GB452590A - Improvements in or relating to hydraulic control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

452,590. Ships' steering-gear. DONKIN & CO., Ltd., PAULIN, W. S., and STOREY, E., Walker Gate, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Feb. 26, 1935, No. 6076. [Class 114] [See also Group XXIX A hydraulic-control apparatus has the motive fluid supplied by a single pump adapted either to be driven by power or operated manually. The Figure shows the invention applied to a hydraulic steering-gear for ships. The rudder 8 is operated by a pair of rams 5, 6 working in opposed cylinders 9, 10 connected by pipes 11, 12 with a variable capacity pump 13. The driving shaft 14 of the pump is coupled by a hand-operated clutch 15 either to an electric motor 38 or to a sprocket 16 connected by chain 17 and sprocket 18 to the helm 20. The strokevarying mechanism of the pump is actuated by a shaft 25 coupled to the mid-point of a floating lever 53 linked at one end to a pair of rams working in opposed cylinders 47, 48 and at the other to a worm quadrant 56 meshing with a worm 61 rotatable by a hand wheel 57 acting through bevel gearing 59. An indicating pointer 35 is operated by a worm on the hand-wheel shaft or may be operated electrically. The cylinders 47, 48 are coupled by pipes 45, 46 and valve 63 to a similar pair of cylinders housing a pair of plungers connected by a link 42 to an arm 7 on the rudder. When it is desired to change to manual operation the motor 38 is disconnected, the hand wheel 20 coupled up, and the hand wheel 57 operated to move the member 25 so as to impart stroke to the pump, the member 25 being subsequently locked in this position by a pin inserted in hole 62. To allow the rams 40, 41 to idle during manual operation the valve 63 is moved to connect the four cylinders 43, 44, 47, 48 to a make-up tank 64 the quadrant 56 may also be disconnected from its actuating arm. In a modification having no follow-up mechanism the hand lever for operating the clutch is interconnected with the switch controlling the pump motor. The handle for operating the stroke varying mechanism acts through two sets of bevel gears and a pinion and rack, the shaft carrying this pinion being provided with a hand lever and locking device whereby the pump control may be looked away from its neutral position during hand operation of the pump.