Improvements in Governor Valves for Regulating Steam Supply.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Governor Valves for Regulating Steam Supply.
A communication from JAMES NELSON RUNDLE, of the City of Santa Barbara, in
the County of Santa Barbara, State of California, United States of America,
Gentleman.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement: -
This invention relates to improvements in governor valves for steam-engines and
more particularly to that class of governors, which are interposed in a steam pipe
between the boiler and the engine thereby controlling the flow of the steam and
consequently regulating the speed of the engine. To accomplish this purpose my
correspondent has constructed a valve simple in its construction, effective in its
operation, and one which will perform all its intended functions.
With these objects in view this invention consists in the particular construction
of the various parts, and in the novel manner of combination or arranging said
parts, all of which will be described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings forming part of this specification:
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing all the parts in place.
Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the supporting mechanism and valve
seat.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the valve supporting mechanism showing the
adjustable screw for regulating the fulcrum block.
Referring to the drawings, A, designates the steam-pipe leading from a boiler
and opening into the head of the valve, B designates the steam pipe leading from
the valve to the engine cylinder, C designates the valve casing consisting of any
suitable material and construction of such dimensions as to support within itself
the mechanism of this device, the top cover 2 is suitably fitted and screwed to the
cylinder by threaded flanges 3, and formed with a pipe extension 4 which is con-
nected in any desirable manner to the pipe A, the bottom 5 of the said cylinder
is formed with a central flange aperture 6 having interior screw threads, as shown
in Figure 1 of the drawing.
The upper end of the steam pipe B opens into the valve casing C and is fitted
with a sliding valve seat 7 consisting of a tubular sleeve or body formed with a
right angular flange 8 at its upper end which rests on the bottom of the valve
casing and supports the said sleeve in position. In the bottom of the said casing
is secured a bench 9 in the center of which is secured an inverted cone or conical
valve 10 registering with the valve opening in the valve seat 7, on the upper face
of said bench 9 is secured a pin-point bearing 11 on which the governor spindle is
mounted. D designates the governor which is composed of a shaft or spindle 12
having its lower end formed with a socket to fit over the pin-point bearing, said
shaft carrying a spring governor composed of two collars 13 and 131 connected
by spring bars 14 and 141, the upper head piece 13 is made fast to the spindle in

page_text: any desirable manner and the lower head piece or collar 13¹ is free or loose on the
said spindle so that when the governor rotates the weights 15 and 151 on the said
spring arms can move outward and the collar 131 will thus be drawn upward on
the spindle and the valve below will also be correspondingly affected and actuated
as hereinafter more fully specified. On the upper end of the governor spindle is
formed or carried a spiral 16 which extends upwardly into the pipe 4, it is by this
spiral that the governor is rotated, the pitch or turn of the said spiral may be
suited to the size of the pipe in which it is fitted, and also to give the desired
velocity. E designates the mechanism for controlling and actuating the valve,
and referring to Figure 2 of the drawing it will be seen, that on the end of the
bench 9 is a sliding fulcrum 17, said fulcrum is adjustably mounted beneath the
valve lever or yoke, and is regulated by means of a set screw 18 which extends
through the walls of casing and having its ends suitably connected to the said
fulcrum, on which is supported a frame or yoke, substantially in a horizontal
position and carrying on its end nearest the set screw a weight 21 which is intended
to counter-balance the weight of the said frame or yoke. It will be seen by moving
the fulcrum away from or towards the axis of the governor, the weight is made to
assume greater or less force, and the length of that part of the yoke connected to
the valve seat is shortened or lengthened, thus the valve seat is correspondingly
affected. On opposite sides of the valve seat are secured lugs 22 and 22¹, to which
the lower ends of the links 23 and 231, are pivotally connected, the upper ends of
the links being pivotally connected to the arms of the yoke 20 as shown in the
drawings. To keep the arms of the yoke from spreading a brace or keeper 24
may be secured across them. To the bars of the yoke 20 are secured oppositely
disposed lugs or pins 25 and 251 which engage in an angular grove 26 in the
lower head piece 131, whereby the yoke is lowered or raised and the valve moved
away from or towards the valve seat. The operation of this improved valve governor
is as follows.
The steam rushes through the pipe and engages the spiral, thus rotating the
governor, as the speed increases the spring arms of the governor move outward,
thus shortening and drawing the yoke upward by its connection therewith the
yoke in turn raising the valve seat thus diminishing the flow of the steam to the
engine, then as the governor tends to resume its normal velocity the valve seat is
lowered and the supply of steam is increased, thus the mechanism when properly
adjusted acts to control the speed in the same manner as a governor used on a
rotary engine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination with the steam pipes A and B a suitable casing C inter-
posed between said pipes, a shaft journaled in said casing provided with a governor,
and a spiral, of a valve in the bottom of the casing and yoke mounted upon a ful-
crum said yoke connected to the valve seat, and to the free head or collar of the
governor, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a valve governor the combination with a steam pipe, of a casing inter-
posed therein, a shaft journaled in said casing having a governor
mounted thereon and its upper portion provided with a spiral groove said spiral
extending up into the inlet pipe, a valve in the bottom of the casing, and a yoke
fulcrumed in said casing connected to the valve seat and to the free head or collar
of the governor, a weight on said yoke, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with the steam pipe of a casing interposed therein a shaft
mounted in said casing, said shaft provided with weighted governor springs and a
spiral groove secured upon the upper end of the shaft and extending into the said
steam pipes, a valve in the bottom of the casing, a yoke adjustably fulcrumed in
the said casing connected to the valve and governor, and a screw to adjust said
fulcrum, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 4. In the valve governor the combination of a steam pipe having a casing inter-
posed therein, a shaft mounted in said casing provided with a governor and a
spiral on its upper end extending from the casing into the steam pipe, a valve in
the bottom of the said casing provided with a sleeve projecting into the discharge
pipe, and connections between the said valve and governor, whereby the valve is
opened and closed, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
Ah 6th Novemba 1907
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.