The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-03
NAVY YAnp, wAsulxoroS,

February g. 1859.
SIN In compliance with your order Of the 18th inst,
have examined the performance OF 'sargeants Marine
Regulator by attaching it to al engine IN this yard and
carefully noting its operation.
Ii is governor an Instrument for regulating etpecd
OF engines by admitting less steam at the required
moment but unlike all other instruments which have
been conrved for that purpose does not depend upon The
centrifugal force gravity OF revolving balls.
The popularity of Mr.. Sargent regulator, and where
in its chief efficiency consists is the using of two reyov
ing metallic discs, with inclined wedgea- shaped snr
faces, arranged that the least variation In She velocity
of either opens shuts the throttle valve.
These discs Icvolye in the direction, and In con-
tact with each other, but by independent moons--the
by small oscllatDg cylinder, and the other 10y
belt from the shaft of the main engine
When the engine is working Mt regular speed both
discs revolye with the velocity but should sud
den load greater resistance be suddenly thrown on
the engine the speed of the dire driven by the belt VIII
be checked for instant but it VII ba instantaneous
ly driven out the incline plane against the throttle
valve stem, thereby opening the throttle valve In She
least possbi of time also, when the loud
is suddenly taken of the engine the discs instantly as
the relative positions necessary TO maintain the
regular speed a
1t was tried the mill engine, where had the
chance of suddenly throwing and of the load OF two
saw gates and so quick the governor In its opera
ton that there peceptibc check OF Increase in
the speed Of the engine which is condition have
never been able to obtain from the best ball governor
used in this yard.
Theoretically considered the change is much quicker
than can possibly be obtained by ball governor Sup
pose the engine regulated to make forty revolutions per
minute and the two discs, which eighteen inches In
circumference revovc 100 times per minute suppose @
load suddenly thrown the engine which would have
reduced the revolutions to 20 per minute the velocity
of the disc driven by the belt is instantly reduced
half but only require change of one inch in the
relative positions Of the two discs to open the throttle
valve and both discs had been revolving l,SVo
inches per minute, and suddenly reduced to 900
niche nor mil ia n
Of 900 inches per minute in their relative vcoeitef,
which is equal to fifteen inches per second, but, as we
only required movement OF one inch, the waive rs
therefore opened far enough in fifteenth Of second
In practice we found it quick that check could
| be perceived by the eye
So certain was the governor in its operation that the
engine could be worked at any desired speed, even reg
aoc which required the throttle valve TO be nearly closed
when the load suddenly thrown and off without
any pcrccptilIle difference; under the same circtn-
stances, with ball governor the engine would have
| stopped on the centre
| An engine supplied will, Mr. sarscnt'e governor can
be easily and quickly regulated to any desired speed by
simply opening shutting small valve which admits
steam to the osclating cylinder.
For engine of 1000 horse power valve not over
three quarters ofan inch inch in diameter would
he sufficient and be opened shit with the thumb
and finger easily shutting of gas light; Indeed so
sensitive is the instrument that the main engine can be
| stopped instantly by closing this small valve.
The governor operates balanced valve, Which adj
mits steam to the main engine aud the same valve Is
also conveniently arranged steam stop valve being
/ detached from the governor
1t be applied TO any engine where any other
governor cam and think it better adapted for marine
! engines than any other with which acquainted
We have the honor to be- very respectfully, your ODE
| dent servants, sh38
ii. HUNT,
| JOHN F. WIfIPPLE,
HENRY II. STEWART
Chief Engineers u $. Navy.
Forwarded February %, 1859, by
| JOHN NUDD, Commander
Hon. ISAAC ToucEY, Secretary Of the Navy.