Year: 1887

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the particular class of steam engine governors in which the
eccentric, by means of which, the throw of the valves is controlled, is moved on or
with relation to the shaft by means of centrifugally acting weights, and one object of
my improvement is to provide a governor of this class that is substantially positive in
its action and applicable to slide valves or rotary valves with but slight modification of
the parts.
And a further object of my invention is to provide a governor of this class that shall
be comparatively regular in its action in spite of any resistance offered to the valves
or connected parts by the change in friction of an ordinary slide valve or of shocks or
sudden strains upon the eccentrics or their connected parts.
My improvement consists partly in the combination with a main or counter-shaft of
an eccentric so fixed to the shaft as to prevent its turning thereon, and an outer
eccentric mounted to rotate on and eccentric to the smaller eccentric, and with
centrifugally operating weights whereby the relative position of the eccentrics to each
other and the axis of the shaft is determined; it further partly consists in details of
the combination and arrangements of the several eccentrics and their connected parts
combined and arranged for the purpose just described; my improvement consists in
the combination of centrifugal weights secured to levers pivotally attached to a rotary
structure, one of said weights being larger in mass than the opposing weight, the same
being combined with connecting links and a movable eccentric or like part; it further
partly consists in the combination of the rotary frame with the levers pivotted
thereto and the opposing centrifugal weights of unequal mass and the centripetal

page_text: springs; and it further partly consists in details of the several parts and their
combination as particularly hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan or front view, looking in the line of the shaft, of a governor
embodying several features of my within described improvements.
Figure 2 is a like view with the eccentric and strap cut away showing the peculiar
features of the governor weights and connected levers and links.
Figure 3 is a view in section lengthwise of the shaft through the governor and the
eccentric on the plane denoted by line x-x of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sleeve, which when in use on the shaft
connects the governor and the eccentrics.
Figure 5 is a diagram view of one feature of my improvement showing its
adaptability to a rotary disc valve.
In the said drawings a denotes the main shaft; b the governor case, in this
instance the flange of a pulley secured to the shaft so as to rotate with it, as by means
of a key b¹ driven into a key seat between the shaft and the hub of the pulley in the
usual manner.
Within the governor case that is formed in the pulley on the side opposite the
hub b is attached a sleeve c that extends along the shaft and is free to turn on it while
held against endwise play and it is preferably placed between the pulley and the fixed
or inner eccentric d. On the inner end of the sleeve is formed the lug c¹ that serves
as the point of attachment for a link that connects this sleeve with the lever system of
the governor. On the outer end of the sleeve is formed a crank arm bearing a
crank pin c³ on which is a rotary block with opposite parallel faces adapted to fit into
a slot e¹ in the outer eccentric e. This outer eccentric e is mounted upon the inner, a
sectional ring that fits into grooves in the adjacent surfaces of the fixed eccentric
and the outer eccentric serving as a locking device to prevent the two eccentrics
sliding sidewise upon each other and yet allowing the outer to turn freely upon or
about the inner. An eccentric strap 9 serves to connect the governor with the valve
by means of the ordinary eccentric-rod h.
To lugs formed on the walls of the case are pivotted the levers k and k¹. On the
free end of the lever k, which is the end nearest the centre of the case, is secured a
governor. weight 1, the lever being adapted to swing radially in the plane of the case
in the manner common in centrifugal governors of this class. This lever k is
connected to one end of the lever by means of a link m, while the other end is
pivotted to the inner side of the case at a point substantially diametrically opposite the
point to which the end of the lever is connected to the case.
The weight is secured to this lever k¹ at a point near its outer end as by means
of a bolt that passes through a slot in the lever, this means of connecting making the
weight adjustable along the lever, the bolt and nut serving as a means of clamping
the weight at any desired point within the limit of its movement. This weight l¹ is
considerably less in mass than the weight 1, and the latter is also adjustable along its
lever, the set screw serving as a means of securing the weight to the lever at any
desired point within the limit of its movement.
.
The lever is pivottally connected to the sleeve c by means of the link m¹ and
suitable pins m³ and m³, the latter pass through the lugs c that are fast to or are a
part of the sleeve. The spring i is connected at one end to the lever k and at the
other end to the wall of the governor case, and its function is to resist the outward
movement of the weights 1, and in this it supplements the work of the weight l¹.
The weight being at the end of a lever equal in length to that which supports the
weight its tendency to be moved towards the periphery of the case by the revolution
of the latter would be the same as the tendency of the weight to move toward
the periphery of the case if the two weights were equal in mass, but as the weight l
largely exceeds in mass the weight the former will move outward to a certain
position which it will maintain at a given rate of revolution of the case, provided
that remains constant. This weight is held in a given position by the resistance to
the further outward movement due to the centrifugal pull of the weight conveyed

page_text: to the weight through the medium of the connecting link m and lever k, and this
resistance to further outward movement of the weight is supplemented by the
resilliency of the spring i, the latter however being but a small part of the whole
resisting force. The outward movement of the weight 7 causes, by reason of its
connection to the lever k¹ by the link m, the latter lever to move toward the centre
of the shaft, and this movement of the lever k¹ pushes the sleeve c and rotates it upon
the shaft a through the medium of the link m². The free end of the flat spring j
presses against the sleeve in such a manner as to resist the movement in the direction
last spoken of while the base of the spring is secured to any convenient part of the
case, and the function of this spring is simply to take up or counter-balance any
resistance due to the friction between the connected parts. In order to avoid any
tendency to unequal revolutions due to the arrangement of the several parts I make
use of a counter-balance weight o that is secured at any convenient and appropriate
point within the case. By using a weight so arranged that its centrifugal force shall
oppose the centrifugal pulley of a larger weight to govern and in part control the
movement of the latter I gain an advantage in that the movement or resistance of the
smaller weight to the movement of the larger weight is a positive force as compared
with the usual form of resisting or centripetal springs.
It will be observed that in connecting the levers k and k¹ by means of the links the
several points of pivottal connection are so arranged that an outward pull on the
weight would be multiplied several times when it reaches and effects the rotary
movement of the sleeve.
Now it of course follows that any resistance to the rotation of the sleeve or
tendency to a return movement of the sleeve which may be caused by frictional
resistance of the valve or of any connected parts, would be resisted to a degree that
would greatly obstruct any change in the radial position of the governing weight.
In this feature of opposing centrifugal force by centrifugal force by weights of
unequal mass and in the peculiar joining of the system of levers that tend to the
stability of the system in operation I make a considerable gain and practically prevent
the objectionable vibration of the governing weights present in prior devices. I do not
limit myself to the peculiar and exact combination and arrangement of the parts
herein shown, as the weights and levers may be increased in number and in pairs,
and in case of two sets of similar construction to the within described are arranged
side by side and in reversed order the counter-balance weight may be dispensed with
and other changes may be made that embody my improvement without departing
therefrom.
With the several parts of the governor assembled as shown in figures 1, 2 and 3 of
the drawings, the operation of the device under the rotation of the shaft in the
direction indicated by the overlying arrow in figure 1, is as follows.
The valve is in the position when the eccentric is at its greatest throw, the crank
being on the centre line of the engine and the valve just about to open. Now, if the
shaft is turned so slowly as not to throw the governing weights outward, the part
opening will be at the maximum as the valve is opened and closed by the rotation of
the shaft, the point that indicates the centre of the outer eccentric moving in the
direction of the curved arrow about the centre of the shaft.
When the speed of the engine is such as to cause the weights to move outward the
outer eccentric is so rotated on the inner, by means of the intermediate mechanismı,
that the relation between the centre of the outer eccentric and the centre of the shaft
is changed, the former moving toward the latter until, when the weights are at their
greatest outward play, the centre of the outer eccentric will move in a circle about
the centre of the shaft passing through the point 2, and also indicated by an arrow.
The difference between the radii of the two circles shown by the two arrows and
indicating the circular paths of the centre of the outer eccentric at its maximum and
minimum eccentricity is equal to the port opening.
My device is especially applicable to a rotary valve by mounting the disc or
ring p on the outer eccentric in place of the eccentric strap, the said ring serving
as a valve and lying closely against and sliding upon the valve seat p¹, this ring p

page_text: revolves about the shaft and slides across the valve ports of which there may be any
desirable number, the outer edge of the ring uncovering the port q, for the admission
of steam, and the inner edge of the ring uncovering the ports for the exhaust of the
steam from the cylinder.
In this form of the device the sleeve passes through a stuffing box in the wall of
the steam chest, the pulley and governing weights lying on the outside of the chest
and the eccentric and valves lying within the chest.
The movement of the outer eccentric upon the inner and the operation of the
parts of the device in changing the port openings to regulate the admission of steam
is precisely the same when the device is applied to a rotary valve as in the case
already described when the parts are applied to a slide valve. The particular
advantage of the device as applied to a rotary valve is that I am enabled to construct
a governor that will maintain a constant lead opening.
am aware that it is not new to use a plural number of eccentrics to control by
their combination and action with the governing weights or by their relative position
on the shaft, the degree of valve opening as the speed of the piston travels varies,
and such I do not broadly claim.
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 :-
First. In a centrifugal governor, in combination, a shaft, an eccentric fixed against
rotation on said shaft, a larger eccentric mounted loosely upon the smaller, the
centrifugally operating weights, the link connecting the said weights to the sleeve
and the sleeve bearing the crank-pin or like device for imparting a rotary movement
to the outer eccentric, all substantially as described.
Second. In combination with the centrifugally operating weights, an inner
eccentric fixed against rotation on the shaft and a larger eccentric mounted loosely
upon and adapted to rotate on the smaller and pivotally connected to the governing
weights, all substantially as described.
Third. In combination with the shaft, the inner eccentric fixed to the shaft, the
outer eccentric rotary upon the inner, the sleeve rotary upon the shaft and bearing
a crank pin taking into a slot in the outer eccentric, the connecting links and the
centrifugally operating weights, all substantially as described.
Fourth. In a centrifugal governor the combination of opposing governor weights
arranged on opposite sides of the centre of revolution of the weights, the said weights
being of unequal mass, the weight-supporting levers, the sleeve or like part of a
valve operating mechanism, and the links pivotally connecting the levers and the
rotary sleeve, respectively, whereby the outward moving tendency of one weight due
to centrifugal force is opposed by the other weight in the system, all substantially
as described.
Fifth. In combination with the governor case, the levers k and k pivotted therein,
the link m connecting the said levers, and the link m¹ connecting the lever k¹ and
the sleeve the sleeve c and the spring i, all substantially as described.
C,
Sixth. In combination with the governor case b, the levers k and k¹ pivotted
thereto and moving in the plane of rotation of the case, the weights and of
unequal mass and attached respectively to the levers k and , the connecting link m,
the link m¹, the sleeve c, and the springs i and j that resist the outward movement
of the weight 1, all substantially as described.
Seventh. In combination with the case b, the levers k and k¹ pivotted thereto and
bearing on their outer ends the adjustable weights 1 and 1¹ respectively, the connecting
link m
pivotted to the lever k between the weight and the point of pivotal connection
of said lever with the case and to the lever k¹, the sleeve c rotary upon the shaft a
and the link m¹ connecting the said sleeve with the lever k¹ at the point between
the pivot of said lever and its point of connection with the link m, all substantially
as described.
Eighth. In a centrifugal governor the combination of the vibrating governor

page_text: weights arranged on opposite sides of the centre of revolution, the weight supporting
levers pivotted to the governor case, the link pivotally connecting the levers and
extending from a point between the fulcrum and the weighted end of one of said
levers to the outer end of the lever, the latter bearing a weight smaller in mass than
the opposing weight, all substantially as described.
Ninth. In a centrifugal governor the combination of the opposing and vibrating
governor weights of unequal mass pivotally supported on opposite sides of their
common centre of revolution, and the within described system of levers and link,
whereby the outward movement of one of the weights from the said centre is opposed
by the centrifugal force of the opposite weight, all substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.