US2114112A - Steering and control means for watercraft - Google Patents

Description

April 1938- L. E. NORQUIST 2,114,112

STEERING AND CONTROL MEANS FOR WATERCRAFT Filed June 11, 1937 2 6 (V 1 \HI :WWWL

I 24 r M 22 M W w M 25 wf 2/ nnnnnnn 26 26 g 20 I 20 m 26 fnvemor Lester .5 Mryzzz'fi Patented Apr. 12, 1938 PATENT OFFICE STEERING AND CONTROL MEANS FOR WATERCRAFT Lester E. Norquist, Denver, 0010.

Application June 11,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to watercraft of powerpropulsion type, and more particularly to the relatively larger constructions of such craft, and has as an object to provide improved means for steering and controlling such craft when afloat.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for steering and controlling watercraft afloat independently of the longitudinal motion of such craft.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means associated with a ship or vessel and selectively operable to independently or simultaneously move end portions of such craft laterally through the water when afloat.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means associated with a ship or vessel and selectively operable to simultaneously move the end portions of such craft laterally in opposite directions to alter the heading of such craft when afloat.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means associated with a ship or vessel and selectively operable to simultaneously move the end portions of such craft laterally in the a same direction to shift such craft laterally when afloat without changing the craft heading.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means associated with a ship or vessel and selectively operable, at times, as supplemental propulsion means for such craft.

A further object of the invention is toprovide improved steering and control means for watercraft whereby such craft may be at all times positively controlled and moved about in restricted areas independently of the normal craft propulsion means, which obviates many of the limitations and disadvantages of conventional steering means, which is simple, positive and efficient in principle, which is susceptible of practical development in a wide variety of specific embodiments through the use of conventional apparatus, and which is readily adaptable to existing and conventional watercraft.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and diagrammatically illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a conventionalized ship or vessel wherewith the invention is operatively associated, the central portion of the craft being broken away to conserve space. Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the indicated line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a fragmentary, detail elevation, on an en- 1937, Serial No. 147,729

larged scale, of a movable grid advantageously employed with the invention. Figure 4 is a section taken on the indicated line 44 of Figure 3.

In the construction of the improvement as shown, a ship or vessel is conventionally illustrated as comprising a hull portion In tapering downwardly to a keel ll, tapering forwardly to a bow portion [2 and merging rearwardly into a curved stern portion l3. The hull is provided with a main deck I4 and such other decks, bulkheads, and the like, as may be desired in a given construction. To give effect to the principles of the invention, conduits or water channels l5 are disposed in paired relation transversely of the hull Hl adjacent the bow and the stern of the vessel and open at their respective ends through the hull walls well below the water line of the craft. The conduits l5 may be of any particular size, construction, and cross-sectional conformation, as may be deemed expedient or desirable and may be employed in such number and combination of pairs as may be best suited to a particular craft, the arrangement shown being but typical of an operative installation wherethrough the principles of the invention may be practically applied. As illustrated, the conduits l5 are disposed in horizontal planes and with their axes at an angle with the longitudinal axis of the vessel, the intake ends of the conduits adjacent the bow of the craft being disposed forwardly of their corresponding outlet ends and the inlet ends of the conduits adjacent the stern of the craft being disposed rearwardly of their corresponding outlet ends. The inlet end of each conduit I5 is enlarged to open through the hull of the vessel in a circular port having an area considerably greater than the cross-sectional area of the conduit, and a suitable water wheel 16, of propeller type, is disposed in and for suction effect relative to each intake port. The Wheels It may be variously arranged and connected for power rotation relative to their respective ports, but each wheel i6 is preferably fixed to the end of a shaft [1 which is journaled in and extends through a stuffing-box l8 carried on the wall of the conduit [5 and is thence directly connected through a suitable coupling l9 and bearings 20 with the armature shaft of an electric motor 2| carried within the hull of the vessel. The mounting illustrated is preferred because of the flexibility, compactness, selective control and immediate action of the driven elements possible therethrough, and because of the facility with which a water wheel may be removed and replaced in such an arrangement, but it is to be understood that the mounting and driving arrangement shown is indicative of but one possible installation and that the invention contemplates the use of other types of prime movers in driving relation with the water wheels H in such individual or combined drive arrangements as may be operable to attain the functions hereinafter set forth.

As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the conduits iii in each pair may be conveniently disposed to cross each other without obstructing the free flow of water therethrough by bends or offsets in said conduits, by positioning one of the conduits above the other and by expanding the intake end of the lower conduit upwardly and that of the upper conduit downwardly, so that the intake ports of the conduits are in alignment transversely of the vessel and consequently the mounting shafts I! of the water wheels it may be conveniently aligned as shown.

With an independent drive for each water wheel it, the usual motor control panel 22 may be associated with each motor 2! and a remote control panel 23 positioned on the control bridge of the craft for selective control of the motors 2i through their panels 22, as is well-known practice within the skill of those competent in the electrical field. While the conduits l5 are illustrated as provided with a single water wheel l6 disposed at the intake end of each conduit, it is obvious that the water wheel may be positioned at the outlet end of the conduit or at any desired location throughout the length of the conduit without in any way altering or modifying the operative principle of the invention, and that additional water wheels may be operatively associated with each conduit to supplement the effect produced by the single water wheel shown.

The intake ports of the conduits l5 should be suitably protected to prevent the entrance therethrough of flotsam, weeds, debris, and the like, in a manner which will permit free access to the water wheel and its mounting and not unduly obstruct the flow of water to and through said port. Various constructions may be employed to properly protect the water wheels and to guard the conduit intakes, and one construction suitable to such purpose is illustrated as comprising a vertically-disposed slide bearing 24 positioned on the hull it just forwardly of each intake port, and a grid assembly comprising a connecting bar 25 engaged for vertical reciprocation in the slide bearing 2 and a plurality of fingers 26 fixed in uniformly-spaced relation at their forward ends to the bar 25 and extending outwardly and rearwardly from said bar in trailing relation across v the intake port, the rear ends of the fingers 25 being free and spaced outwardly somewhat from the hull iii to permit weeds and foreign matter entangled in the grid to slip rearwardly of said fingers and thus clear the grid during forward travel of the vessel. A hoist line or cable 27 may be attached to the upper end of the bar 25 to provide convenient means for moving the grid assembly out of covering relation with the conduit intake when it is desired to repair or replace a water wheel iii.

The invention is primarily concerned with directional and lateral control of a vessel independently of longitudinal motion of the craft and of the propulsion means employed with the craft. Obviously, the craft may be equipped with any suitable form or arrangement of propulsion means to initiate, regulate, and control its longitudinal travel, and the operative principles of the instant invention are employed in place of the conventional rudder or similar steering means. In effecting lateral and directional control of the craft, the water wheels l6 may be selectively operated in various combinations for varying results. With the arrangement shown, the craft may be moved bodily to the right without change in its directional heading through simultaneous operation of the water wheels I6 on the right hand side of the hull H], which operation draws water from the right hand side of the vessel through the conduits l5 served by said water wheels and establishes a flow through said conduits for discharge at the opposite side of the hull, thereby creating a suction effect adjacent the bow and stern on the right hand side of the hull and a pressure effect at the left hand side of the hull, which effects combine to shift the craft laterally to the right. To augment the result just described, the water wheels l'6 on the left hand side of the hull may be simultaneously operated to establish water flow from right to left through their respective conduits, and thus increase the suction and pressure effects above described. Shifting of the craft to the left without change of its heading is accomplished by actuation of the water wheels H5 in directions opposite to those employed for the shift to the right. Change in the directional heading of the craft is had through selective actuation of the. wheels l6, either singly or in combination. Should it be desired to alter the craft heading to the right, the forward water wheel IE on the right hand side of the craft is operated to establish a water flow through its conduit from right to left of the craft, which flow is productive of a suction effect adjacent the bow of the vessel and on the right hand side of the hull and a pressure effect also adjacent the bow of the vessel but on the left hand side of the hull, which effects combine to swing the bow of the craft to the right. A more rapid change of direction may be had through simultaneous operation of water wheels adjacent the bow and stern of the vessel and on opposite sides of the hull in a manner to produce simultaneous suction and pressure effects adjacent the bow and stern and on opposite sides of the hull, which effects are productive of a pivoting action on the vessel in the water. From the foregoing it should be apparent that full lateral and directional control of the craft may be had through selective actuation of the water wheels I 6, even when the vessel has no longitudinal travel or steerage way.

The invention has a further advantage in that it provides means operable to maintainv a degree of longitudinal motion of the craft when the normal propulsion means are for any reason inoperative. This function of the invention derives from the angular disposition of the conduits l5 relative to the longitudinal axis of the craft, and is made effective for forward travel of the craft through simultaneous operation of the water wheels It on opposite sides of and adjacent the bow of the vessel, and for rearward travel of the craft through actuation of the water wheels on opposite sides of and adjacent the stern of the craft. In either case, a flow of water is established through the conduits l5 which acts to move the craft longitudinally away from the pressure areas developed at the discharge ends of the conduits.

While the forward conduits [5 shown in the drawing are illustrated as spaced rearwardly somewhat from the peak of the vessel, it is to be understood that they. may be disposed with their intake ports opening closely adjacent the prow of the craft and may be supplemented by additional pairs of conduits related altitudinally and longitudinally of the craft in such number as may be expedient or desirable for a given installation, the same being true for the installation adjacent the stern of the vessel.

The invention is of particular advantage in that it provides means for steering and controlling a water craft at all times and irrespective of the longitudinal motion of the craft, thus permitting precise handling of a vessel in restricted waters and crowded harbors where maintenance of steerage way is impractical.

Since many changes in the specific form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, and may in fact be necessary in adapting the principles of the invention to given installations, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention- 1. Lateral and directional control means for water craft comprising a plurality of conduits arranged in pairs transversely of a vessel adjacent the opposite ends thereof and each extending between and opening through opposite sides of the vessel hull below the water line thereof, the conduits in each pair being disposed with their axes in spaced, parallel horizontal planes and oppositely and diagonally traversing the vessel hull to cross on the longitudinal median line of said hull, enlarged intake chambers on and smoothly merging with the ends of said conduits adjacent the corresponding end of said hull and communicating through said hull by means of intake ports of diameters greater than those of their associated conduits, the intake chamber of the lower conduit being flared upwardly and that of the upper conduit being flared downwardly to center the intake ports of each pair of conduits on a common horizontal line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, a water a wheel operatively associated with the intake chamber of each conduit to initiate and maintain water flow through said conduit from one side of the hull to the other, and power means individually associated with each water wheel for the selective actuation thereof in either direction of rotation.

2. Lateral and directional control means for water craft comprising a plurality of conduits arranged in pairs transversely of a vessel adjacent the opposite ends thereof and each opening through opposite sides of the vessel hull below the water line thereof, the conduits constituting each pair being disposed in adjacent, superposed, horizontal relation to oppositely and diagonally traverse the vessel hull between intake ports centered in a common vertical plane transversely of said hull adjacent the corresponding end thereof and outlet ports centered in a common vertical plane transversely of said hull and relatively more remote from the corresponding hull end, enlarged portions on the intake ends of said conduits, the enlarged portion on the lower conduit being flared upwardly and that on the upper conduit being flared downwardly to center the intake ports of said portions on a common horizontal line transversely of said hull, a water wheel journaled for rotation in bearings carried by said conduit intake portion and vessel and disposed across the intake port of each conduit, and means associated with each water wheel for the selective actuation thereof in either direction of rotation.

3. Lateral and directional control means for water craft comprising transversely-aligned intake ports in the opposite walls and adjacent the ends of a vessel hull and below the water line thereof, relatively smaller outlet ports in the hull walls and spaced longitudinally from said intake ports toward the midportion of the vessel, an intake chamber housing cooperating with each intake port, a straight conduit of uniform diameter operatively connecting each intake chamber with an outlet port on the opposite side of the vessel, whereby said conduits are disposed in crossed, paired relation adjacent the ends of the vessel, a water wheel operatively associated with each intake chamber to initiate and maintain water flow through its associated conduit, and means for selectively actuating said water wheels in either direction of rotation.

LESTER. E. NORQUIST.

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