IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Hurford Sparkes, of Hillview, Wellington, Somerset,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES:"
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Hurford Sparkes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1877.
SAMUEL HURFORD SPARKES, of Hillview, Wellington, Somerset. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES."
My improvement is intended for the larger class of engines, but may be used in
connection with engines of small power; it is also more adopted to the class of engines
using double slide valves, one of which serves as a cut-off valve, such as that known
as the "Rider," cut-off, and similar valves, but is quite capable of being applied to
engines using the ordinary slide and other forms of valves for admitting and
exhausting steam from the cylinder.
The main object of the improvement is to obtain a more uniform piston speed of
the larger class of engines, say, from 50 to 200 horse power, more or less; this is
effected by causing the power for driving the governor spindle to act more direct on
the valve or cut-off valve through intermediate mechanism herein-after described, for
more suddenly acting on the cut-off valve to open or close the steam ports, as may be
required, and thereby keep the speed of the engine at a more uniform velocity at
all times than is usually done when producing from 50 to 200 horse power, more
or less.
The accompanying Drawing represent a longitudinal sectional elevation of
governor with the improvement attached. A is a spindle driven in any convenient
manner by power taken from the engine; and is provided with a miter gear wheel B,
which is made to work in the wheels C and D, as represented; the whiel C revolves
the hollow governor spindle E, and when the balls of the governor rise or fall they
are made to raise or lower the disc or friction piece F by means of the rod f working
ta

page_text: in the governor spindle E. As may be seen by the Drawing the rod g is connected
to the friction disc F and the worm wheel H; the worm wheels work into the gear
wheel J. The action of the improvement is thus, when the friction disc F is raised
or lowered by the action of the governor, as before stated, sufficient to bring the
ends of the friction disc into contact with the revolving miter wheels C and D, the
friction caused by such contact of the disc F and revolving miter wheels C and D
causes a sudden revolving of the worm wheel H through the medium of the spindle
9, which acts on the gear wheel J, connected to or with the cut-off valve (not shewn),
and thereby opens or closes the steam port or ports, as may be required, to increase
or lessen the speed of the engine, and thus by the sudden opening or closing of the
steam ports a uniform speed of the engine is maintained at all times even when the
resistance or power required for the engine to give off greatly varies.
The Drawings are sufficient plain to persons skilled in the art to give a full under-
standing of the improvement without further specifying it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Hurford Sparkes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th February 1878.
S
SAMUEL HURFORD SPARKES, of Hillview, Wellington, Somerset.
IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My improvement is intended for the larger class of engines, but may be used in
connection with engines of small power; it is also more adapted to the class of engines
using double slide valves, one of which serves as a cut-off valve, such as that known
as the "Rider," cut-off, and similar valves, but is quite capable of being applied to
engines using the ordinary slide and other forms of valve for admitting and
exhausting steam from the cylinder.
The main object of the improvement is to obtain a more uniform piston speed of
the larger class of engines, say, from 50 to 200 horse power, more or less, this is
effected by causing the power for driving the governor spindle to act more direct on
the valve or cut-off valve through intermediate mechanism, herein-after described, for
more suddenly acting on the cut-off valve to open or close the steam ports as may be
required, and thereby keep the speed of the engine at a more uniform velocity at
all times than is usually done when producing from 50 to 200 horse power, more
or less."
Fig 1 of the accompanying Drawing represent a longitudinal sectional elevation of
a governor with the improvement attached. A is a spindle driven in any convenient
manner by power taken from the engine, and is provided with a miter gear wheel
B which is made to work into the wheels C and D, as represented; the wheel C
revolves the hollow governor spindle E, and when the balls of the governor rise or
fall they are made to rise or lower the disc or friction piece F by means of the rod f
working in the governor spindle E, as may be seen by the Drawing. The rod g is
connected to the friction disc F and the worm wheel H; the worm wheel works into
the gear wheel J. The action of the improvement is thus, when the friction disc F
is raised or lowered by the action of the governor, as before stated, sufficient to bring
the ends of the friction disc into contact with the revolving mitre wheels C and D ;

page_text: the friction caused by such contact of the disc F and revolving mitre wheel C and
I causes a sudden revolving of the worm wheel H through the medium of the
spindle g, which acts on the gear wheel J, connected to or with the cut-off valve (not
shewn), and thereby opens or closes the steam port or ports, as may be required, to
increase or lessen the speed of the engine, and thus by the sudden opening or closing
of the steam ports a uniform speed of the engine is maintained at all times even
when the resistance or power required for the engine to give off greatly varies.
Fig. 2 represents another longitudinal sectional elevation of a governor, with the
improvement attached and worked the same as that shewn in Fig. 1, excepting the
frictional disc F are made cone shape instead of plain as represented, with their
surfaces provided with leather fl or any other good frictional substance so as to cause
the frictional power to act promptly. In this case the friction cones F, F, are
attached to a sleeve h by set screws i, i; the sleeve h and frictional cones F, F, are
supported or carried by the rod f, and are made to rise and fall, according to the
speed of the governor, by means of the arms H, H, acting on the rod f, and thereby
bring the cones into frictional contact with the bevel gear wheels C and D for acting
on the valve of the engine through the spindle g in the manner before described
in reference to Fig. 1.
This governor may be employed to act on any form of valve to regulate the speed
of engines either by working an ordinary regulating valve or any kind of cut-off
valve or valves. It is also applicable to water wheels and turbins, and may be
used to regulate and govern the speed of water engines or moters of any kind
worked by air, gas, or fluid; all required for such cases is to make the intermediate
gear from the governor to the valve or regulating device suitable for the particular
application for which the governor may be used.
Having now described the construction and operation of my improvement, I wish
it understood that I do not confine myself to the use of any particular form of
frictional surface or substance, nor the manner of attaching or connecting them to the
governor, what I claim is, constructing governors, substantially in the manner herein-
before described and represented, and providing them with frictional disc for being
acted on by the gear wheels C and D, in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before mentioned.
:
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Hurford Sparkes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
1878.
-
SAMUEL HURFORD SPARKES. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Hurford Sparkes, of Hillview, Wellington, Somerset,
=
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 15th February 1878 and dated the 20th August 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Hurford Sparkes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1877.
SAMUEL HURFORD SPARKES, of Hillview, Wellington, Somerset. ." IMPROVEMENTS
IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES."
My improvement is intended for the larger class of engines, but may be used in
connection with engines of small power; it is also more adopted to the class of engines
using double slide valves, one of which serves as a cut-off valve, such as that known
as the "Rider," cut-off, and similar valves, but is quite capable of being applied to
engines using the ordinary slide and other forms of valves for admitting and
exhausting steam from the cylinder.
The main object of the improvement is to obtain a more uniform piston speed of
the larger class of engines, say, from 50 to 200 horse power, more or less; this is
effected by causing the power for driving the governor spindle to act more direct on
the valve or cut-off valve through intermediate mechanism herein after described, for
more suddenly acting on the cut-off valve to open or close the steam ports, as may be
required, and thereby keep the speed of the engine at a more uniform velocity at
all times than is usually done when producing from 50 to 200 horse power, more
or less.
The accompanying Drawing represent a longitudinal sectional elevation of a
governor with the improvement attached. A is a spindle driven in any convenient
manner by power taken from the engine; and is provided with a miter gear wheel B,
which is made to work in the wheels C and D, as represented; the whel C revolves
the hollow governor spindle E, and when the balls of the governor rise or fall they
are made to raise or lower the disc or friction piece F by means of the rod f working

page_text: in the governor spindle E. As may be seen by the Drawing the rod is connected
to the friction disc F and the worm wheel H; the worm wheels work into the gear
wheel J. The action of the improvement-is thus, when the friction disc F is raised
or lowered by the action of the governor, as before stated, sufficient to bring the
ends of the friction disc into contact with the revolving miter wheels C and D, the
friction caused by such contact of the disc F and revolving miter wheels C and D
causes a sudden revolving of the worm wheel H through the medium of the spindle
g, which acts on the gear wheel J, connected to or with the cut-off valve (not shewn),
and thereby opens or closes the steam port or ports, as may be required, to increase
or lessen the speed of the engine, and thus by the sudden opening or closing of the
steam ports a uniform speed of the engine is maintained at all times even when the
resistance or power required for the engine to give off greatly varies.
The Drawings are sufficient plain to persons skilled in the art to give a full under-
standing of the improvement without further specifying it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Hurford Sparkes in the Great Seal Patent Office on 'the
18th February 1878.
SAMUEL HURFORD SPARKES, of Hillview, Wellington, Somerset. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES."
My improvement is intended for the larger class of engines, but may be used in
connection with engines of small power; it is also more adapted to the class of engines
using double slide valves, one of which serves as a cut-off valve, such as that known
as the "Rider," cut-off, and similar valves, but is quite capable of being applied to
engines using the ordinary slide and other forms of valve for admitting and
exhausting steam from the cylinder.
The main object of the improvement is to obtain a more uniform piston speed of
the larger class of engines, say, from 50 to 200 horse power, more or less, this is
effected by causing the power for driving the governor spindle to act more direct on
the valve or cut-off valve through intermediate mechanism, herein-after described, for
more suddenly acting on the cut-off valve to open or close the steam ports as may be
required, and thereby keep the speed of the engine at a more uniform velocity at
all times than is usually done when producing from 50 to 200 horse power, more
or less.
Fig 1 of the accompanying Drawing represent a longitudinal sectional elevation of
a governor with the improvement attached. A is a spindle driven in any convenient
manner by power taken from the engine, and is provided with a miter gear wheel
B which is made to work into the wheels C and D, as represented; the wheel C
revolves the hollow governor spindle E, and when the balls of the governor rise or
fall they are made to rise or lower the disc or friction piece F by means of the rod f
working in the governor spindle E, as may be seen by the Drawing. The rod g is
connected to the friction disc F and the worm wheel H; the worm wheel works into
the gear wheel J. The action of the improvement is thus, when the friction disc F
is raised or lowered by the action of the governor, as before stated, sufficient to bring
the ends of the friction disc into contact with the revolving mitre wheels C and D.;

page_text: the friction caused by such contact of the disc F and revolving mitre wheel C and
I causes a sudden revolving of the worm wheel H through the medium of the
spindle g, which acts on the gear wheel J, connected to or with the cut-off valve (not
shewn), and thereby opens or closes the steam port or ports, as may be required, to
increase or lessen the speed of the engine, and thus by the sudden opening or closing
of the steam ports a uniform speed of the engine is maintained at all times even
when the resistance or power required for the engine to give off greatly varies.
Fig. 2 represents another longitudinal sectional elevation of a governor, with the
improvement attached and worked the same as that shewn in Fig. 1, excepting the
frictional disc F are made cone shape instead of plain as represented, with their
surfaces provided with leather fl or any other good frictional substance so as to cause
the frictional power to act promptly. In this case the friction cones F, F, are
attached to a sleeve h by set screws i, i; the sleeve h and frictional cones F, F, are
supported or carried by the rod f, and are made to rise and fall, according to the
speed of the governor, by means of the arms H, H, acting on the rod f, and thereby
bring the cones into frictional contact with the bevel gear wheels C and D for acting
on the valve of the engine through the spindle g in the manner before described
in reference to Fig. 1.
This governor may be employed to act on any form of valve to regulate the speed
of engines either by working an ordinary, regulating valve or any kind of cut-off
valve or valves. It is also applicable to water wheels and turbins, and may be
used to regulate and govern the speed of water engines or moters of any kind
worked by air, gas, or fluid; all required for such cases is to make the intermediate
gear from the governor to the valve or regulating device suitable for the particular
application for which the governor may be used.
Having now described the construction and operation of my improvement, I wish
it understood that I do not confine myself to the use of any particular form of
frictional surface or substance, nor the manner of attaching or connecting them to the
governor, what I claim is, constructing governors, substantially in the manner herein-
before described and represented, and providing them with frictional disc for being
acted on by the gear wheels C and D, in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Hurford Sparkes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
1070
SAMUEL HURFORD SPARKES. (L.S.)