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Automatic Steering Gear Operation

The document describes the automatic operation of a ship's steering gear through both hand steering and automatic control via an autopilot system. In hand steering, the helmsman provides a command angle which is transmitted electrically to a controller comparing it to feedback from an angle sensor. This controls a directional valve operating hydraulic rams to rotate the rudder stock. In automatic mode, an autopilot receives the desired heading from the gyrocompass and controls the steering gear to correct any deviations by generating correction signals. Feedback ensures the rudder angle matches the commanded position.

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sureen123
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311 views10 pages

Automatic Steering Gear Operation

The document describes the automatic operation of a ship's steering gear through both hand steering and automatic control via an autopilot system. In hand steering, the helmsman provides a command angle which is transmitted electrically to a controller comparing it to feedback from an angle sensor. This controls a directional valve operating hydraulic rams to rotate the rudder stock. In automatic mode, an autopilot receives the desired heading from the gyrocompass and controls the steering gear to correct any deviations by generating correction signals. Feedback ensures the rudder angle matches the commanded position.

Uploaded by

sureen123
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

AUTOMATIC OPERATION OF

STEERING GEAR
FLOW OF SIGNALS
OUR REQUIREMENTS
• THE RUDDER HAS TO MOVE TO A DESIRED ANGLE AS PER
OUR COMMAND.
• THE STEERING SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE AND
INSTANTANEOUS WITHOUT TIME LAG OR OFFSET .
• THERE SHOULD BE PROVISION PROVIDED FOR AUTOMATIC
CONTROL OF THE STEERING MECHANISM BY AUTO PILOT
SYSTEM.
• THE AUTO PILOT SHOULD COMUNICATE WITH THE GYRO /
MAGNETIC COMPASS FOR GETTING SIGNAL ON THE
COURSE.
• IT SHOULD BE ROBUST, FAIL PROOF, MAINTENANCE FREE
AND COST EFFECTIVE.
THE FLOW OF COMMAND SIGNAL
IN ELECTRIC CONTROL SYSTEM
LET US START FOR A SIMPLE HAND STEERING

A MOVEMENT IS GIVEN BY THE HELMSMAN FROM BRIDGE

THIS WHEEL IS NOTHING MORE


THAN A SOPHISTICATED
POTENTIOMETER OR
SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR

THE DESIRED RUDDER ANGLE IS


TRANSMITTED AS ELECTRICAL SIGNAL
THE DESIRED VALUE OF RUDDER ANGLE IS FED TO
THE MASTER CONTROLLER WHICH COMPARES THIS
VALUE AGAINST THE FEEDBACK THAT IT RECEIVES
FROM THE ANGLE SENSOR MOUNTED ON THE
RUDDER STOCK

THE SIGNAL THEN PASSES ON TO ENERGISE THE


SOLENOID OF DIRECTION CONTROL VALVE

THE DIRECTION CONTROL VALVE MOVES ALLOWING


A SET OF RAM TO BE PRESSURISED BY THE OIL THUS
ROTATING THE RUDDER STOCK
AS THE RUDDER MOVES, THE FEEDBACK
SIGNAL CONTINUOUSLY IS FED TO THE
CONTROLLER. ONCE THE COMMAND VALUE IS
REACHED THE CONTROLLER DEENERGISES THE
DIR CONT SOLENOID VALVE.

NOW THE SYSTEM IS STABLE AT THIS NEW


POSITION AND THE READY TO EXECUTE THE
NEXT ORDER.
IN CASE OF AUTOMATION THE AUTO PILOT DOES
THE JOB OF HELMSMAN. THE DESIRED VALUE i.e
SHIPS HEADING IS FED INTO THE AUTO PILOT.
THE GYRO READS THE SHIPS ACTUAL HEADING
AND THIS DATA IS FED INTO THE AUTO PILOT.
ANY DEVIATION FROM THE DESIRED VALUE IS
CORRECTED BY THE AUTO PILOT BY
GENERATING THE CORRESPONDING
CORRECTION SIGNAL TO STEERING MECHANISM
THUS MOVING THE RUDDER.

HENCE THE AUTO PILOT WILL CONTINUE TO


MOVE THE RUDDER AS LONG AS THE SHIPS
DESIRED HEADING IS REACHED.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION OF
STEERING GEAR (AUTO PILOT)

DESIRED VALUE
AUTO ACTUAL HEADING FROM
GYRO COMPASS
PILOT
COMMAND EROR SIGNAL

CONTROLLER

RUDDER ANGLE FEEDBACK

STEERING GEAR
THIS MODE IS USED WHEN THE SHIP IS IN OPEN SEA. THE MAX RUDDER ANGLE IS
LIMTED TO 5 TO 10 DEG EITHER SIDE AND ALSO COUPLED WITH A ALARM FOR COURSE
DEVIATION ACTIVATED IN THE WHEEL HOUSE
AUTOMATIC OPERATION OF
STEERING GEAR (HAND STEERING)

COMMAND ACTUAL
ANGLE CONTROLLER ANGLE

ERROR
HELM SIGNAL
ORDER

FEED BACK UNIT

STEERING GEAR
SO WE HAVE LEARNT :
HAND STEERING.
AUTOMATIC STEERING
( AUTO PILOT SYSTEM).

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