IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM STEERING ENGINES AND GEAR CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hays Wilson, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM STEERING ENGINES
AND GEAR CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 2nd December 1879, and dated the 6th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hays Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th June 1879.
"
JOHN HAYS WILSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM STEERING ENGINES AND GEAR CONNECTED THEREWITH.'
"
My Invention relates to the use of a high speed steam engine of small size to
drive the chain drum of a steam steering apparatus, the steam engine being fitted
with link motion reversing gear controlled by a lever, shaft, and connections, and
provided with a preventer gear that checks the engine from over running the helm
past hard over, either to port or starboard. The apparatus is provided with a tell
tale, which indicates to the steersman the position of the helin.
Previous to this my Invention it has been considered necessary in the con-
struction of steam steering engines that such steam steering apparatus should be
self controlling, that is to say, when steam was given to the engine which works
the apparatus such apparatus would be actuated only for a given time, and would
make only a given number of revolutions, the required cut off or means of stopping
being automatically obtained from or produced by the action of the engine or
apparatus itself, which by some mechanical means cut off or stopped the supply of
motive fluid which had been given by the hand. In the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me bearing date the 25 May, 1878, No. 2099, such a type of
steam steering engine is described, and my present Invention consists in an
arrangement of parts whereby the same result is attained, and at the same time the
construction of the engine is considerably simplified.
A steam steering engine constructed according to my present Invention consists
of two horizontal or equivalently positioned steam cylinders placed upon a bed
plate or frame which carries a shaft receiving motion by means of two outside
dises or cranks driven by the connecting and piston rods of the steam cylinders.
The shaft is provided with a worm which gears into a worm wheel of large
D71

page_text: diameter, and having proportionate relation to the worm of sixty to one, or there-
abouts. The worm wheel is in connection with the drum which carries and
actuates the chain or its equivalent leading to the rudder. The worm wheel and
drum are carried on suitable standards. On the same shaft as the drum there is a
pinion which actuates a toothed quadrant which in its hard over positions
respectively represents extreme port and starboard. The quadrant is provided with
a slot which serves as a guide for a horizontal lever upon the starting or steering
shaft. The valve gear of the engines is of the type known as the link motion, and
is actuated by levers and rods in connection with a vertical shaft, which is
controlled by a hand lever or its equivalent, which forms the steering tiller or
equivalent; this vertical shaft also carries the before mentioned lever working in
the guide of the quadrant. The quadrant is covered over and provided with
pointers, which indicate upon a dial carried on the frame the position of the helm
to port or starboard.
In operation the engine is started by the steering tiller to run so as to work the
steering chain to port or starboard, as the case may be, the steersman knowing the
position of his rudder by the position of the quadrant. To prevent the engine over
running the link motion is brought into central position, and the engine thus
stopped, by means of the lever working in the slot of the quadrant, the quadrant
bringing the lever and thereby the valve links into central position when hard over
to port or starboard.
The principle on which my Invention is based is that of a steam engine of
small size and power running at a comparatively high speed, and geared by means
of a worm and worm wheel to a reduction of speed of sixty, or thereabouts, of the
engine shaft to one of the chain barrel. By this arrangement the rudder can be
slowly and gradually brought over by a simple smooth running engine of ordinary
type of small power, and easily controlled by a steering or actuating tiller, the
apparatus when the rudder is hard over automatically stopping. By the use of a
high speed engine highly geared to slowly work the chain drum the same object is
obtained as by the use of a larger engine more quickly geared and dependent upon
an automatic cut off, inasmuch as the steersman in the former case has time and
can easily control the motion of the engine (which in the latter case is dependent
upon its own action), with the advantage of obtaining a gradual control over the
rudder instead of a jerky action.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Hays Wilson in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 3rd
December 1879.
JOHN HAYS WILSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM STEERING ENGINES AND GEAR CONNECTED THEREWITH.”
My Invention relates to the use of a high speed steam engine of small size to
drive the chain drum of a steam steering apparatus, the steam engine being fitted
with link motion reversing gear controlled by a lever, shaft, and connections, and
provided with a preventer gear that checks the engine from over running the helm
past hard over, either to port or starboard. The apparatus is provided with a tell
tale, which indicates to the steersman the position of the helm.
Previous to this my Invention it has been considered necessary in the con-
struction of steam steering engines that such steam steering apparatus should be
self controlling, that is to say, when steam was given to the engine which works
the apparatus such apparatus would be actuated only for a given time, and would
make only a given number of revolutions, the required cut off or means of stopping
being automatically obtained from or produced by the action of the engine or
apparatus itself, which by some mechanical means cut off or stopped the supply of
motive fluid which had been given by the hand. In the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me bearing date 25th May, 1878, No. 2099, such a type of steam
steering engine is described, and my present Invention consists in an arrangenient
of parts whereby the same result is attained, and at the same time the construction
of the engine is considerably simplified.
A steam steering engine constructed according to my present Invention consists
of two horizontal or equivalently positioned steam cylinders placed upon a bedplate
or frame which carries a shaft receiving motion by means of two outside discs or
cranks driven by the connecting and piston rods of the steam cylinders. The shaft
is provided with a worn which gears into a worm wheel of large diameter, and
having proportionate relation to the worm of sixty to one or thereabouts. The
worm wheel is in connection with the drum which carries and actuates the chain
or its equivalent leading to the rudder. The worm wheel and drum are carried on
suitable standards. On the same shaft as the drum there is a pinion which
actuates a toothed quadrant which in its bard over positions respectively represents
extreme port and starboard. The quadrant is provided with a slot which serves as
a guide for a horizontal lever upon the starting or steering shaft. The valve gear
of the engines is of the type known as the link motion, and is actuated by levers
and rods in connection with a vertical shaft which is controlled by a hand lever or
its equivalent, which forms the steering tiller or equivalent; this vertical shaft also
carries the before mentioned lever working in the guide of the quadrant. The
quadrant is covered over and provided with pointers, which indicate upon a dial
carried on the frame the position of the helm to port or starboard.
In operation the engine is started by the steering tiller to run so as to work the
steering chain to port or starboard, as the case may be, the steersman knowing the
position of his rudder by the position of the quadrant. To prevent the engine over
running the link motion is brought into central position, and the engine thus
stopped, by means of the lever working in the slot of the quadrant, the quadrant
bringing the lever and thereby the valve links into central position when hard
over to port or starboard.
The beforegoing being the nature, object, and purposes of my Invention, I will now
proceed to illustrate how my Invention may be practically applied, and to describe
forms and arrangements of apparatus such as are suitable for carrying my Invention
into practice, and for that purpose I have attached to this Specification two Sheets
of Drawings, illustrative of such apparatus and mechanism, which are marked

page_text: with letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation, like letters and figures being used to denote the same or corresponding
parts throughout the various views and Figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam steering engine and gear constructed
according to my Invention.
and siam of Dinu 1
explanation, like letters and figures being used to denote the same or corresponding
parts throughout the various views and Figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam steering engine and gear constructed
according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a modified arrangement of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an end view, and
Figure 5 a plan of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a front view of tell tale.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of steam steering engine and gear, provided also with
hand gear, constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 8 is a plan of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of a modification of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is an end view of Figure 9.
A steam steering engine constructed according to this Invention consists of two
horizontal or equivalently positioned cylinders A placed upon a frame or bed
plate B, which carries by suitable bearings a shaft C which receives motion from
two discs or cranks D driven by the connecting rods E and the piston rods F of
the steam cylinders A. The shaft C is provided with a worin H which gears into
and drives a worm wheel J of large diameter, having a proportionate relation to
the worm H of not less than sixty to one. The worm wheel J is mounted upon a
shaft I carried by the upright frames and bearings K, K². The shaft I also carries
the drum or chain wheel L, upon which the rudder chain is wound or passed over,
and which actuates the rudder chain or its equivalent, and thereby the tiller, or its
equivalent, of the rudder. On the shaft I there is mounted a pinion M which
actuates a toothed quadrant N, which in its hard over position respectively
represents extreme port and starboard. The quadrant is provided with a slot P,
which serves as a guide for the horizontal lever Q which is mounted on the starting
and reversing shaft or spindle R, which also serves as the steering shaft, and which
is worked by the hand lever or steering tiller S. The valve gear of the engines is
of the type known as link motion, and is actuated by the bell crank levers U and
gear or connections V. The quadrant N may be covered over, and is provided with
the pointers a, b, which indicate upon a dial formed by or carried on the frame K¹
the position of the helm to port or starboard. In lieu of the dial the tell tale
gear e, f, g, may be provided, as shown at Figures 3 and 6. X is a steam cock and
rod for supplying steam to the engines.
When it is desired to provide a steam steering engine according to my Invention
with hand gear this can be effected either as shown at Figures 7 and 8 or
Figures 9 and 10.
Reference to Figs. 7 and 8.-In construction the worm wheel J is mounted loosely
on the shaft I and the shaft I is provided with a sliding clutch J, and there is
added to the apparatus the hand wheel 2, which is mounted on the shaft 3, and
works the toothed wheels 4, 5, 6, and thereby the shaft I.
Reference to Figures 9 and 10 in this arrangement.-The cylinders A are shown
positioned diagonally and the worm H is shown above the worm wheel J. The
frame K, K¹, is carried up and supports the shaft C, and also the shaft 3 which
carries the hand wheel 2. The apparatus is thrown into gear for steam by the
clutch J¹, which slides in a keyway on the shaft I and gears into the worm wheel J,
which is loose on the shaft I. The apparatus is thrown into gear for hand by
withdrawing the clutch J from the wheel J and throwing the pinion 4, which
slides on a keyway on the shaft 3, into gear with the wheel 5, as illustrated at
Figure 9.
The operation of the steam steering engine before described is thus:-The engine
is started by the steering tiller S, steam having been given by the cock X. The
steering chain is worked over to port or starboard, the steersman knowing the
position of his rudder by the quadrant N or by the tell tale g. To prevent

page_text: the engine over running past hard over to port or starboard the link motion T is
brought into central position, and the engine thus stopped by means of the lever Q
working in the slot P of the quadrant N, the quadrant N bringing the lever Q and
by means of the connections the links T into central position, and thus stopping
the engine, when the helm is hard over to port or starboard.
The principle on which my Invention is based is that of a steam engine of small
size and power running at a comparatively high speed, and geared by means of a
worm and worm wheel to a reduction of speed of sixty, or thereabouts, of the
engine shaft to one of the chain barrel. By this arrangement the rudder can be
slowly and gradually brought over by a simple smooth running engine of ordinary
type of small power and easily controlled by a steering or actuating tiller, the
apparatus when the rudder is hard over automatically stopping. By the use of a
high speed engine highly geared to slowly work the chain drum the same object is
obtained as by the use of a larger engine more quickly geared and dependent upon
an automatic cut off, inasmuch as the steersman in the former case has time and
can easily control the motion of the engine (which in the latter case is dependent
upon its own action), with the advantage of obtaining a gradual control over the
rudder instead of a jerky action.
Having now described the nature, object, and purposes of iny Invention, and
explained how the same may be carried out into practical effect, what I claim as
my Invention is,―
Firstly. Constructing and arranging a steam steering engine and gear connected
therewith so as to work independently of a cut off valve or controlling gear
operated by or from the engine, substantially such as herein described and illustrated
in Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The improved system of constructing and working steain steering
apparatus with a worm and worm wheel, the worin wheel bearing a proportion
such as sixty to one to the worm, and the driving engine or engines being of a high
speed class, for the purpose and with the object herein before described and as
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The use for steam steering engines, such as herein before described and
illustrated, of an automatic stopping or preventor gear, such as M, N, P, Q, as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination of parts respectively constituting the modifications of
apparatus wherein my improved system of working is used substantially as herein
described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hays Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
TITT NATT