A SHIP'S CONTINUOUS BRAKE.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4467, 30 April 1883, Page 2

A SHIP'S CONTINUOUS BRAKE.

So far as the use of brakes have been confined to land, and ships have had to take their chance of collision as best the/ could, trusting to a good look out on the part of the watch, though this is obviously not always effectual at night or in foggy weather. The principal has at last been applied to ships at sea. A water brake Ivas just been brought out which bids fair to prove as great a success upon the deep as.the continuous brake has long been upon land. It is formed of two rudders, which 'are what sailors would call " double-gudgcpned," that ia to say, working upon the same "spindle," one of which is fixed to the " spindle," itself, while the other is attached to a cylinder or pipe working on it. They steer together as one rudder while the ship is holding her course, but act" en* tirely with the propeller, reversing whenever it does so at a moment's notice. In the latter case the two rudders open out one against the other, oppose the water at the lowest angle of resistance, and mvtk inevitably bring the vessel to a standstill ia a very short time. Even if a collision is inevitable the effect would be a good deal mitigated, besides which the recoil and reactionary swing from which much mischief has often occurred, would be very much checked.