MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 33 



NOVEL RUDDER OF A SHIP. 



THE ship Warren, bound from Glasgow to New York, having encoun- 

 tered severe weather, lost her rudder on the outward voyage, and 

 there being no timber o board of sufficient size to construct a new one, 

 and none of the requisite machinery to connect it, even if made, to the 

 tiller, a most ingenious device was hit upon by Captain Law ton, which 

 was successfully carried out by the crew, by which means the ship, with 

 a valuable cargo and 150 passengers, was safely steered to her port of 

 destination. The Warren drew about 16 feet of water, and a sufficient 

 number of ropes being fastened so as to form a sort of hempen plank, 

 very similar to a close door mat on a gigantic scale, the whole was 

 bound together with transverse pieces of wood, thoroughly lashed 

 throughout, and secured with iron rods at the edges. For the hinge, 

 a series of chains were substituted, and two more with blocks and con- 

 necting ropes, running under the quarter, and fastened to the windlass, 

 gave the steersman almost as complete control as the ordinary wheel. 

 This truly ingenious piece of mechanism has elicited the warmest 

 expressions of admiration from many nautical veterans. 



METALLIC RUDDER. 



THE rudder of the United States steamer San Jacinto, recently con- 

 structed at the Brooklyn Navy- Yard, is something of a mechanical 

 curiosity. It is about 24 feet in length, composed of a centre wrought- 

 iron spindle weighing 2,249 Ibs., turned and finished ; upon this spindle 

 is cast, for nearly the entire length, a composition casting of copper and 

 tin, of 1,940 Ibs.; to this casing flanges project nearly the entire 

 length of the spindle, to which are riveted the copperplates which form 

 the rudder. The object of the casing is to prevent rust on the iron. 

 The whole weighs about 6,350 Ibs., and was manufactured at the 

 Washington Navy- Yard. 



THE DUPLEX RUDDER AND SCREW-PROPELLER. 



AN T invention, entitled as above, has recently been patented by 

 Captain Carpenter, of England. It consists of two rudders and two 

 screw-propellers, fitted in new positions for improved steering and 

 propelling. From the midship section of the vessel to the stem, no 

 alteration is introduced into the form of the huh 1 ; but abaft this point 

 they commence. First, the keel, with the dead-wood, stern-post and 

 rudder, are removed, and the flooring above receives a suitable form 

 for strength. Two additional keels lie in a line parallel with the 

 former keel, but placed at a distance of two or more feet, according to 

 the size of the vessel, on either side of it, terminating at the midship 

 section in the fore-part, and in a line with the former stern-post in the 

 after-part. Framework is carried down to these keels, leaving a free 

 channel for the water to run between them in the direction of the mid- 

 ship keel. A stern-post is placed at the end of the additional keels, 

 and upon each of which hangs a rudder. A screw-propeller works in 

 an orifice in each framework, on the common arrangement. One of 

 the propellers is a little more aft than the other, to allow full play to 



