STEERING GEAR

DRAW DIAGRAM
 Steering gear

A hydraulic steering gear consists of a

bridge control which applies helm,
telemotor unit (2) , hunting gear (when
fitted or a control unit) , feedback unit,
steering motor & pumps(2) and rudder
actuators which constitutes the steering
gear.
 Telemotor systems

The telemotor system consists of

a transmitter on the bridge and a
receiver fitted on the steering gear
forming a part of the hunting
gear.

 The system may be electrical or

hydraulic or a combination of the
two.
 Telemotor systems

Most modern vessels are fitted

with electric or electro-hydraulic
systems.

Due to the increasing size of

vessels pipe runs have lengthen
causing lags in the operation of the
receiver in hydraulic systems.

 In addition hydraulic only

systems generally require more
maintenance.
Electro-hydraulic type
telemotor system

The signal is derived

from the action on the
steering wheel, created by
the autopilot or directly
from the non-follow up
control levers.
 Hunting Gear

The steering gear system above consists of the

telemotor which receives a signal from the bridge
wheel. This acts on the hunting gear
 Hunting Gear
The hunting gear moves
displacing a control rod, this rod acts on
the pump displacement control gear to
alter the delivery from the pump.

The delivery from the pump

causes the ram to move rotating the
rudder stock and hence the rudder.

The other end of the hunting

gear is mounted on the rudder stock.
 Hunting Gear
The rotation of the rudder stock moves
the hunting gear returning the operating rod
for the pump to the neutral position once the
rudder has reached the correct angle.
Rotary Vane Gear
The chambers are
alternately connected to the
suction and delivery from the
hydraulic pump so that they can
be used to produce the rudder
actuating torque.
Because the distribution
of the pressure chambers is
balanced around the rudder
stock, only pure torque is
transmitted to the stock and no
side loading are imposed by the
gear.
Rotary Vane Gear
 "Follow Up" Steering

This is the normal method of steering and involves

the feedback of steering angle to the helm. This is
suited to both manual and automatic operation.

The ships heading may be set into the autopilot

which can then compare the actual to desired heading
and adjust the rudder angle to suit .
 "Non-follow Up" Steering

Normally used for back up purposes only.

Consists of a single lever per steering gear unit, by

moving the lever in on direction the rudder will begin
to turn, the rudder will continue to turn until the
lever is released or it reaches the limit of its
operation.