GB214561A - Improvements relating to navigation of ships and other craft - Google Patents

Abstract

214,561. Jackson, P. R., (Sperry Gyroscope Co.). Oct. 11, 1922, Automatic steering-gear.- Automatic steering mechanism for ships, aircraft, torpedoes and the like comprising a course control device, an auxiliary control device responsive to changes in direction of the craft, means interconnecting the controls and a steering engine is provided with means whereby the auxiliary control operates to reverse the engine before the craft reaches its course. The apparatus can be set to swing the ship into any particular course. The compass card 10 and indicator 11, Fig. 3, are rotated by a repeater motor 13 through suitable gears to which is also geared the handle 30 for setting a new course. Fixed to the gear 32 is a trolly 50 having three contacts 68, 69, 70 adapted to engage contact strips 51, 52, 71 - - 74, Fig. 4, and a separate contact 76. An auxiliary control 25 comprises brushes 26 - - 29 controlled by a lever 47 from a repeater motor 39 which has a commutator with two segments 43, 44. In a slight clockwise yawing motion, the brush 28 engages contact 44 and a circuit is established through main lead 140, contacts 69 and 76, brush 28, contact 44, and relays 80, 81, 82 to the field coil 83 of a steering motor 84 to put the rudder 46 over. The rudder has a block 85 which closes the contact 86, when the rudder moves, to energize the relay 80 and thus break the circuit in the field coil 83. The rudder is then held until the ship has swung so far back on its course that the brush 29 contacts with the segment 44 and establishes a circuit which rotates the motor in the opposite direction and thus puts the rudder over to retard the final swing of the ship into its course. When a, large deviation of the ship occurs, the contact 68 establishes a circuit and the rudder is swung over. As the ship returns to its course the brush 26 moves off the contact 43 and the brush 29 establishes a circuit which puts back the rudder slightly beyond the centre to check the momentum of the ship. For changing the course, the handle 30 is rotated to move the rudder, the auxiliary circuit being established at the end of the movement as in the above cases. An alarm 98, is in circuit with the trolly 50 and contacts 71 so that it is sounded when unusually large deviations occur. The motor 84 may control a telemotor gear by means of a pinion 111 112, 113 and plungers in the cylinders 114, 113. the fluid in the system pipes 116, 117 in turn operating plungers in cylinders 120, 121 and this the sector 122. The motor 84 is of the series type, the speed of which may be controlled by a relay 125. When the automatic control is not required the motor 84 is declutched and a hand wheel geared in. Specification 135,871 is referred to.