US2049192A - Steering apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1936.

H. C. BOWEN STEERING APPARATUS Filed Ma 11, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet July 28, 1936.

H. c. BOWEN STEERING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 19:55

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, 1936. H. c. BOWEN 2,049,192 1 STEERING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 19:53 3 Sheets- Sheet s iv Jil 40 B8 I 76 Jr 2 a 12 96 I A/ J I I 64 :8 :4 92

7 Z 5 INVENTOR.

gg-eafer C? flan 12w ATTORNEY.

Patented? July 28, 1935 srnsanvd arraah'rps net-hm 0.30mi, Detroit, men, assignor to Bydraniic Brake Company, Detroi poration oi California t, Mich, a cor- Applicltiolu May 11, 1983, Serial No. 670,615

This invention relates to steering apparatus, and more particularly to hydraulicmeans for operating a rudder.

Broadly the invention comprehends hydraulic apparatus for operating a rudder such as is used in steering a motor boat or aircraft, including hydraulically actuated means for operating the rudder and a remote hydraulic apparatus for controlling the hydraulically actuated means.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention hydraulically actuated means associated with a rudder is arranged for operation by a manually operated hydraulic control meansto eifectively shift the rudder without loss of motion.

An object of the invention is to provide a steering means including hydraulic apparatus for shifting a rudder of a motor boat or aircraft without noise and vibrations.

Another object of the invention is to provide 20 hydraulically actuated means for shifting a rudder, and hydraulic operating mechanism so arranged and connectedthereto that the rudder maybe moved from one position to another smoothly, quietly, without vibrations, and with- 5 out imposing excess pressure on the pipe lines or conduits connecting the hydraulically actuated means with the hydraulic operating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for actuating a rudder, including a re- 30 mote hydraulic operating means suitably connected to hydraulic actuating means, and to arrange the component parts of the apparatus so that the structure will be highly emci ent in operation, yet of marked simplicity as a whole and v 35 in respect to each of the component parts, so

that manufacture may be economically facilitated bothas regards to parts and their assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken 40 in connection with the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which,-

Figure 1 is a back elevation of the fluid pressure actuating mechanism, partly broken away and partly in section.

45 Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fluid pressure actuated mechanism,

Figure 3 is a detailed view of a bracket supporting the rudder post and rudder, with parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the fluid pressure actuating mechanism and the fluid pressure actuated mechanism and the fluid pressure delivery pipes connecting these devices; and 55 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the actuating 6 Claims. (01. co-sas) mechanism in section illustrating the valve mechanism.

Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention, ill represents a casing or housing which may be of any desirable struc-' 6 ture. The casing has a drain opening in which is threaded a plug l2 and a cover plate I I provided with a filling opening adapted to be closed as by a cap IS. The casing is secured to brackets i8 and which may be attached to a suitable sup port, not shown.

The casing has oppositely disposed openings in which are fitted corresponding sleeves 22 and 2| having flanges bolted or otherwise secured to the casing. The sleeves 22 and 24 support opposed cylinders 26 and 28. The heads of the cylinders have concentric portions 80 and 82 provided with axial passages or ports 34 and 86 communicating with the respective cylinders. The heads of the cylinders also have radial openings 38 and 40 communicating with the passages 84 and 38, respectively, and ports 42 and 44 com- 5 municating with the radial openings 38 and 48, respectively. The radiai'openings 38 and 48 are respectively controlled by valves 48 and 48.

Positioned for reciprocation in the opposed cylinders 28 and 28 is a double end piston 50. The piston is provided with oppositely disposed heads 52 and 54 fitted snugly in the respective cylinders 28 and 28, and the body of the cylinder has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the heads to provide suitable clearance as indicated at 56 and IE8.

The piston has a centrally located slot 88 and is axially bored as at 82 and 84, and Just backoi the respective heads 82 and 84 are ducts or passages 88 and 88 leading from the bores 82 and 84, respectively, to the circumference of the reduced portions of the piston. Positioned on the heads of the piston are leak-proof cups III and I2 having openings thereii. coextensive with the bores 82 and 88. These cups control the passages 88 and 88 'and provide for by-passage of fluid from the reservoir to the respective cylinlgtzrs upon alternate retraction strokes of the p n.

Fitted in the bores 82 and 84 are plungers l4 and 18, held in position by plates or stops I8 and 80 secured to the adjacent ends of the plungers within the slot 80. The plungers have extended portions 82 and 84 which project through the openings in the cups l0 and I2, and suitably secured to the extended portion are collars 88 and 88 and positioned on the extended'portion betweenthe collars and the respective cups are 55 coil springs Stand 92. The springs serveto yieldingly retain the cups in position. The extended portions have conical ends as shown at 94 and 96 thereto, and suitably secured on the shaft is an arm I02 having a part I04, preferably semi-spherical, positioned in the slot Bil-and adapted to engagethe plates 01'' stops on the adjacent ends of the plungers I4 and I8.

A fluid pressure actuated mechanism" indicated generally at. I06 is associated with a rudder I08 which may be of-any preferred type. As shown,

the actuating mechanism includes a bracket H supporting 'opposedcylinders H2 and Ill. The

cylinder II2 has a head I'IG provided with an axial' port is controlled by a check valve I20, and connected with the valve is a pipe line I22 leadg to the valve 58 in the head ofthe cylinder 2050? the actuating mechanism. The head IIG also has a'radial bore I26 connected by a pipe j line I26to the port 34 in the head of the cylinder 2t. The cylinder IIG has a head I28 provided with. an axial. bore I30 controlled by a check valve I32 connected by a. pipe line I34 to the valve it in the head of the cylinder 28. The

head I23 on the cylinder Ild also has a radial port I35 connected by apipe line I38 to the axial bore 35in the head of the cylinder 28.

' A double headed piston M0 is positioned for reciprocation in-the cylinders H2 and H4. The heads I52 and Ida of this piston have thereon concentric extensions IE6 and I88 and leak-proof cups I50 and I52. Collars I54 and I56 are suitably secured to the extended portions, and positioned on the extended portions between the collars and the cups are coil springs. I58 and It!) for retaining the cups in position. The extended portions" have reduced portions I62 and IE adapted to enter the passages H8 and I30, respectively, to trip the valves I20 and I32, respectively depending upon the direction of movement of the piston I40 and the reduced portions are provided with passages I66 and I68, respectively, to permit the passage of fluid.

The rudder I08 is suitably secured to a post IIIl journaled on the bracket H0, and the post has suitably secured thereto an arm I12 having a semi-spherical end I14 positioned in slot I16 centrally located in the piston I40.

In operation, assuming that the system is filled with suitable hy iraulic fluid or liquid, upon turning the steering wheel I00 .to the left the arm Itfi'is moved through an angle to apply force to the piston 50, causing the pistonto move to the the extension 84 of the piston 18 and the valve I20 is closed. As the piston I 40 is moved to the left to effectively shift the rudder to the right, the fluid or liquid in the cylinder I I2 is displaced through the pipe line I26 to the cylinder 28, and

at the end of the stroke the valve I20 is opened so as to relieve" pressure in the pipe line I22 and equalize the pressure in the system.

I Upon turning the steering wheel I00 to the right, the arm I02 is moved through an angle to apply force to the piston 50 and cause movement 5 thereof to the left. This movement displaces fluid from the cylinder 26 through the pipe line I26 to the cylinder II2, causing movement of the piston I 40 to the right, resulting in turnin the rudder to the left. I

During this "movement of the piston 50- the valve 46 is. opened by the conical end 94 on the extension 82. of the plunger I4 and the valve I32. is closed. As the piston I40 is moved to the right to shift the rudder to the left, the fluid or tions or slight movements of the rudder, the

steering arm I I2 is infrequently off center. In instances where this occurs, upon movement of the steering wheel, as for example to the left, the piston 50 would be moved to the right. Thismovement of the piston 60 displaces the fluid in the cylinder 28 through the pipe line I38 to the cylinder Me. This cylinder, by reason of the oiT-center position of the steering arm II2 due to the vibrations of the rudder, is filled with fluid from the reservoir bypassed through the passage Y 58 in the head 5% of the 'piston 50 and conveyed by pipe line I38 to the cylinder HG, Hence, upon displacing fluid from the cylinder 28 to the cylinder N6 the quantity of fluid is in excess of the quantity necessary to effect the desired operation. This condition is overcome by a slight movement of the piston I to trip the valve I20, which permits the excess fluid to escape through valve 58, the pipe line I 22, port In and pipe line I26 to the cylinder 26, thus equalizing the steering arms I02 and H2.

Although-this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by. Letters Patent is:-

valves in the heads ofvthe cylinders, manually operated means for moving the piston, means carried by the piston for controlling the valves, 2. fluid pressure actuated means including opposed cylinders, valves in the heads of the cylinders, a. double end piston in the cylinders, means carried thereby forcontrolling the valves, a device operated by the piston, conduits connecting the l cylinders of the fiuid pressure actuating means to the corresponding cylinders of the fluid pressure actuated means, and conduits connecting 70 the valves in the heads of the cylinders of the fluid pressure actuating means to the valves in the heads of the oppositely disposed cylinders of the. fluid pressure actuated means.

2. A steering apparatus comprising a fluid pressure actuating means including opposed cylinders having valves in their respective heads, a double end piston in the cylinders, manually operated means for moving the piston, reciprocable means carried by the piston for controlling the valves, a fluid pressure actuated means including opposed cylinders having valves in their respective heads, a double end piston reciprocable in the cylinders, means carried by the piston for controlling the valves, a mechanism operatively connected to the, piston, conduits connecting the cylinders of the fluid pressure actuating means to. the corresponding cylinders of the fluid pressure actuated means, and conduits connecting the valves in the heads of the respective cylinders of the fluid pressure actuating means to the valves in the oppositely disposed cylinders of the fluid actuated means.

3. In a steering apparatus the combination oi a double end piston having an axial bore and a slotted portion, corresponding heads on the respective ends of the piston, the piston having passages therein back 0! the heads extending from the periphery of the piston to the axial bore, leak-proof cups on the heads having openings coextensive with the axial bore, plungers in the axial bore, stops on the adjacent ends 01 the plungers, extensions on the plungers protruding through the openings in the cups, and springs on the extensions retaining the cups on the heads oi the piston.

4. In a steering apparatus the combination of a fluid reservoir, opposed cylinders communicating therewith, heads on the cylinders, reliei valves in the heads, a double end piston in the cylinders having an axial bore and a cut-away portion, corresponding heads on the respective ends of the piston and passages in the piston back 0! the respective heads extending from the periphery of the piston to the axial bore providing communications between the cylinders to the reservoir, leak-proof cups on the piston heads having openings coextensive with the axial bore, plungers in the axial bore, stops on the adjacent endsoi' the plunger-s, extensions on the plungers protruding through the openings in the cups and arranged for controlling the valves in the heads of the cylinders, means carried by the extensions for retaining the cups on the piston heads, means for actuating the pistons including a rotatable shaft extending through the reservoir, an arm on the shalt having a part extending-between the stops on the adjacent ends of the plungers,

and means for rotating the shaft.

5. A steering apparatus comprising a fluid pressure actuating device including opposed cylinders, a double-headed piston reciprocable in the cylinders, manually operative means for actuating the piston, valves in the heads of the cylinders, means carried by the piston for maintaining the valves in open position, a fluid pressure actuated device including opposed cylinders, a double-headed piston reciprocable in the cylinders, mechanism operated by the piston. valves in the heads of the cylinders, means carried by the piston for opening the valves, conduits connecting the cylinders of the actuating device to the corresponding cylinders of the actuated device, and conduits con necting the valves in the heads oi the cylinders of the actuating device to the valves in the heads of the reversely arranged cylinders of the actuated device.

6. A steering apparatus comprising a fluid pressure actuating device including opposed cylinders, a double-headed-piston reciprocable in the cylinders, manuallyoperative means for actuating the piston, a fluid pressure'actuated device including opposed cylinders, a double-headed piston reciprocable in the cylinders, means operated by the piston oi the fluid actuated device, conduits connecting the cylinders of the actuating device to the corresponding cylinders of the actuated device, conduits connecting the cylinders of the actuating device to the oppositely disposed cylinders of the actuated device, valves controlling the last-mentioned conduits, and means carried by the respective pistons for controlling the valves whereby after a predeterminedmovement ot the respective pistons the pressure in the actuating device, the actuated device, and conduits connecting these instrumentalities is equalized.

' HERBERT C. BOWEN.

Images