IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Saunders, of Croydon, in the County
of Surrey, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN STEERING SHIPS
AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 23rd February 1872, and dated the 29th August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Saunders at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th August 1871.
I, ROBERT SAUNDERS, of Croydon, in the County of Surrey, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEERING SHIPS AND VESSELS," to be as follows:—
This Invention relates, firstly, to the constuction of rudder posts
or sterns of vessels whereby the water is caused to act with better
results against the rudders; secondly, to rudders to be fitted to such
0 rudder posts; thirdly, to apparatus for actuating the rudders; and,

page_text: fourthly, to screens fitted at a distance from the ship's sides to check
the side rush of water on to the shores or the banks of rivers or canals..
The rudder posts are formed of two pieces or of one piece with a
vertical slot down the centre for the water to pass through. Each half
or piece carries a rudder, the stocks of which pass up through the deck
and are connected by tillers and steering gear, so that both rudders are.
moved over in the same direction and at the same time by it. The
rudders may be connected by links or not as desired. In existing ships
where a stern post is already fitted I attach vertical bars or uprights at
the sides thereof for carrying the rudders, the vertical bars being
rigidly braced by tie rods arranged diagonally or otherwise; thus the
existing rudder can be used in conjunction with the others hung upon
the bars, in which case two spaces would be formed for the water to
pass through. The central rudder may however be dispensed with if
desirable.
"
1
If my twin or sister rudders are fitted to screw steam vessels I
always fit them and the sister stern posts abaft the screw aperture,
and I "step the after end of the propeller shaft into a block
arranged between the posts, which block also serves as a tie between the
posts to keep them rigid. I have mentioned that each of the rudders 2
has stocks which pass up through the deck, but the blades can be made
to approach one another at the top, from which one stock only need
spring. By this means only one aperture in the deck will be necessary
for the stock to pass through.
If each rudder has a stock I propose to fit a spur pinion over their 2
ends, into both of which a well can gear, the wheel being a double .
one, that is with two sets of teeth, one set of spur teeth to gear with
the spur pinions and one set of bevil teeth to engage with the teeth of
a bevil pinion on a horizontal shaft, which is operated direct by the
steering wheel or through the intervention of other gearing and shafts 3
in connection therewith. The stocks may however have tillers on
them, which can be operated by a barrel and chain in the usual manner.
i
'
These 35
The rudders may have notches or recesses formed on their outer
edges, into which additional blades can be dropped and secured for
increasing the surfaces against which the water will act.
notches can be kept closed by filling-in pieces when the additional
rudders are not attached, so as not to interfere with the sailing or
steaming qualities of the vessel.

page_text: My last improvement referring to apparatus for preventing the wash
of water from the sides of the vessel on to the shore or the banks of a
river or canal consists of sheet iron, hollow screens, or of tubes with deep
keels, which are secured to guy booms fastened to the bow of the vessel
to preserve their distance from the vessel's sides, and also by other
booms at the sterns by which they and the vessel may be moved over
to steer them. The water displaced by the vessel in its forward
movement is received by the screens, consequently the shore or banks
are preserved against injury.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Saunders in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
SAUNDERS, of Croydon, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Saunders, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Saunders, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Saunders, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEERING SHIPS AND VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert Saunders, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Saunders, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
This Invention relates, firstly, to the construction of rudder posts
or sterns of vessels whereby the water is caused to act with better
results against the rudders; secondly, to rudders to be fitted to such
rudder posts; thirdly, to apparatus for actuating the rudders; and,
fourthly, to screens fitted at a distance from the ship's sides to check
the side rush of water on to the shores or banks of rivers or canals.
The rudder posts are formed of two pieces or of one piece with a
vertical slot down the centre for the water to pass through. Each half
or piece carries a rudder, the stocks of which pass up through the deck
and are connected by tillers and steering gear, so that both rudders are
moved over in the same direction and at the same time by it. The
rudders may be connected by links or not as desired. In existing ships
where a stern post is already fitted I attach vertical bars or uprights at
the sides thereof for carrying the rudders, the vertical bars being
rigidly braced by tie rods arranged diagonally or otherwise. Thus the
existing rudder can be used in conjunction with the others. hung upon
the bars, in which case two spaces would be formed for the water to
pass through; the central rudder may however be dispensed with if
desirable.
If my twin or sister rudders are fitted to screw steam vessels I
always fit them and the sister stern posts abaft the screw aperture, and
I step the after end of the propeller shaft into a block arranged
between the posts, which block also serves as a tie between the posts to
keep them rigid. I have mentioned that each of the rudders has stocks
which pass up through the deck, but the blades can be made to
approach one another at the top from which one stock only need
spring. By this means only one aperture in the deck will be necessary
for the stock to pass through.
If each rudder has a stock I propose to fit a spur pinion over their
ends, into both of which a wheel can gear, the wheel being a double
one, that is with two sets of teeth, onc set of spur teeth to gear with
the spur pinions and one set of bevil teeth to engage with the teeth of

page_text: a bevil pinion on a horizontal shaft, which is operated direct by the
steering wheel or through_the_intervention of other gearing and shafts
in connection therewith. The stocks may however have tillers on them
which can be operated by a barrel and chain in the usual manner.
The rudders may have notches or recesses formed on their outer edges;
into which additional blades can be dropped and secured for-increasing the
surfaces against which the water will act. These notches can be kept
closed by filling in pieces when the additional rudders are not attached
so as not to interfere with the sailing or steaming qualities of the
-vessel:
"
"
Tlic Invention will be more particularly understood by referring to
the accompanying Drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 show the after
part A of a steam vessel with the screw aperture B and a double or
divided rudder post O into a block or step D, of which the outer end of
the shaft E takes as a support. This block D may be of metal or of
wood, or of a combination of such materials, and bushed for steadying
the shaft at that part. The block D is fitted between the posts and a
space is left both above and below through which the water can pass
and act upon the inner face of the outer blade when the rudders are
moved over to steer the ship; thus a double body of water is brought
to bear, that is one upon or against the outer face of the inner blade
from the "after run or "quarter" of the vessel, and one upon or
against the inner face of the outer blade. The rudders F, F, have each
a post G, G, which pass up separate openings in the stern to the deck, as
3 clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, and these may be acted upon by any
suitable mechanism for turning them in the same direction at the same
time, or the mechanism of one can be thrown out of gear with the
other if found desirable, so as to steer with one rudder only at a time.
The rudder posts may also have separate steering mechanism attached to
o them, both of which may be linked to work at separate speeds. By this
means the outer blade could be put over to a different angle to that
of the inner blade, thus giving the helmsman or helmsmen perfect
command over the rudders for steering the vessel through intricate
channels or along a coast abounding with rocks or shoals.
5 Figures 5 and 6 represent the after part of another steam screw
ddos nest boe heen removed from the

page_text: stern and two bars H, H, attached to the heel I at the bottom and to
the stern at the top with division or distancing pieces between them to
form the water spaces J, J, as in the first method. It is upon thicsc
bars that the rudders are hung, as in Figure 5, the bars being shaped to
offer the least resistance to the progress of the vessel.
I do not propose in all cases as before mentioned to remove tho
rudder post of a vessel, as the bars H, H, can be attached to the liccl
and to the stern at a distance from the post on either side, and the
rudders which are to be hung upon the bars may have the same or a
larger or a smaller area of acting surface as desired, and the three 1
rudders may work in unison or either two of them only by arranging the
mechanism in a suitable manner:,
Figure 7 shows a rudder with two additional blades F, F, attached in
a rigid manner by tic or stay plates K, K, the inner ends a, a, of which
project to limit the angle to which they can be turned over for steering 1
purposes.
Figure 8 represents a rudder blade with notches L, L, cut in its rear
edge for receiving stay or tic bolts M, M, of the additional blades,
Figures 9, 10, and 11, which in this case are detachable from the
rudder at any moment by simply lifting the bolts out of the notches. 2
The inner faces of the blades F, F, have steel wing pieces fitted to them
which are shaped and tempered to grip the side faces of the rudder for
steadying them. By this arrangement the additional blades can be
carried on deck when the vessel is at sca, but when entering rivers or
intricate channels the additional blades can be dropped overboard and 2
adjusted on to the rudder by a couple of men in a boat in a very short
space of time. The same can also be the case when a difficulty is
experienced in keeping the vessel's head to the wind or the sea in a gale
or from the effects of the current- of water or of the tide when the
vessel is riding at anchor or otherwise.
.
30
Figure 12 represents the stern of a vessel with a doubled-bladed
rudder in place, a space being left between the blades for the water to
pass through as in the previously described Figures so that it acts upon
the inside face of the outer blade to assist in stecring the vessel.. The
rudders may be those known as balanced rudders, which may have two, 3ł

page_text: three, or more blades with a space between. It will be observed that in'
all my arrangements the steering takes place from the extreme after-end
of the keel, and in the case of steam vessels propelled by 'a screw the
rudders as described are always arranged abaft of the screw aperture, so
that the form or shape of the hull is not interfered with; an important
point in connection with this part of my Invention now that vessels of
great length and with small breadth of beam are employed..
In Figure 7 I have shown the attachment of the additional blades to
the rudder by transverse plates, but the attachment may be by bars or
strips of metal arranged in diagonal order or like latticework, so also
may be the attachment. of the blades shown in Figures 2, 3, and-5,
if they are made to act as one body through the steering gear arranged
above, which gear may be of the kind forming the next part of my
Invention or of any other kind found suitable for the purpose, such for
instance as that shown in Figure 13.
My improved gear is shown in Figure 1 & 2 and also in Figure 14
of the Drawings. It consists of pinions c, c, upon the rudder posts,
which gear into a spur wheel d upon a separate pin or stud, this spur
wheel being cast in a piece with a bevil wheel e by which the rotative
motion is obtained from the steering wheel through the bevil pinion
g upon the same shaft as a spur wheel h, the shaft being at right angles
to the pin or stud upon which the other wheels rotate. The steering
wheel shaft i has a pinion; upon it for operating the spur wheel h, and
thus the necessary motion is obtained for moving the rudders over to
the desired angle for steering the vessel to which they are fitted.
.
My last improvement refers to apparatus for preventing the wash of
water from the sides of the vessel on to the shore or the banks of a
river or canal, and consists of hollow screens or of tubes with deep
keels, which are secured to guy booms fastened to the bow of the
vessel, to preserve their distance from the vessel's sides, and also by
other booms at the sterns by which. they and the vessel may be moved
over to steer them. The water displaced by the vessel in its forward
movement is received by the screens, consequently the shore or the
banks are preserved against injury. This will be understood by
reference to Figure 15, in which a vessel N is 'shown with two of the
screens P, P, in position at the bows, the screens being held at a fixed
distance therefrom by the fixed guy booms k, k, and guided by others,

page_text: 1, l, m, m, as the vessel has to be moved or shifted over. I propose to
fit rudders n, n, to the screens, which are capable of maintaining a
vertical position at all times by the depths of the keels p, p, shown in
Figure 16, which rudders may be employed alone for steering purposes
or in conjunction with the screens through the rear guy booms m, m.
These screens are for use in pairs as shown in Figuro 15 for preventing
the side rush of water from the vessel upon the banks or the shoro as
before mentioned, or singly in the manner shown in Figure 17 for
assisting to turn the vessel rapidly in cases of emergency and for
checking her headway. These screens are intended to be attached to a
vessel at the mouth of say a canal or a river for guiding or assisting to
guide the vessel through. The two screens or any other number can
also be lashed together, and the upper part can be arranged to receive
planks of wood or other appliances to adapt it or them to raft purposes,
or separate built-up rafts with deep keels as in Figure 18 can be used
for directing the head of the vessel into any position. If such are used
they can be slung from the davits so as to be ready for an emergency,
and in order to make them available for receiving stores, luggage, or
other accessories I propose to arrange hinged bars round the edges,
which can be turned up into a vertical position, the upper ends of them
having eyes, through which a rope can be rove to form a rail round the
edge to prevent the goods stowed thereon from being washed away. In
cases of shipwreck my improved screens will be found of great service, as
from their construction they would be capable of withstanding very
rough weather and heavy seas without fear of being capsized or of
foundering, and where life has to be saved the central portion could be
kept clear of packages for the use of the passengers and the crow,
while they would be protected by casks, boxes, or other articles which
could be lashed to the rail bars. These bars are shaped at the hinge
joint as shown so as not to fall outwards, but they may be shaped to fall
into any position. The spaces between the deep keels may be partly
filled in with sheets of cork Q or other buoyant material, and a flexible
or a rigid tube R may be fixed round the edge as in Figuro 19 so as to
obtain the greatest amount of buoyancy it is possible to obtain without
increasing the quantity of material unnecessarily. These screens can
also be used to steer or guide a vessel after the loss of the rudder, as one
or more of them can be thrown overboard and kept at a distanco from
the side and at any angle by ropes or other appliances. In Figure 18 I
have shown the screens of raft form with four deep kccls only, but it
4

page_text: will be understood that I do not confine myself to any number nor
to the sizes of them, as they would vary in proportion to the class of
vessel they are intended for and the purposes for which the vessel is
employed.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
Firstly. The construction and arrangement of apparatus or appliances
as herein-before described and shown when used alone or in combination
for steering or assisting to steer vessels.
Secondly. I claim the employment of double rudders at the sterns of
vessels when such are used in combination with hollow stern posts
through which the water can pass in the manner and for the purposes
set forth.
Thirdly. I claim specially fitting more than one rudder post abaft the
screw aperture of screw propelled vessels, and between which the water
can pass to act upon more than one rudder blade at the same time
whether the blades are connected to work as one blade or not,
substantially as herein-before described and shown.
Fourthly. I claim the employment of additional blades to the sides of
rudders, when a space is left between them through which the water can
pass for the purposes specified, whether such additional blades are
attached in a rigid manner or otherwise.
Fifthly. I claim the employment of the apparatus shown in Figures 1,
2, and 13 for operating the two rudders with separate rudder posts,
3 substantially as described, also the modifications before mentioned for
operating the rudders singly or in pairs.
Sixthly. I claim the employment of detachable screens which can be
placed at the bows of vessels for the purposes of steering or assisting
to steer them when such screens have deep keels for resisting the side
rush of water on to the banks or the shores of a river or canal as
described and shown in Figures 14 and 15.
Seventhly. I claim the employment of one or more such screens for
directing a vessel head in ocean or other navigation, substantially as
shown in Figures 17 and 18.

page_text: Eighthly. I claim the modified form of screen arranged for raft
purposes in case of the vessel's distress or other emergencies as herein-
before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Saunders, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
H. GARDNER,
Patent Office,
166, Fleet St.,
London.
ROBERT SAUNDERS. (L.S.)