STEERING APPARATUS FOR VESSELS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James L. Cathcart, of the city of Alexandria, in the
county of Alexandria and state of Virginia United States of America for an
(Void by reason of the Patentee having neglected to file a Specification in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James L. Cathcart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th February 1883.
JAMES L. CATHCART, of the City of Alexandria, in the county of Alexandria
" IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUAL
and state of Virginia United States of America..
STEERING APPARATUS FOR VESSELS,"
.
My invention relates to improvements in Steering Apparatus for Vessels; and
the object-is to produce a very simple, and durable, as well as powerful apparatus,
by which vessels of all kinds, can be easily and quickly made to answer the helm.
The invention consists in the construction, and arrangement of certain parts of a
steering apparatus. I provide a suitable frame, made of iron, so as to obtain
strength with reduced space and material. In the upper part of this frame is
journalled a shaft, upon the outer end of which is secured the steering wheel and
upon the opposite end is arranged a sprocket wheel. Suitable set collars on the
shaft prevent lateral movement thereof In the lower part of the frame is placed
another shaft held in place by set screws and upon this shaft two sheaves are
arranged to revolve loosely. On each side of the sheaves is cast a pulley. A chain
passing over the sprocket wheel is secured at its opposite ends to lugs on each end
of the chain by nut and screw. Two chains are attached with one end to the
pullies and with the other to the lugs on a sheave, secured to the rudderpost This
can by this arrangement be placed at any desired angle, and is therefore especially
adapted for pungies and other small vessels, in which the rudderpost is placed at a
great incline. To the top of the rudderpost is attached a pointer by which the

page_text: position of the rudder is indicated. An anchor piece with a set screw. may be
secured to the deck, and be connected to the after frame so as to regulate the
tension of the chains according to the distance required, or in case the chains have
become slackened by use.
By passing the chain around one sheave and securing the ends thereof to other
sheaves which are of greater diameter than the first and thence transmitting the
power from the small pullies by means of chains secured thereto, to the sheave on
the rudder-post direct, more power can be exerted to the rudder, and without the
use of a tiller, than with any arrangement known to me. This peculiar arrange-
ment of sheaves and pullies, by which great leverage can be obtained, is a very
important feature of my invention.
It is obvious that the pullies may be secured to their shaft, and said shaft made
to revolve in bearings in the frame.
This steering apparatus can be made of any size to suit any style of vessel, and
by increasing or decreasing the proportion of the sprocket wheel and sheaves, the
power of the apparatus can be greatly varied and according to the circumstances of
the case
It will also be readily seen, that the angle of the rudderpost can be varied
to any desired amount, as the chains from the pullies to said rudder-post will
permit of such variation, which is a very important feature. The whole apparatus
is very simple in its construction and operation, is not liable to get out of order,
and in case any of the parts become broken or worn out, they can be readily
repaired or replaced, and at a very small expense. The whole apparatus.can be
produced at a very moderate cost.