pieces b²
or in the casting B; to secure the watertightness of the recesses Similar rings may
be inserted between the coating B and the casings d.
Figures 3 and 4 are views corresponding to Figures 1 and 2 but shewing a
modified arrangement suited for a large wheel or sector.
The casting B carrying the wheel or sector is not fixed to the rudder head but is
free to turn on it, a short double ended piece or double ended boss A³ being fixed
to the said rudder head, and is embraced by the casting B containing springs as
herein before described, the said frame having a space in it in which the said double
ended boss A³ can move in compressing the springs Grooves are made in the under
side of the upper plate 6 attached to the casting B and in the upper side of the
boss of the double ended piece A³ in which antifriction balls or rollers are placed as
hereinbefore described-65 is an under plate closing in at the underside the space
in the frame B.
Figures 5 and 6 are views corresponding to those shewn in the preceding figures
but with a single ended balanced tiller loose on the rudder head, the counterweight
at G counterbalancing the operating arm of the tiller The said Tiller is kept in
position on the rudder head by the collar h The frame B is fixed to the rudder
bead as in the arrangement Figures 1 and 2
In all the arrangements the parts generally correspond with those bereinbefore
described and are marked with the same letters of reference. In figures 1 and 2
we have shewn the spring devices arranged in pairs and in the other Figures we

page_text: have shewn them arranged singly but we may use any convenient number of such
devices proportionate to the size of the ship.
We have shown the casting B as being made in parts bolted together for enabling
them to be readily applied to existing rudder heads.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore.
in part recited Letters Patent is.
First. In the yielding devices of the rudders of ships steering apparatus, pro-
tecting the springs in casings, each such casing being constructed and enclosing
each spring, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In ships steering apparatus provided with yielding devices for the
rudders, making grooves in the opposed surfaces of the parts which move over
each other when the yielding action takes place, and inserting in these grooves
antifriction balls or rollers, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings
Third. The several arrangements and constructions of parts constituting the
yielding steering devices or attachments for the rudders of ships as herein before
described and severally illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 of the
accompanying Drawings
In witness whereof we the said Joseph Knight Kilbourn and George Fossick
have to this our Specification set our hands and seals this third day of June
One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.