US1046158A - Steering-gear. - Google Patents

Description

J. VB. DUNLP.y STEERING GEAR.' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1912.

1,046,158. Patented Dec. 3, 1912 'citizen of the United States,

JAMES DUNLOP, 0F EVIRETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEERING-GEAR.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

Application led June 6, 1912. Serial No. 702,121.

To au whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. DUNLOP, a residing in Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented ancushioning device for taking up the', shocks Vtller member extending' from the -rudder t.

due to the action of a heavy seaWaX on the rudder. V

The invention is shovvnl as embodied in the usual form of steering Uear, in which a toothed segment is connecte with a radial post,so that the rudder may be turned by the action of a spur-gear, 4power driven or hand operated, as the case may be, intermeshing With said toothed segment.

In the construction shown to illustrate the invention, the radial tiller-member lconsists of a spider, and the segmental gear is directly connected With the' spider, and rigidly4 connected, so far as relates to any radial movement with relation to the axis of the steering post, but yieldingly connected so far as relates to a movementaround the axisv of the steering post.

In the I construction shown,the spider on which the segment is mounted has three arms, each of which is' provided With engaging tongues which are adaptedto enter sockets in the sides of the segment. 'The tongues at opposite sides are separable for the purpose of assembling the device and are adapted to be fastened together after insertion in the segment sockets. By this construction, the spider and segment are solidly held together, so far as relates to any displacement of one part with relation to the other in a direction radial to the axis of the rudder post, but the se ment is free to turn around the axis o the rudder post to an extent which is limited only by the ends `of the sockets inl which the tongues are held. To hold the segment normally centered, it is connected with the'spider by means of springs which are strong enoughto transmit the vnormal steering strain without undue lost motion, but which will yield and cushion the shocks due, tothe impact 0f the Water when the weather is rough.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a steering segment constructed in accordance With the invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line of Fig. l, drawn to a larger scale.

Referring to Fig. 1, the rLudder post 1 is 'provided with a spider having three arms,

2, 3 and 4, each of which is' shown as provided at its outer end with a laterally projecting tongue 5, adapted to enter a corre-y, spending socket 6 in a segment member 7;'

which carries a segmental gear 8. The said segment member 7 is provided with correig eoV sponding sockets at both sides, as clearly Y shown in Fig. 2, and each of the spider arms is provided with a detachable clamping member 9, provided with a tongue l0, Which' corresponds with the tongue 5*, at the opposite side.

In the construction shown, the gear teeth 8 are formed in separate sections and adapted to be secured to the segment 7 by means of bolts 12,.so that they are readily removable, if Worn. The channels in the segment member 7 are made longer than the tongues on the spider arms, as shown in Fig. 1, so j that when the said segment is clampedin position With the tongues in the sockets, the segment is held solid With relation to the rudder post l, so far as relates to radial movement, but is free to move .around the axisof the rudder post, to an extent which is limited by the length of the sockets. In order to hold the segmentv and post together, so that athe post will be turned when the segment'is moved, as by the pinion 13, the said se ent is connected with the spider by means heavy springs 14:, the said springs each'being shown as connected at one end with the-middle arm of the spider and at the opposite end with a portion of the segment 7. y

As herein shown, the springs are interposed between adjustableL plates 15 at opposite ends, there being a single rod 16, pivotally connected with the middle spider arm, which projects through an opening in the plate 15 at the` opposite end of the spring, and is provided with an adjusting nut 1 The connection at the opposite end of the spring is made by means of a forked member pivoted on a bolt 18, passing througha lug 19 on the segment, the opposite f end of said member extending through the spring and being secured by adjusting nuts 20.

By the construction above described, the

.spider and segment are vfirmly held together; and the springs fare sufficiently strong to cause the movement of the steering mechanism to be transmitted to the rudder without any material lost motion, While shocks, due to the action of a heavy sea on the rudder are cushioned by the springs to an extent suliici'ent to protect the 'gear teeth from being broken, or rapidlyworn. Furthermore, all the Wearing parts are readily removable and replaceable; and in the case of a broken spring; it is a simple matter to lock the segment fast to the spider so that it will be in perfect operative condition,- although deprived of the cushioning eect.

What I claim is:

1.1. The -combination with la rudder .post provided With a spider; of a gear segment havin'gseparate tongue and socketconnection'sl'vvith4 each arm of the spider; and

Aniddle thereof, and With said segment near p e ends thereof.

QigThe combination with a rudder post provided with a spider, the arms of which naveinvvardly projecting tongues; of a 'gea-red segment having grooves at opposite .zsides'g detachable tongue members adapted vsegment mounted on and supported by said spider arms; yseparate connecting devices 'A connecting the spider arms respectively wlth said segment to prevent 'radial movement and admit of a limited circumferential movement thereof relative to the airis .of the rudder post; and external springs conl necting vsaid segment at opposite 'sides ofy the middle thereof, with said spider at av ipo' t between the ends of the said segment. springs connected with said spider nearthe il n testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of l two subscribngwitnesses.

JAMES B. DUNLOP.

Witnesses:

M. E. CovENEY, JAS. J. MALoNnY.

Images