GB800391A - Hydraulic remote steering system - Google Patents

Abstract

800,391. Steering ships. MERCIER, J., and MERCIER, B. April 26, 1956 [June 30, 1955 ; Sept. 29, 1955], No. 12873/56. Class 114. [Also in Group XXIX] Hydraulic remote steering mechanism for ships comprises a transmitter which may be rotated in either direction, a pump rotationally connected to the transmitter, liquid under pressure from the pump being directed by one or more control valves so as to operate a receiver directly or through servo-mechanism, and each control valve being responsive to the reactive forces produced by the resistance to rotation of the pump by the transmitter. In one embodiment the transmitter, consisting of a steering wheel 10, is connected by an endless chain 11 to a pump 13 which is provided with valves whereby it supplies liquid under pressure in the same direction irrespective of the direction of rotation. The chain is engaged by a pair of rollers 21, 23 carried by a rod 20 which is centralized by springs 22, 25 and connected at its extremities to the movable elements of valves 14, 24. The valve 14 is connected by conduits 15, 16 to cylinders 17, 18 respectively having pistons which are connected to a receiver 19 in the form of a lever by which the rudder is adjusted for steering. Conduits 30, 31 connect the valve 24 with a cylinder 29 having a piston also connected to the lever 19, the valve 24 being supplied with pressure liquid by a pump 27 driven by an electric motor 26 and connected to an accumulator 28. When the wheel 10 is turned the resistance of the pump to turning causes slackness in the chain 11 to cause a deflection of the rod 20 to operate the valve 14 whereby liquid delivered by the pump is transmitted to one of the cylinders 17, 18 to operate the lever 19, the other of the cylinders 17, 18 being connected to drain. Deflection of the rod 20 also operates the valve 24 to cause actuation of the piston in the cylinder 29 to rotate the lever 19 in the same direction, but the valve 24 may be arranged to open later than the valve 14. In a modification, a single spring- loaded piston in a cylinder is controlled by a valve which is actuated by movement of the casing of the pump which is pivotally mounted and centralized by springs. Further modifications involve the employment of fluid-pressure servomotors (see Group XXIX).