A FOLDING RUDDER FOR STEERING BARGES IN THE RIVER THAMES OR COASTWISE
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Talbot, of Strand on the Green, Chiswick,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A FOLDING RUDDER
FOR STEERING BARGES IN THE RIVER THAMES OR COASTWISE."
Sealed the 2nd November 1863, and dated the 16th May 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Talbot at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th May 1863.
I, ROBERT TALBOT, of Strand on the Green, Chiswick, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A FOLDING;
RUDDER FOR STEERING BARGES IN THE RIVER THAMES OR COASTWISE," to be as
follows, namely:-.
. The rudder of a barge at the present time is usually made of one length.
without the means of reducing it, which is of great disadvantage in entering
the locks of different.canals. The improvement I propose therefore is to have
a folding piece from the centre, so as to shorten it about four feet, giving the:
barge the advantage of about four feet more in length while in lock, and also,
enable her to carry about seven ton more than one with the usually made.
rudder, the said improvement causing a much less draught of water when the:
barge is loaded. I also consider it will be of great advantage to coasting:
barges, which under the present system often become unmanageable in fóül
weather in consequence of the rudder-being-too-long-for one man-to-havo
proper control of; but in the improvement I propose (namely,) of a portion of

page_text: the same folding up, it will give the person perfect control over it, and enable
him to steer the barge with perfect ease, as illustrated by the Drawings left
herewith.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Talbot in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th November 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
TALBOT, of Strand on the Green, Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 1
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the
year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Talbot, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Talbot, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Robert Talbot, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "A FOLDING
RUDDER FOR STEERING BARGES IN THE RIVER THAMES OR COASTWISE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Talbot, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Talbot, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The rudder of a barge or other craft is usually made in one length (either
of iron or wood), without the means of reducing it. Now, my Invention con-
sists in dividing the rudder in two parts; the outer part of which I cause to
fold into the inner part or box, so as to shorten or reduce the length when

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations of a rudder constructed according to my
Invention; Fig. 1 representing the rudder when fully open (with expla-
nation), Fig. 2 representing it when folded.
Fig. 3, a, represents the rudder post in wood; this is attached to the stern-
post of the barge in the usual way of hanging rudders to barges.
Fig. 4, d, d, represents iron plates bolted on each side of rudder post, as
shewn in post Fig. 3, a, H, H, H, which I call the box.
Fig. 5, f, represents a single iron plate hinging in Fig. 4, d, d, at the point
T, which I call the folding part.
Fig. 6, C, represents latch hinging in Fig. 4, d, d, at point E, and falling in
notch G, in plate Fig. 5, f.
Figs. 7, 8, 9. represents gudgeons bolted through post Fig. 3, a:
Figs. 10 and 11 represents hoops on rudder post Fig. 3, a.
Fig. 12 represents wood knee bolted to post Fig. 8, a, also to Fig. 4, d, d.
Fig. 13 represents chain or rope to lift up folding part, one end of which I
cause to be fastened to rudder post (on either side), as shewn in Fig. 3, a, at
point M, and terminating at point N, shackled in plate Fig. 5, f.
Fig. 14 also represents chain or rope to lift up latch, as shewn in Fig. 6, C,
one end of which I also cause to be fastened to rudder post (on either side),
as shewn in Fig. 8, a, at point M, and terminating at point R, being fastened
to latch Fig. 6, c.
Fig. 15 represents groove radiating at point T, as shewn in plate Fig. 4,
d, d.
Fig. 16, s, represents pin riveted in plate, as shewn in Fig. 5, f, falling at
the end of groove, as shewn in Fig. 4, d, d, acting as a stop to prevent the
folding part falling beyond its level.
Fig. 17 represents section when open. Fig. 18 represents section when
folded.
-
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention, to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, a folding rudder constructed of
two parts, the outer part of which I cause to fold into the inner part or box,
and worked as described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
I also desire-it to be understood-I do not restrict-myself to iron-in-the
manufacture of the said rudder, or to chains, for the purpose of lifting the

page_text: folding part, as wood may in some cases be preferable for the manufacture of
the said rudder and rope for the purpose of lifting the folding part; theso
may be varied to suit the barge or vessel to which the rudder is applied.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Talbot, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
CHARLES DEAN,
Agent,
52, Paradise Street,
Rotherhithe.
ROBERT TALBOT. (L.S.)