Steering Gears

Auto pilot
 Telemotor fluid properties

Good quality mineral lubricating oil is used

with the following properties:
• low pour point
• non sludge forming
• non corrosive
• good lubricating properties
• high flash point
• low viscosity to reduce frictional drag, but not too
thin to make gland sealing difficult.
f = force on ram with tiller amidships ( = p x a)
a = actuator area
p = Working fluid pressure

f' = f / cos.q = p x a / cos.q

f' = effective force acting at tiller
q = rudder angle

t = torque available = f' x r' x n

n = Number of effective rams ( 1 for 2 ram, 2 for 4 ram)

t = ((p x a) / cosq). (r / cos.q) . n

t = (p x a x n x r) . (1 / cos.2q)
Hele shaw pump
Hele shaw pump
Swash plate 0ump
 PISTON BLOCK CONNECTING RODS

REAR COVER WITH VALVE PLATE UNIVERSAL JOINTS

INLET PORT
SHAFT

OUTLET PORT HOUSING

PISTONS ”ANGLE “A THRUST PLATE

 Rudder stops
;Rudder stops are arranged as follows

Angle from
Note Position of stop
centreline

Normal limit On telemotor system 35

Prevents rudder striking external

On steering gear 37
stops

External, on stern
emergency stop to protect propeller 39
frame
 Rudder torque calculations
T= A Cp V2 sin q where:-
T = rudder torque
A = rudder area
Cp = centre of pressure distance from
centre line of rudder stock
V = velocity of ship
q = rudder angle measured from mid-
ship position
 POWER

• The peak power that a steering gear must

develop is the product of the maximum
torque (T) usually at hard over with the
ship travelling at full speed, and the
maximum speed (S) of rudder movement
i.e. Power (max) a T x S.
 Rules
• Maritime Organization (I.M.O.)
conventions and regulations.
Classification society requirements are
as follows;
– All ships to have power operated main gear
capable of displacing the rudder from 35o port
to 35o starboard at the deepest draught and at
maximum service speed. Must also be capable
of displacing the rudder from 35o port to 30o
starboard in 28 seconds and vice versa.
– The auxiliary gear must be power operated and
capable of being brought rapidly into action.
The auxiliary gear is only required to steer the
ship at either 7 knots or half service speed
– If the main gear comprises two or more identical
power units, then a single failure of either power
unit or piping must not impair the integrity of
the remaining part of the steering gear
 – Each power unit must be served by at
least two electrical circuits from the main
switchboard. One circuit may pass
through the emergency switchboard. All
circuits to be separated as widely as
possible throughout their length.
– All power operated gears to be fitted with
shock relieving arrangements to protect
against the action of heavy seas.
• An efficient brake or locking arrangement
to be fitted to enable the rudder to be
maintained stationary
 – the maximum power developed by the
gear is proportional to T x S
where T = rudder torque
S = Speed of rudder movement
also T = A x CP x V2 x sinq
Where A = rudder area
CP = centre of pressure
q = rudder angle
V = velocity of the ship