DC-2GM Steering Gear

I. Product Overview

Various types of vessels equipped with automatic steering systems can reap significant benefits: reduced fuel consumption, lighter workloads for crew members, and extended service life of the steering gear. Typically, implementing automatic steering requires an electric compass to provide the vessel’s heading information; therefore, it is difficult to achieve automatic steering on small- and medium-sized vessels that are not equipped with electric compasses.

In the DC-2GM (DC-2F) automatic steering system, the heading information required for automatic steering is provided by a magnetic compass. Therefore, automatic steering can be implemented even without an electric compass. This device features dual-system control functionality: when one of the operating systems fails, the system can seamlessly switch over to the other, ensuring continuous and smooth operation of the steering gear. This equipment is also suitable for small vessels and complies with the requirements of GB10846, "General Technical Specifications for Marine Magnetic Compass Automatic Steering Systems." The DC-2GM steering system is applicable to various types of vessels weighing up to 12,000 tons, including passenger ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, fishing vessels, engineering vessels, patrol boats, and transport boats.

This device features magnetic heading display functionality, eliminating the need for an additional steering magnetic compass in the cockpit. This feature is particularly important for small and medium-sized vessels. The DC-2F automatic steering system can be used on all types of vessels weighing 5,000 tons or less.

DC-2GM Electric Compass/Magnetic Compass Automatic Steering System—The ship’s heading information required by the steering system can be provided either by the electric compass or by a standard magnetic compass. The heading repeater on the steering console then displays this electric compass heading and can also transmit it to other navigation instruments.

II. Main Features
This device employs variable-gain PID control.
This device features automatic weather adjustment, enabling it to automatically modify the vessel’s allowable yaw angle in response to changes in sea conditions. In high-sea conditions, the allowable yaw angle is larger, helping to avoid unnecessary rudder movements and reducing losses in ship propulsion power; in low-sea conditions, the allowable yaw angle is smaller, thereby enhancing the vessel’s course-keeping stability.
This device is equipped with a rudder angle indicator system that is electrically independent from the ship’s steering control system.
This device features adjustable anti-impact rudder capability, effectively eliminating oscillations in hydraulic steering systems.
The steering console of this equipment is equipped with alarm functions for power failure (in case of power loss to the steering console or pump not starting), gyrocompass, yaw, integrated S, and integrated P, as well as alarm detection and mute functions. Additionally, a rudder actuator alarm box can be configured, allowing six alarm items to be set for each unit, including phase failure, power loss, overload, (low) liquid level, filter blockage, and oil temperature, all of which feature alarm detection and mute functions.

III. Main Technical Specifications
Applicable operating temperature: -5°C to +55°C
Power supply — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — AC 380V 50Hz 250W
Emergency Power Supply ———— DC 24V 150W (Standby)
Rudder angle indicator power supply ———— AC 220V 50Hz
Heading Re-display
The dial is graduated from 0 to 360 degrees, with a graduation interval of 1 degree.
The heading indication error of the electric gyrocompass shall not exceed 0.5 degrees.
The magnetic compass heading indication error shall not exceed 1 degree.
DC-2GM Automatic Steering System
Steering Gear Series Products
Instructional heading indicator — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 0–360°, with a graduation value of 1 degree
Instruction error — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — no greater than 0.5 degrees
Maximum single-direction deflection — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 30 degrees
Rudder angle indication range ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———......
Rudder angle indication error ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———......Rudder angle indication error ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———......— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———............— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———......
Steering follow-up error— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — No greater than 1 degree
Average steering error for automatic steering ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ———......not greater than 1 degree.
Output control object —— Solenoid valve (24V DC, 2 A) for the switch-type hydraulic steering system

4. Instrument Accessories

V. System Connection Diagram

VI. Examples of Major Components and Assemblies