GB214642A - Improved means of and apparatus for automatically steering ships - Google Patents

Abstract

214,642. Poulsson, T. H., (Assignee of Hamm, W. F.). April 21, 1923, [Convention date]. Steering and manoeuvring automatically.- Automatic steering-gears comprise two compasses with electric contacts which control one or more electromagnets which in turn operate the storing mechanism, the arrangement being such that one compass controls on slight variations of the course to the left and on large variations to the right, while the second compass controls on slight variations to the right and on large variations to the left. The compasses 1, 2, Fig. 1, have movable cards 3, 4 and fixed cards 5, 6 and also a pointer 7 indicating the longitudinal axes of the ship. Pivoted levers 10, 11 oscillate between fixed contacts 14 - - 17, and have forked ends to engage arms 18, 19 on the cards 3, 4. The contacts 14 - - 17 are wired to magnets 20 - - 23 and battery 24, the circuit being completed by wires 25, 26 to the contact levers 10, 11. The forked ends and contact gaps are arranged so that the compass 1 operates its controls for small variations in the course and the compass 2 comes into operation later for larger variations. One compass only may be employed. The electromagnets operate the switches or valves of an electromotor or steam steering engine, or the transmission coupling between the engine and rudder. The magnet levers 31 have hook ends 32 which operate tumbler levers 44, 46, Fig. 6, adapted to engage the toothed rim 33 on the shaft 27 of the steering gear. The levers 44, 46 are carried by segments 34, 35, on levers 36, 37 pivotally mounted on the shaft 27. The segments are connected by rods 38 with cranks 40, 41 on a shaft 39 driven by the engine. The wheel has stops 42, which the arm 37 just contacts with at its extreme position of oscillation when the rudder is for and aft. When the rudder and shaft 27 are displaced the stops are in a new position such that one. is hit by the oscillating lever and the wheel-shaft and rudder are thereby turned back toward the mid-position. When the magnets are not energized the levers 31 are as shown in Fig. 1 and the pawls 44 are free from the wheel 33. When the ship turns off its course, and one magnet is energized the corresponding lever and hook 32 engages the trip lever 46 and the pawl 44 engages the wheel 33 whereby the shaft 27 and rudder are operated. The rudder is continuously oscillated to and fro by the pawl 44 and levers 36, 37 until the ship regains its course. When the magnets 21, 23 are energized by the second compass, the rudder is given twice the motion, since the crank 41 is twice the length of the crank 40. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect 91 (3 (a) comprises also a reference to the use of one compass only. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.