US448263A

US448263A - Steering apparatus

Info

Publication number: US448263A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1908-03-17

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. RYMER. STEERING APPARATUS.

naw/who's W Patented Mar. 1'7, 1891.

351 a GHiOI/VWA? UNITED Srarns amntu'r @rrren...

IVILLIAM RYMER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

STEERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Yatent No. 448,263, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed July 5, 1890. Serial No. 357,813. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RYMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of IVayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steering Apparatus; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object certaii new and useful improvements in steering apparatus designed to secure increased efficiency and economy as well as greater simplicity.

To these ends my invention consists of the devices and appliances, their combinations and arrangements, as hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a diagram view in plan showing the cylinders in horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the valve-case, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the valve.

I carry out my invention as follows:

A represents the rudder, and A a tiller or equivalent device connected therewith. 13 B represent piston-cylinders of any suitable construction. 0 and O are the pistons suitably connected therewith and with said rudder in such a manner that the movement of the pistons will throw the rudder in either direction desired, according as the pistons are moved in one direction or the other. D and D represent pipes leading from the pistoncylinders to the pilot-house D or other convenient point where a controlling-valve E is located. F denotes an ordinary steam-boiler, from which at any desired point a pipe F leads to the pilot-house and communicates with the valve E. G is a relief-pipe, also communicating with the said valve. These are the essential features of my invention.

I prefer to have the apparatus to constitute a hydraulic steering device. To this end water is conducted from the boiler under boiler=pressure through the pipe F to the valve E, by which its pressure is directed to either piston-cylinder required through the pipes D and D.

Instead of using hydraulic power, compressed air might be employed, in which event the pipe F would lead to a compressedair cylinder or reservoir II. (Shownin dotted lines, Fig. 2.) The pipes D D may be provided with suitable pop-valves (shown ata a) to relieve the pressure, if required, in the cylinder. The pipe F, I prefer to provide with a settling-chamber to prevent deposits from the boiler and other impurities from passing to the valve and beyond, which might produce undue wear.

\Vhile I would have it expressly understood that I do not limit myself to any specific form of valve E for controlling the pressure and operating the pistons, such a valve as I have shown in Figs. 3 and 4; will be adapted to this end, the same consisting of a case E, with which the inlet-pipe F and relief G communicate, also the pipes D D.

T2 is the valve proper, provided with a stem E and operating-lever E". The valve is cut away along a portion of its periphery, as shown at c and c, to conduct the power-supply to the pipes D D and to the exhaust, as maybe desired. The valve E is also provided with a through-hole 6 whereby the pipes D D may communicate when said valve is in proper position. The valve is also constructed with a lap e at each side the throughhole e and at each extremity thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be evident that if the through-hole coincides with the pipes D D equal pressure will be exerted upon both pistons. If the valve be turned to bring the laps adjacent to the extremities of the pipes D D, so as to cover said extremities, the pistons will be held rigidly in a given position. So, also, by turning the valve so that the channel 6 will communicate with either of the ports D D, as may be required, power will be directed to the one, while the other will be relieved through the channel 0 to the exhaust-port. In this manner the power can be so directed as to control the rudder in the most exact manner.

The valve E may be operated solely by the lever E; or, if preferred, said lever may be supplied with a segmental gear E and an ordinary steering-wheel I be engaged upon a spindle I, said spindle provided with a pinion .I, meshing with the segment I prefer to enlarge the pipes D D adjacent to the cylinders to form a well D This well I design to supply with oil sufficient to fill the cylinder to act as a lubricant. The pipes D D are preferably led into the base of the well, so that the oil is always ahead of the water, and when the fluid is forced out of either cylinder it will pass into and be contained in the well. It will be observed that chains are wholly dispensed with, avoiding entirely all liability of breakage and rattling.

IVhile I prefer to employ two cylinders, each provided with a piston which connects with the rudder, a single cylinder and its piston might be employed to actuate the rudder within the scope of my invention.

' Instead of locating the controlling-valve in the pilot-house, it might be located in any desired position.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a steering apparatus for vessels, the combination, with a rudder, of a pair of cylinders provided with pistons which are connected to the rudder at opposite points, a cont-rolling-valveprovidedwithathrough-port e and side ports e e, a pipe F, communicating with the power-supply and communicating with said valve, supply-pipes D D, comin unicatin g with the cylinders and said valve, and an exhaust-pipe G, substantially as set forth.

2. In a steering apparatus for vessels, the combination, with a rudder of a vessel, of a cylinder provided with a piston which is connected with the rudder, a power-supply pipe leading from the power-supply to said cylinder, a valve to control the passage of the power-supply, and 'mechanism for operating the valve, consisting of an arm connected to said valve and provided with a rack, and a shaft journaled in bearings and provided with a cog-wheel for engaging said rack, substantially as set forth.

3. In a steering apparatus for vessels, the combination, with the rudder, of two cylinders, each provided with a piston connected with the rudder, power-supply pipes leading from the power-supply and communicable with each other to both of said cylinders, and a valve to control the communication of said pipes with each other and the power-supply, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign thisspecification in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM RYMER.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, CHARLES F. SALON.