IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING OR DIRECTING SHIPS OR VESSELS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PÅTENT to John Clayton Mewburn, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City ·
of London, Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING OR DIRECTING SHIPS OR
VESSELS,"
Italy.
A communication from abroad by Jean Caselli, of Florence,
Sealed the 16th November 1877, and dated the 20th August 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Clayton Mewburn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1877:
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STEERING
OR DIRECTING SHIPS OR VESSELS." A communication from abroad by Jean Caselli,
of Florence, Italy.
The chief object of this Invention is to put the direction of the rudder under the
immédiate control and responsibility of the captain, without requiring helmsmen or
other secondary persons. Water in the state of liquid or of vapor gives the motion
to the new rudder, which is directed by magnetism.
The principal appliances of which my hydro-magnetic rudder is composed are,―
1st. A special suction and force pump:
2nd. An arrangement of hydraulic presses.
3rd: An automatic electric manipulator.
4th. An auto-directive compass.
5th. A pedaloscope or indicator of the angular movements of the rudder.
6th: An auto-motive marine telescope.
The connecting rod E, Figure 1, Sheet 1 (see the annexed Drawings), puts in
motion the pistons of the cylinders a, b, c, d, of a special suction and force pump,
and it is terminated at the bottom by a circular excentric fixed to the driving shaft
of the screw of the vessel. Water drawn from the sea or from a reservoir is con
ducted into the hydraulic press P, P, (Figure 1, Sheet 2) by the pipe T, T1, T2, and
fills its cylinder as well as the chamber y, where there is a distributor or slide valve
similar to those of ordinary steam engines. The hydraulic press being double acting
the position of the slide valve determines the movement to the right or left of its

page_text: piston, the rod of which is seen at t, t, Figure 2. The tube m united to the pipe T,
T1, T2, is divided into three branches at the point n. The branch n, a, com-
municates with the slide valve of a secondary hydraulic press p, the branch n, b,
with the slide valve of the third press i, and the branch n, c, c, with an air
reservoir F. The slide valve of the third press i is pushed to the right or left by
a vertical lever 1, Figure 4, worked by the action of the electro-magnets M, M', the
armatures of which are fixed to the bronze piece s, l, s, held by the support A by
means of a pivot x. By directing a current of electricity into the bobbin of the
magnet M³, the vertical lever l, pushed to the right, advances against the stop v¹,
moving to the right the slide valve of the press . The piston of the latter pushes
to the left the slide valve of the press p, the piston u of which directs in its turn
towards the left the large slide valve of the press P, P, which is contained in the
chamber y.
The rectangular frame R, R, R¹, R¹, (Figure 2) is immediately put in movement
in the direction of the arrow t. The reverse movement of the piston of the large
press is caused by directing the current into the electro-magnet M. The side R, R,
of the frame is cylindrical, and it slides in circular openings formed in the
appendages 01, 01, of the press, which is of cast iron. The other side R', R¹, works
in notches formed in the appendages O, O, of the press, but instead of being
cylindrical it is of rectangular section. Two chains fixed to it at the points q, q,
wind in opposite directions round the horizontal pulley A, A, fixed on the vertical
shaft of the rudder. It is easy to understand already, that the captain of the
vessel by alternately directing, by means of a commutator, a current of electricity
into the magnets M, M¹, can put the frame R, R, R1, R¹, in motion, and consequently
cause the rudder to turn to the right or left. But before passing to the description
of the results of the system considered as a whole, I will give a more detailed
description of its various parts.
The cylinders b, c, (Figure 1, Sheet 1) are those of two ordinary suction and force
pumps; but the other two cylinders a, d, are peculiar. They are provided at their
lower part with a valve m (Figure 2) held in place by the pressure of the spring R.
When the resistance of this spring is overcome by the pressure exerted by the
rudder on the piston of the hydraulic press, the water of the cylinders a, d, flows
out by the discharge pipe s, and exerts no effect on the movement of the tiller;
which movement is produced in this case only by the water from the cylinders b, c.
An increase or decrease in the rapidity of the angular movements of the rudder is
therefore produced, according to the changes of resistance which it should support;
and as this resistance is least when the rudder ought to return to the axial line
of the vessel, it follows that this return movement is rapidly produced by the
action of the four pump barrels.
A simple inspection of the Drawing is sufficient to enable the use of the
different parts of the hydraulic press as well as their arrangement to be under-
stood. It may however, be remarked that at the point V of the pipe T¹, T2, is a
valve which prevents the return of the water when it has once been introduced
into the press. Another valve W also retains the water in the reservoir F, a
powerful spring in the tube B acting on the safety valve D, Figure 3, maintains
upon it and regulates a pressure of several atmospheres. This pressure is measured
by an ordinary manometer.
When it is wished to suspend or retard the movement of the piston of the large
press, the plug of the cock w is turned more or less, which opens communication
between the inlet pipe T, T¹, and the discharge S, S. It is by this means that the
velocity of the deviations of the rudder can at any moment be regulated. But to
obtain this result with more regularity it will be useful to substitute for this
ordinary cock w that which is represented in Figure 6, Sheet 2. The plug c of
this cock has a horizontal slits, the width of which occupies about a fifth of
the circumference of the plug, while its height is about 1/10th of an inch. By
means of the handle L, the flow of the water from the pipe T, T¹, into the dis-
charge tube S, S¹, can be produced gradually, and these degrees will be marked

page_text: by an index i, on a micrometric are drawn on the body of the cock itself. The
two branches n, n, of the tube, Figure 6, soldered on the pipes T, T¹, and S, S¹,
Figure 6, may be prolonged so as to allow the same cock to be placed near the
electric manipulator, Figure 10, Sheet 1.
The working of the hydro-magnetic tiller is regulated not only by hand by means
of an electric commutator, but also by the action of the magnetic needle of the auto-
directive compass, Figure 1, Sheet 3. The bronze support A, A, the ring B, B,
turning on the pivots n, n, and the support c, c, c, c, Figure 2, held by the
pivots m, m, lodged in the ring B, B, make up an arrangement for maintaining in a
horizontal position the plane of the bronze box D, D, in which is the magnetic
needle. This box is lield in the support c, c, by the pivot v, and by the cylindrical
rod 1, Figures 2 and 3. By means of the handle M, Figure 1, it can be moved
around its vertical axis, while the springs 8, s, slide on its periphery. The disc R
fixed on the rod ? carries a mariner's card, the graduated circle of which passes
under the index i when the disc is turned by means of the handle M. The magnetic
needle m, Figure 6, is formed of plates of very thin steel united together; it is
enclosed in a cylindro-conical sheath E of glass or gilt metal and with very thin
sides, Figures 3, 6, 7, and 8, fixed by means of the screws u, u, in the aluminium
support ff, which is terminated by two inoxidable conical points 2, 2, formed of an
alloy of gold, silver, and platinum. It is by these points engaged in the holes of
two rubies in the end of two screws V, VI, that the magnetic dial is held in the
frame a, a, Figures 3 and 8, which is fixed in the box D by the screws i, i. A liquid
composed of equal parts of distilled water and glycerine fills the box. The density
of the magnetic arrangement with its sheath E, E, and its other appendages should
be nearly equal to that of the liquid in which it is submerged. In order to have
the magnetic needle perfectly equilibrized, the tube E is made to slide in the
support O, O, by pushing it gently to the right or left; and in order to render
uniform as much as possible the density of the arrangement composed of its
various parts, I can, after having equilibrized the two arms of the tube E, displace
the centre of gravity of the ring A, Figure 8, which is loaded with a counterweight
by making it turn on itself..
The oscillatory movement which might be produced in the box D by the move-
ments of the vessel is prevented or greatly diminished by the action of the aluminium
wheels V, W, (Figure 4). The helicoidal gearing which gives motion to these
wheels is seen in the Drawing of the compass, and is also shewn separately in
Figure 10. A toothed are on the support c, c, acts by means of the ratchet i on the
wheelt tixed on the ring B; this wheel gears with the ratchet u on the axis of the
wheel W. The other wheel t¹ (Figure 1) held by the bronze support A, and it is
put in motion by the toothed are fixed on the ring B, B.
The needle of the auto-directive compass is not free to inake an entire revolution
round its vertical axis; beyond the 60th degree its declination is stopped by the
sides of the case a, a, Figures 3 and 8.
The vertical rod n, n, Figures 6 and 7, lodged in the aluminium ring o, o, carries
at its upper end an index which marks on the micrometer m the degrees of
deviation of the needle. When the latter turns to the right, this rod meets at the
point h the liorizontal lever which is fixed at a right angle on a very delicate
vertical shaft a set on rubies. The lower end of this shaft dips in mercury in the
small reservoir R. The platinum plate i fixed on the shaft x at the side opposite
that where the lever o, o, is situated is kept in contact with the screws by means
of the spiral spring a. The screw 8 is insulated from the plate D by an ivory
support, and its end is provided with a platinum point which is in contact with
the small plate i. This contact is maintained so long as the magnetic compass is
displaced in direction of the arrow (Figure 7); but in its deviations in the opposite
direction, it ceases, owing to the action of the rod n on the lever o.
A conducting wire à is connected to the screw b, Figure 4, on the bronze support
A. Another wire à' engaged in the screw a, which by an ebony socket, is insulated
from the bronze support, reaches by the ring B the point of suspension of the

page_text: support c, c, Figure 2, and thence it joins the spring x, which bears on the small
insulated ring on the cylindrical rod p. The conducting wire proceeds from this
ring to the screws, Figure 7, against which the small platinum plate i abuts,
which, not being. insulated, is put into metallic connection with the steel wire 81.
It is thus that an electric circuit brought by the wires 6, 81, remains open or closed,
according to whether the compass deviates to the right or left relatively to the zero
of the micrometer m.
It. will be seen further on, how, under the influence of this current, the action of
the rudder is produced automatically.
In the series of apparatus of which the hydro-magnetic rudder is composed, that
represented in Figure 11, Sheet 3, should be included; it is more particularly
intended for ships of war.
The column 1, erected on the wooden tripod A, B, C, carries the telescope C, C,
which can be turned in all directions by means of the hinge m and of the rod t,
which, bearing on the conical hole c, is supported at the bottom by the point v.
The rod t forms at n, m, n, a double square, wherein is a vertical shaft on which is
fixed, at a right angle, the horizontal lever v, v. The end of this lever bears on the
screw y, Figure 12, by the pressure of a spiral spring which is in the box or drum
e held by the support d. If in moving the telescope the rod t is turned to the
right, the end of the screw bearing on the lever v, the latter will be moved towards
the right, and its contact with the abutment y will cease. In the motion of the
telescope in the reverse direction, the lever left to itself will bear on the screw y,
whose metallic support carries the conducting wire h, and is insulated by a small
board, on which it rests. It is thus that by making the telescope deviate, the
electric circuit of the wires h, h¹, is opened or closed; and it is clear that by this
means an effect can be produced on the hydro-magnetic rudder comparable to that
of the auto-directive compass, which only opens or closes an electric circuit at a
desired moment. The hand and eye of the captain, in keeping the telescope at the
object in view, only exerts a force corresponding to the directive force of the
magnetic needle. The emissions of the current being determined by the successive
deviations of the longitudinal axis of the vessel, the course of the latter will be
constantly maintained parallel to the axis of the telescope.
The hydro-magnetic control of the vessel would be rendered easier and more
certain if the captain could know at any moment, and with precision, the angles
of deviation of the rudder. He could obtain this effect by the instrument shewn
in Figure 4, Sheet 1. The index i, i, moved by the electro-magnets a, b, c, d, follows
exactly the movements of the rudder by means of the commutator c (Figure 7).
A cylindrical wooden sleeve L, Figures 7 and 8, concentric with the vertical axis E
of the rudder, is kept in place by the iron strap S. The sleeve carries two brass
rings C, R, C, R, between which is arranged a series of small rectangular plates which
communicate with the electro-magnets a, b, c, d, Figure 4, by a bundle of insulated
copper wires F. The support N fixed on the tiller shaft carries two brass springs,
which, being in metallic communication with each other, are insulated from the
support N by a piece of wood m, Figure 8. A current derived from the principal
current of the dynamo-electric machine is conducted to the point s of the commu-
tator by the wire 9, Figure A7, from which it passes into the springs a, b, which, by
the rotation of the rudder on its axis, successively touch the plates a, 3, 6, connected
to the electro-magnets a, b, c, d, by the wires F. The said plates are arranged in
such proportion on the sleeve that the angles of deviation of the governor are
indicated in tens on the dial Q, Q, Figure 4.
Having described the new rudder in its principal parts, I will now explain how
all these parts, being connected together by currents of electricity, constitute an
apparatus or arrangement for directing ships or vessels.
A small battery composed of 3 or 4 elements of a pile of constant force and a
dynamo-electric apparatus of the kind known as that of Pacinotti-Grainm, worked
by the engine of the steamer, are employed as generators of the electric currents.
The conducting wire 8 from the pile, Figure B, Sheet 1, connects by the cable c

page_text: the insulated metallic plate p in the electric manipulator, Figure 10. If the key S
of the manipulator be pressed with the finger, the current brought by wire 1 passes
by the lever H into the wire 2, and returns to the pile after having traversed the
circuit of the bobbins of the relays x, Figure A.
I will explain now how by pressure exerted on the key D of the commutator a
movement of the rudder is produced to the right. The electro-magnet of the relay
x attracting by means of its armature the lever i establishes a metallic contact,
which permits of the passage into the conducting wire s, s¹ of a current derived
from the principal electric circuit of the Gramm apparatus, the chief instrument of
which is shewn in Figure E. This derived current passing into the bobbins of the
relay y produces the contact of the lever c with the piece v, and it thus allows the
principal current to pass, which, by the wire L, is led into the electro-maguet M
(Figure D), and by the wire 6 returns to the generating apparatus. This electro-
magnet M is that which is seen in Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 2, and it has already been
explained that from its action on the lever results the movement towards the left
of the piston of the large press P, and that of the rudder in the opposite direction.
The circuits of the principal currents from the generator, Figure F, are repre-
sented in the Drawing by dotted lines, while the secondary or derived currents are
marked in full lines.
E
Between the limits 6 and 8, 8 and 9, 10 and 11 (Figure A) are indicated resisting
wires, arranged in zig-zags, which give place to the derived currents. One of these
currents is that, which, starting from the point 6, Figure A, goes to the electro-
magnet, Figure C, returns to the point 7, and by the bundle of wires C, arrives
at the point 7 of the manipulator, Figure 10. After having traversed the part A, B,
of the same manipulator, represented in vertical section in Figure 9, it returns by
the wire 8 to the apparatus, Figure A, and is united to the principal current.
The electro-magnet B, Figure C, represents that shewn in Figure 4, Sheet 2,
where it is seen that its armature is engaged in the notch n made in the rod of the
piston of the secondary hydraulic press p. The slide valve of the large press P is
thus stopped in the middle of its travel, and the pressure of the water on the press
piston not being able to take place the rudder is firmly fixed at the angle of devia.
tion to which it had been previously moved; but when. pressure is exerted on the
key S of the manipulator the first effect which is produced is the displacement of
the spring a, Figure 9, Sheet 1, which, being compressed by the lever t, abandons
its contact with the screw n, and causes an interruption of the current from the
magnet B. The armature of this magnet, Figure 4, Sheet 2, solicited by the opposing
springs, immediately becomes disengaged from the piston of the press p, which can
thus move under the influence of the same lever t of the manipulator, which in its
descent, meeting the plate t, re-establishes the current from the pile, Figure B. The
movement of the rudder is continued so long as the key S is pressed by the finger
and its angular deviation to the left can reach its maximum.
In order now to understand how the movement of the governor to the right is
caused by the pressure exerted by the key D of the manipulator, it is necessary to
notice the effect produced on the lever W, W, Figure 11, by the lowering of the
lever f. The latter being provided at its end with a small platinum cylinder s
momentarily establishes an electric contact with the lever W, which by the wire 1,
to which it is connected, puts into play the relay x, and re-establishes the current
from the pile. The movement to the left, which is immediately produced in the
piston of the press p, Figure 4, Sheet 2, allows the piece m to disengage itself there-
from, and to free the slide valve of the large press P; but when the lever f, pushed
down by the finger, is at the end of its travel its contact ceases with the lever W,
which is immediately separated therefrom by the action of the roller m, Figure 11,
Sheet 1. The circuit from the pile being broken the rudder travels to the right by
the action of the current passing through the magnet M. When the pressure on the
key D ceases the rudder again stops at the angular deviation to which it has been
brought.
In order to put the rudder under the dependance of the auto-directive compass,

page_text: Figure I, Sheet 3, it is necessary to move from M to B the handle N of the mani-
pulator, Figure 10, Sheet 1. The spring u is thus moved from the piece y while it
establishes contact between the piece i and the spring d, which were previously
separated from each other. The current from the pile, led to the manipulator by
the wire 1, reaches the piece i, passes from the spring d to the wire 3, which
conducts it to the compass, Figure F, and by the wire 2 and the relay a returns to
the pile.
It is scarcely necessary to point out that the Drawing of the compass, Figure F,
as well as the other Drawings, Figures C, D, and E, are only outlines or diagrams
connected together by conducting wires, in order to shew how the different
appliances of the arrangement are connected by means of electricity and magnetism.
The description already given of the new compass should be sufficient to shew
how it produces the automatic direction of the vessel when once it has been put
into communication with the rudder by means of the hydraulic press P, Sheet 2.
It has been already mentioned that to each emission and to each interruption of the
current which the magnetic needle produces corresponds a movement of the rudder
to the right or left; it is easy to understand that the axis of the vessel, continually
corrected by the action of the tiller, ought to be maintained in the line of route.
ordered by the captain, and marked by the index i on the compass card R, Figure 4,
Sheet 3.
By an ordinary electric commutator I can substitute for the compass in ships of
war the auto-motive telescope, Figure 11, Sheet 3, which, as has been explained,
produces on the rudder analogous effects to those of the said compass and manipu-
lator. During a naval combat the commander can by means of this telescope cause
his vessel with as much precision as promptitude to make the movements required
by all the phases of the combat. By watching the opposing vessel lie will direct
the ram with which his vessel would be armed against any point of the opposing
vessel, or he can manage so that the guns of bis vessel come successively parallel to
the axis of the telescope, and can at a given moment be discharged by the action of
an electric placed near the telescope.
It need scarcely be mentioned that the old mode of working the rudder is in no
way restrained by the new arrangement, because it remains in place, and can be
used at any time.
The cylindrical shaft of the rudder, Figure 1, Sheet 2, is of square section at the
part L.
A piece H is engaged therein, and it can be raised or lowered by means of
the screw Z and of the lever Q. If the handle a is turned to the left this piece
engages in the pulley A, and the new hydro-magnetic rudder can act. If, on the
contrary, the handle a is turned to the right, the piece H is lowered to the point
where it engages in the piece N, which is fixed on the shaft, and is in connection
with the wheel R. In this case the rudder is under the control of the helmsmen.
If, lastly, the lever Q is moved to the horizontal position, the tiller can be worked
by means of bars engaged in the round holes m, m.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as the "Improvements in Apparatus
for Steering or Directing Ships or Vessels,"-
First. The construction and employment of the special suction and force pump,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Second. The arrangement and employment of hydraulic presses, substantially as
and for the purpose herein-before described.
Third. The construction and employment of the automatic electric manipulator,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourth. The construction and employment of the auto-directive compass, substan-
tially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fifth. The construction and employment of the indicator for indicating the
angular movements of the rudder, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described.

page_text: Sixth. The construction and employment of the marine telescope, substantially as
and for the purpose herein-before described.
Seventh. The combined arrangement of apparatus for steering or directing vessels,
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clayton Mewburn, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
J. C. MEWBURN. (L.S.)