Steering Gear

Steering Gear Components

Feedback Loops
Sequence of Operation
STEERING GEAR COMPONENTS

6-WAY
TILLER
VALVE

RAMS

STRG GR
PUMPS RUDDER STOCK

RUDDER
Moving the RUDDER
To turn to STARBOARD….

Force RAMS in opposite directions to pivot

TILLER, RUNNER STOCK, & RUDDER
Moving the RUDDER
To turn to STARBOARD….
Moving the RUDDER
The RAPHSON SLIDE….
Moving the RAMS
Moving the RAMS

STARBOARD
DISCHARGE

OFF-STROKE

RAMS locked
at new position
Moving the RAMS

RAMS locked
at new position

OFF-STROKE

PORT
DISCHARGE
Pumping action & RAM movement
Pumping action & RAM movement
Pumping action & RAM movement
The 6-way Valve: STBD Pump in Service

Common Stroke
Control mechanism

PORT PUMP on STBY: secured or running

 The 6-way Valve: PORT Pump in Service
STARBOARD PUMP on STBY: secured or running

Common Stroke
Control mechanism
The 6-way Valve: THREE Positions
ON LINE
STBD RAMS
PUMP
STANDBY
1-
ON LINE STBD Pump on line

PORT
2-
PUMP PORT Pump on line
STANDBY
3-
RUDDER LOCKED
 (Negative) FEEDBACK
“ERROR”
Command Feedback
Output
+
-
CON-
TROLLER PROCESS

FEEDBACK
TRANSDUCER

“ERROR” = Command ― Feedback

= What you want ― What you have
 The Differential Gear
YOKE

INPUT
GEAR #2
HELM
TURNS

RUDDER
TURNS

INPUT
GEAR OUTPUT
#1 GEARs
 OFF
STROKE:

ON STROKE: ON STROKE:

STBD PORT
What turns the input gears?

OUTPUT = X1 – X2
TILT BOX
X2 (INPUT#2): POSITION
RUDDER POSITION

X1 (INPUT#1):
RACK POSITION

The RACK
What moves the rack?

The
SHUTTLE
VALVE PILOT PUMP
Rack
Piston
What moves the rack?

The
SHUTTLE
VALVE PILOT PUMP
Rack
Piston
What moves the shuttle valve?

Solenoid Solenoid
Energized Energized

De-energized De-energized

Solenoids
(Magnets)
 How are Solenoids Energized?
Turning HELM to port generates a
amidships
(positive) voltage

Voltage is proportional to amount of

turn…
Turning HELM to starboard
generates a negative voltage.

Moving RACK to port generates a

(positive) voltage
Turning HELM to
Voltage is proportional to starboard generates a
amount of movement… negative voltage.

amidships
How are the Solenoids Energized?

Differential Amplifier

VH
VH - VR + V >V
H R
0 VH=VR
- V <V
H R
VR
How are the Solenoids Energized?

HELM to port of RACK

HELM Differential
position
Amplifier HELM
position
“difference”
=
RACK
position
RACK
position
Solenoids
& Shuttle
HELM starboard of RACK Valve
Steering Sequence…
Steering Gear Pump running off-stroke
Pilot Pump running (re-circulating)
Helm rotated for right rudder
Stbd Solenoid energized; shuttle valve
directs pilot pump discharge to rack piston
Rack moves to starboard …
Turning differential gear input # 1, until
Rack movement matches helm position, de-
energizing solenoid and returning shuttle
valve to neutral position
Steering Sequence…

3
6

5
4
2
7
Steering Sequence (cont’)…
Differential gear output puts Steering pump
on stroke
Rams driven by steering pump discharge
Rudder begins to move to starboard
Rudder motion transmitted to differential
gear input #2
Differential gear output takes Steering
Pump off-stroke
Rudder motion stops
Next helm movement will restart sequence.
Steering Sequence…

10
15 12 11
6

13 8

9
14 7