Improved Hydraulic Steering Apparatus for Boats.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec.,
1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 16th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Hydraulic Steering Apparatus for Boats.
I, CHARLES STUART IRWIN, of St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S.A., Inventor, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide simple means whereby boats may
be more effectively steered, and the risk of a rudder being carried away be
avoided.
By this invention two single-acting pump-cylinders are (preferably vertically)
arranged in a suitable frame-work between the sides of a boat. The suction-pipes
(which enter the lower part of each cylinder,) pass through the sides of the boat
to the water, and are so arranged that the pump on one side of the boat draws
water from the opposite side thereof, whilst the pump on the other side is ejecting
water on the opposite side of the boat to that upon which it is situated; the pistons
of the cylinders working in unison, but in opposite directions. The outlet pipes
are also arranged so that the pump on one side of the boat ejects on the opposite
side. Suitable valves may be arranged in the pipes, to enable the water from both
cylinders to be ejected from one side of the boat; or one pump to be worked
independently of the other one.
The pumps may be operated by steam or other available power; and it will be
found that the force of the water being ejected is sufficient to effectively steer the
boat.
Dated this 10th love of Danamber 1803
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Hydraulic Steering Apparatus for Boats.
I, CHARLES STUART IRWIN, of 513 North 11th Street, St. Joseph, Missouri,
U.S.A., Inventor 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 :—
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved hydraulic steering
apparatus which is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation,
and arranged to facilitate the handling of a marine vessel in a very simple and
economical manner.
The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the
same, as will be fully described hereafter.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
both figures.
Fig. 1, is a transverse section of the improvement as applied, on the line 1 of
Fig. 2; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
The improved hydraulic steering apparatus is preferably arranged in the bow of
a vessel A as plainly shewn in Fig. 2, and is provided with two single-acting
DB1

page_text: pumps B and C, worked by cranks at 180° on a shaft arranged above the pumps,
and provided in their outlets D and E respectively with valves F and G, opening
into an outlet pipe H.extending transversely in the vessel and opening at its
ends into the suction nozzles I and I', opening to the outside, on the sides of the
Tessel.
Within the suction nozzles I, I' are arranged the discharge nozzles J, J¹
respectively. Outlet valves L, L' are arranged at the inner ends of the discharge
pipes K, K', the said valves closing on the upward stroke of the plungers or
pistons in the respective cylinders and opening on the downward stroke of the
same. Valves N, N' are also arranged in the outlet pipes K, K' respectively, to
cut off the respective nozzles J or Ji from the pipes K and K' respectively.
The latter are connected with each other by a pipe O between the valves L, N,
and L', N', respectively. In the suction pipe H between the nozzle I and valve F
and the nozzle 11 and valve G are arranged gates H', H' for controlling the inlet
of the water to the pumps, and in the middle of the pipe H is arranged an air
cock P to let in air for the discharge of the water when it is desired to drain the
pipe H.
The arrangement of the valves N, N' permits of discharging the water from
both pumps B and C to one side of the vessel; for instance, if the valve N is
closed and N' open then the discharge of water from the pump B passes through
valve L into the pipe O and past the valve N¹ into the discharge nozzle J¹.
The discharge of water from the pump C then passes directly into the said
nozzle J through the said valve N¹ so that a continuous stream of water passes
through the nozzle J¹ when the pumps are working. In a like manner a discharge
can be had through the nozzle J and for this purpose the valve N is opened
and N¹ closed so that the water discharged by the pump C passes through the
pipe O and then to the nozzle J.
The arrangement of the valves H and H in the suction pipe H permits
suction for both pumps B and C through either nozzle I or I'; it being understood
that one valve H or H' is opeu, while the other is closed.
The operation is as follows:-When the plunger in the pump B is on the
up-stroke then the plunger in the pump C is on the down-stroke, and vice versa ;
both pumps discharging on their down stroke in either nozzle J or J'; the suction
taking place correspondingly through either nozzle I or I'. When the valves N¹
and Hare closed and valves N and H2 are open, and the plunger in the pump B
moves downwards, in the direction of the arrow a', as shewn in Fig. 1, then the
valve F seats itself and the water in the lower end of the cylinder B passes
through the outlet pipe K into the discharge nozzle J and through the same on
one side of the vessel, thus exerting a pressure against the water so as to move
the bow of the vessel sideways in the direction of the arrow b' (Fig. 2). At the
same time the plunger in the pump C is on the up-stroke and water is sucked in
on the other side of the vessel through the nozzle 1' by the action of said plunger,
thus assisting the discharge to move the bow of the vessel in the direction of the
arrow b², thereby increasing the steering capacity of the apparatus, as the ejection
on one side as well as the suction of the water on the opposite side of the vessel
will tend to steer the same in one direction, as described. When the plunger in
the pump C moves downward and the plunger in the pump B moves upward,
then the above described operation is repeated in the nozzles l' and J; that is,
water is ejected through the nozzle J and sucked in through the nozzle I¹, so that
the pressure and suction on opposite sides of the vessel serve to steer the latter in
the direction of the arrow b². When the position of the valves N, H* aud N' H¹
is reversed the pressure will take place on the side of the vessel containing
nozzles J and I while the suction is on the opposite side and the vessel will steer
in the inverse direction of the arrow b¹.
As shewn at the left in Fig. 1, a strainer R is inserted in the suction pipe Hor
nozzles J, J¹ to prevent floating material from passing into the pumps B and C.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The herein described, apparatus for steering vessels, all substantially as
hereinbefore set forth, and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 15th day of September 1894.
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.