Improved Apparatus for Manœuvring and Steering Ships.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Manœuvring and Steering Ships.
I, GEORGE SOLLITT, of Heretuanga Street, Hastings, in the Provincial
District of Hawke's Bay, in the Colony of New Zealand, Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple means for more readily steering
and manoeuvring ships so that they may be turned in a smaller circle and guided
with greater facility.
In
The principle of my invention is novel and consists in providing jets or streams
of water issuing from the sides of the vessel below the water line. I prefer to place
two jets or streams on one side of the vessel, and two on the other; one pair of jets
being on either side of the vessel near to the stern, and the other pair of jets on
opposite sides of the vessel near to the head of the vessel; but the position of them
longitudinally and vertically will depend on the size and build of the vessel.
most cases one of the jets at the head and one on the opposite side at the stern would
be in action to obtain rapid turning power, but for purposes of guiding or
manoeuvring, one or both jets on one side may be in action so as to give a lateral
or partly lateral thrust on the vessel. The force pipes may be furnished with
valves or door traps arranged on the outside of the vessel and of the kind usually
employed for such purposes. 1 propose to work the jets by double acting force
pumps operated by hand or steam power and placed in any convenient part of the
vessel, and I prefer that the suction pipe or pipes should be below the water line so
that the pumps may be always ready for action.
Dated this 1st day of March 1894.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Associate Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Manoeuvring and Steering Ships.
J, GEORGE SOLLITT, of Heretuanga Street, Hastings, in the Provincial
District of Hawke's Bay, in the Colony of New Zealand, Architect, 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 my invention is to provide a simple means for more readily steering
and manoeuvring ships, so that they may be turned in a smaller circle and guided
with greater facility.
The principle of my invention consists in providing jets or streams of water
issuing from the sides of the vessel below the water line. I prefer to place two jets
or streams on one side of the vessel, and two on the other; one pair of jets being on
either side of the vessel near to the stern, and the other pair of jets on opposite
sides of the vessel near to the head thereof; but the position of these jets, both
longitudinally and vertically, will depend on the size and build of the vessel to

page_text: which the invention is applied. In most cases one of the jets at the head and one
on the opposite side' at the stern would be in action to obtain rapid turning power,
but for the purpose of guiding or manoeuvring, one or both jets on one side may be
in action so as to give a lateral or partly lateral thrust on the vessel.
The force pipes may be furnished with valves or door traps arranged on the
outside of the vessel and of the kind usually employed for such purposes.
I propose to work the jets by double-acting force pumps operated by hand or
stean power and placed in any convenient part of the vessel, and I prefer that the
suction pipe or pipes should be below the water line so that the pumps may be
always ready for action.
In the accompanying drawings, the application of the invention to large steam-
ships is illustrated.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the hull of a vessel fitted with my apparatus.
Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections; Fig. 3 showing the vessel in the act of
rolling.
I
a is the pumping apparatus, which, for large steam vessels or ships of war,
propose should consist of two steam cylinders of suitable capacity and fitted with
pumps in proportion, preferably of the "Worthington" type. bis the suction pipe
drawing from the stern part of the vessel. cc are the delivery pipes of suitable size.
It will be evident from the position of these delivery pipes that the vessel's head
or stern can be turned as desired, or the head and stern may be turned at the same
time, or if the two jets on either side of the ship are turned on the vessel can be
moved laterally.
Thus a most powerful hydraulic steering gear is arranged so as to rapidly and
easily turn or move a ship; the pumping gear of which can be used for fire
extinguishing, the circulation of cold water through the vessel, to fill. tanks, and
perform any other operation for which a pressure of water is required.
1
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim: :-
The improved means for steering and manoeuvring ships or vessels, arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 27th day of November 1894.
For the Applicant,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Associate Agent.