A NEW STEERING APPARATUS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2296, 15 May 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

A NEW STEERING APPARATUS.

[New Yokk Sun.] Charles H. Washburn hag patenter! an automatic steering apparatus by which the control of the rudder of the vessel can be taken entirely out of the hands of the man at tho wheel at any moment, and assumed on the bridgn by the officer in charge.. A cylinder something like the cylinder of a steam engine is secured athwart-ships at any convenient place about the deck. In this cylinder is a piston with a piston-rod attached, which projects through each end of the cylinder, each end of the, rod terminating in a hook. The chain leading to starboard from the tiller is takon through fairleaders to the hook on the starboard end of the piston rod, and the port chain is taken to the port hook. The tiller will bo thrown from one side to the other, ac cording as the piston is moved in the cylinder, To operate the piston, com pressed air is admitted on one side or the other as wanted, by means of a rotary valve of a peculiar construction, This vaive is worked by the piston-rod of a small cylinder operated by compressed air, much as the big one is, but its vulvn is opened aud closed by means *f an electric current running through magnets.. This electric current is in turn TOuWdtel biy tte mWojants of

an attachment to the mariner's compass ' in the wheel house The compass is composed of the ordinary bowl, suppor- • ted in the usual manner, and containing the usual balanced card, Above the card is supported a rocking bar, properly insulated, and having an arm extending perpendicularly through it, Two contract plates are secured to each side of the supporting frame. .When the ship leaves the course on which 'she has been headed, and for which this rocking bar has been adjusted, tho card indicates the variation, and a connection is formed between the bar and the contract plates, and a current of electricity is transmitted from a convenient battery to the valve of tho auxiliary cylinder, and thus the valve or big cylinder is opened, its piston is thrown to the proper side, tho rudder is thrown over, and the vessel resumes her course, In addition to the compass control, an interlocking systemi is so arranged as to operate the magnets by the movements of the wheel in the pilot-house, or by thi! hand device upon the bridge. It is so arranged that when the automatic device is in operation, ihe circuit connecting the hand device does not act, and when the wheel is in operation the compass circuit is broken. When the lever on the bridge is lifted, both tho other device* are inoperative, but when dropped again the device previously in operation will resume iiMtomatically. During a stormy or foggy night the officer on the bridge sees a light ahead,, and shouts at the man at the wheel, to "hard a-port." Tho wheelman misunderstands the order, and throws liii wheel the other way, The officer on the bridge at once renders tho steersman powtdiiiM by, lifting the lever, He pushes it a few inches to one side, and the helm is thrown over. The rapidity with which the (lev ce works is one of the [ strongest points,