IMPROVE- MENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNORS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALBERT SÖDERSTRÖM of N° 8 Badstugatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom of
Sweden, engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNORS " and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to centrifugal governors. My improvements mainly
consist:-
First in the employment of two spiral springs which counteract the centrifugal
action of the governor balls, and
Second in the employment of knife edges intended to reduce friction at such
main places where friction takes place.
This construction of governors renders the same very sensitive and at the same
time very efficient.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I shall describe the same
in detail with reference to the four figures of the accompanying drawing in
which
.
Fig 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my improved governor.
Fig: 2 is an end elevation of the same, and
b
Fig 3 & 4 show a detail in front elevation & in plan.
The arms a carrying the balls are provided with knife edges 6 upon which the
said arms are jointed; the ends of their arms c are also provided with knife edges
which bear against the ends of two horizontal rods d, e capable of sliding in
bearings f, f. 9, 9 projecting from the large sleeve h with which they are solidary
and which sleeve is passed freely on the shaft i of the governor. At their opposite
ends, these rods d & e are provided with knives j j adapted to a washer k screwed
upon the end of the sleeve h. On the other hand, the bottom of the washer k bears
upon knife edges m projecting from a ring l, see figures 1, 3 & 4, which is loose
upon the governor shaft i. The ring is provided with two pins n, n upon which
are passed the ends of two spiral springs o, o, the opposite ends of which latter
are hooked respectively onto the eyes of two bolts p, p, which are adjustable, so
as to regulate the tension of the said springs. These bolts p, p are fitted into
lugs q, q, which project from the large cross piece with which they are solidary.
The cross piece is pinned onto the governor shaft i.
Into each end of the cross piece r is set the counter portion 6' of the knife
edges b.

page_text: The bearings g, g for the rods d, e serve at the same time, as bearing points for
the balls while the governor is at rest, as shown in dotted lines in fig: 1.
The speed of this governor is about 600 revolutions a minute, so that the effort
of the weight of the balls is but slight, say of the effort of the centrifugal
force of the said balls and by the employment of the spiral springs o, the governor
shaft may be in any plane whatsoever. In the accompanying drawing, I have
shown the horizontal position. If the above stated speed is exceeded, the efficiency
of the governor is also increased, having regard to its dimensions.
The operation of the governor is as follows: the two springs o, o draw the ring ɩ,
the washer k, the sleeve h and the rods d, e from right to left, i.e. towards the cross
piece and stand in equilibrium to the effort of the centrifugal force exerted by
the balls on the arms a, c & a, c, irrespective of the position of the governor and
for a given speed.
The two springs o, o, the sizes of which suit exactly the purpose for which they
are intended, are hooked onto the loose ring 7 in order that their traction be equal
on both sides and central with regard to the axis of the sleeve h.
The transmission of the longitudinal movements of the sleeve h to the regulating
device of a motor may be effected by the ordinary means, for instance by means of
a key s connecting the sleeve h to a small central shaft t, but passing freely through
the shaft of the governor, see dotted lines, fig: 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. the employment of knife edges to the various parts of centrifugal
governors and specially at the axis of the lever arms α, c, as described and for the
purpose set forth.
Second. the employment of two spiral springs o, o which form an equilibrium to
the centrifugal force, the same being placed one on each side of the sleeve h, and
suspended to a ring 7, common to both, as described.
Third. the general construction of the governor comprising the arms a, a, c, e
having knives b, b, the rods d, e, the washer ke having knives j, j, the loose ring 1,
the spiral springs o, o, and the cross piece r, as described.
Dated this 10th day of November 1884”"