GB478421A - Improvements relating to automatic steering devices for ships - Google Patents

Abstract

478,421. Automatic control systems. SPERRY GYROSCOPE CO., Inc. April 14, 1936, No. 30999/37. Convention date, April 13, 1935. Divided out of 478,344. [Class 38 (iv)] Steering.-An electric steering device for ships comprises a pilot-house controller and auxiliary limit switches at the controller operated from the rudder and capable of adjustment to determine the limits of rudder throw regardless of the amount of turn desired. Means for changing over to manual control of the rudder may be incorporated In one form a self synchronous transmission 90, 91 drives a shaft 62 in the pilot house from the rudder R. Reversed worms 63, 63<1> drive cams 64, 64<1> co-operating respectively with limit switches 77, 77<1> normally engaging contacts 80, 80<1> in series with the rudder motor 65. A knob 66 engages a screw 68 to cause longitudinal motion of the shaft 62 whereby the relation between the cams and the switches may be changed to set the limits of rudder throw as desired. The cams shown are, by the provision of back contacts on the switches, designed to effect reversal of the rudder motor if the rudder should lie beyond such limits. Manual control of the rudder may be obtained by operating switches 83, 86. In an alternative arrangement the worm wheel 31, which is operated jointly by compass and manual means as described in Specification 478,344 and operates the main controller 33 at the rudder through a self-synchronous transmission, in the arrangement according to Fig. 1, operates the main controller, which is placed in the pilot house, by a mechanical connection comprising a cam groove and rack bar, the follow-back connection from the rudder being a self-synchronous transmission. In this form the limit switch cams are driven by the main controller shaft and the switches are mounted on toothed discs loose on this shaft so that they may be operated by pinions simultaneously actuated by an adjusting knob.