IMPROVED RAPSON-SLIDE STEERING MECHANISM

摘要

A ship's steering gear mechanism (10) embodying a number of improvements to the well-known Rapson-Slide apparatus provides greatly improved operating efficiencies and cost effectiveness by inclusion of a specially configured transverse travelling channel, trunion-mounted hydraulic cylinders (12* and 14*), and reduced friction sliding/rolling slider elements (48 and 144U/144L). The travelling channels formed by a pair of transverse beams (34) prevent harmful forces from being reflected back into the hydraulic cylinders thus reducing their size and strength requirements, while other improvements decrease operating losses due to friction/stiction, and compensate for both static and dynamic component misalignments.