IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Moy, of 'No. 1, Clifford's Inn, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer and Naval Architect, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS."
Sealed the 29th June 1860, and dated the 6th January 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Moy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
January 1860.
I, THOMAS MOY, of No. 1, Clifford's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer and Naval Architect, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to that kind of governor which is made to act on the
throttle valve through intermediate mechanism whenever the resistance to the
action of the engine becomes diminished, and thereby prevent an acceleration
of the speed of the engine, as distinguished from governors which are made to
act on the throttle valve by such acceleration of speed.
And my Invention consists in adapting and applying to the ordinary
working shaft of the engine a disc, with which is combined a ring fitted-thereto
in such a manner as to admit of the ring sliding between guides over the

page_text: surface of the disc to an extent limited by a slot in the disc, through which
the crank pin or drag link connected to the ring is passed, and by a space
terminating in a shoulder formed in the ring. To the disc is also fixed a
spring or springs for resisting the motion of the ring over the surface of the
disc and stops, which respectively form an abuttal in one direction, while the
ring is moved against the spring in the opposite direction. By this arrange-
ment the tendency of the spring or springs is to close the throttle valve by
bringing the ring into its middle position on the diminution of the resistance
to the engine, and the valve is opened by the sliding of the ring to either side
of such position (on either the forward or the backward movement of the
engine) by the compression of the spring or part of the spring in connection
with the ring on such side.
In cases wherein driving pulleys and straps or toothed gearing are used
either of the pulleys or wheels may be fitted as a governor.
The motion of the ring is communicated to the throttle valve as required,
by means of a flange, to which is imparted a horizontal motion on the
periphery of the disc by a stud on the ring, working in an inclined or spiral
slot or groove, but it may be otherwise communicated.
I do not confine myself to the use of a complete disc, provided a sufficient
extent of surface be obtained to ensure steadiness of action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Moy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
July 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
Mor, of No. 1, Clifford's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and
Naval Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas
Moy, Her special license that I, the said Thomas Moy, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said. Thomas Moy, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United

page_text: Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I; the said Thomas Moy, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Moy, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Steam Engine Governors" relates to
that kind of governor which is made to act on the throttle valve through
intermediate mechanism whenever the resistance to the action of the engine
becomes diminished, and thereby prevent an acceleration of the speed of the
engine, as distinguished from governors which are made to act on the throttle
valve by such acceleration of speed.
And my Invention consists in adapting and applying to the ordinary
working shaft of the engine a disc, with which is combined a ring fitted
thereto in such a manner as to admit of the ring sliding between guides over
the surface of the disc to an extent limited by a slot in the disc, through which
the crank pin or drag link connected to the ring is passed, and by a space
terminating in a shoulder formed. in the ring. To the disc is also fixed a
spring or springs for resisting the motion of the ring over the face of the diso
and stops, which respectively form an abuttal in one direction, while the ring
is moved against the spring in the opposite direction. By this arrangement
the tendency of the spring or springs is to close the throttle valve by bringing
the ring into its middle position on the diminution of the resistance to the
engine, and the valve is opened by the sliding of the ring to either side of such
position (on either the forward or the backward movement of the engine) by
the compression of the spring or part of the spring in connection with the ring
on such side.
In cases wherein driving pulleys and straps or toothed gearing are used
either of the pulleys or wheels may be used as a governor.
The motion of the ring is communicated to the throttle valve as required,
by means of a flange or grooved pulley, to which is imparted a horizontal

page_text: motion on the periphery of the disc by a stud on the ring working in an inclined
or spiral slot or groove, but it may be otherwise communicated.
I do not confine myself to the use of a complete disc, provided a sufficient
extent of surface be obtained to ensure steadiness of action.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by
reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented several
modes of carrying my Invention into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a front view of a disc, intended to be fixed on the screw or
paddle wheel shaft of a marine engine in place of the ordinary driving crank;
Fig. 2 is a section of the same, in the line A, B, of Fig. 1. One or more of
such discs may be fixed on the shaft or shafts. Fig. 3 is a front view, Fig. 4
a back view, Fig. 5 a side view, and Fig. 6 a section of a ring, which is fitted
behind and inclosed in the disc. a is a hole, bored for receiving a stud or pin,
to which the drag link is fitted; or it may receive the end of an elongated
crank pin; b, b, are holes for receiving screw bolts; c, c, are spaces, and
guides for receiving brasses; d, d, are blocks cast on the ring, as shewn in
Fig. 3. The parts marked è are to be turned or planed smooth so as to fit
them for bearing surfaces, as they are the only parts which rub against the
back face of the disc; f.f, are plates, fitted to the ring, and having in each a
groove or slot of the form shewn in Fig. 5 or other convenient form. These
plates, by means of their slots, actuate arms or levers terminating in a stud
passing through the periphery of the disc, which latter stud actuates other
levers, as, shewn in Fig. 8, the outer ends of the external levers being fixed in
any convenient manner to pins fitted in the grooved pulley g, which surrounds
and works upon the disc. Fig. 7 is a front view of the apparatus complete ;
Fig. 8 a back view, and Fig. 9 a side view of the same. These Figures
represent what I term a double-acting governor. To the boss of the disc a
spring or springs is or are fitted, as shewn at Fig. 8. When the engines pull
the drag link the ring has a tendency to move independently of the disc. This
motion is resisted by the springs, and thus the disc is moved round by them.
The tension of the springs has a tendency to keep the pin or space a in the
middle of the slot when the grooved pulley 9 is either in the position 1 or 2
(Fig. 9), as arranged, and the throttle valve is closed. On the engines being
set in motion either in a forward or a backward direction, if the resistance to
the action of the engines be at the full, the springs will be pressed by the
g

page_text: motion of the ring over the disc, the grooved pulley g will be moved from 1
to 2 (or from 2 to 1, as the case may be,) and the throttle valve will be fully
opened; and the valve will be more or less opened in proportion to the
resistance of the work to the action of the engines. The ring is held to the
back face of the disc by bolts passing through sliding plates on the face of
the disc, as shewn at Fig: 7. In Fig. 8 are shewn the brasses and set screws
whereby the ring is kept concentric with the disc, yet free enough for its
partially circular motion.
Figs. 10 and 11 shew another arrangement nearly similar to the former,
except that the face of the disc is turned towards the propeller, whereby the
slot for the pin to pass through is rendered unnecessary.
'
.
Fig. 12 is a section, Fig. 18 a partial back view, Fig. 14 another section,
and Fig. 15 a complete front view of another arrangement. In this case
instead of guides for the brasses, the set screws enter them a short distance,
and keep them in their places without guides, and instead of the plates f being.
fitted to the ring they are fitted on the periphery of the disc. Instead of
sliding plates, a sliding ring is fitted having ears h, h. Similarly formed
ears h', h', Fig. 15, are screwed to the front of the ring. A smooth bolt is
fitted to each pair of ears, two holes being bored in the grooved pulley g, to
slide upon the bolts. Studs k, k, inserted in the grooved pulley g work in the
slots of the plates f, and thus the required connection is formed between the
ring and the pulley, so that motion may be transmitted from the former to
the latter.
Fig. 16 is a diagram, shewing the shaft and standards of a pair of paddle
wheel engines with the governors applied; also the steam pipe and throttle
valve with the levers connecting the latter with the governors. It will be
seen that when both governors are brought into action the throttle valve will
be entirely closed, but when one only is made to act the valve will be only
partially closed. Thus, if only one paddle wheel is immersed, the governor on
the other shaft will partially close the valve and throttle the steam; but should
both paddle wheels leave the water, the whole of the apparatus will come into
action, and the valve will be entirely closed.
Fig. 17 shews an arrangement for a screw propeller. The rod and hand
lever are for disconnecting the throttle gear, if necessary.
Figs. 18 to 23 shew a mode of applying my Invention to driving gear
generally; Fig. 18 is a face view, and Fig. 19 a back view of a disc adapted
for fixing on a shaft; Fig. 20 the ring to connect to such disc; Fig. 21 is a
side view; Fig. 22 a back view; and Fig. 23 a face view of such arrange-
=

page_text: ment of ring and disc. The ring Fig. 20 may be toothed or used as the fast
pulley on the driven shaft, or as the driving pulley on the driving shaft. The
slotted plates f,f, are fixed to the disc, as shewn in Figs. 18 and 19. 0, 0,
Fig. 20 are two holes, through which are passed pins, connected to the bar m
and grooved pulley g, the ends of the pins having an elbow working in the
slotted grooves of the plates f, and thus forming the required connection with
the ring, so as to cause the pulley g to be moved into its respective positions 1
and 2. The screw holes p, Fig. 19, are intended to receive screws p', Figi 22,
for the purpose of fixing a strengthening plate to the disc when required. ;
.
Fig. 24 shews an arrangement of springs for a single acting governor, that
is to say, one which acts only when it is driven in the direction of the arrow.
Fig. 25 also shews a single acting governor. In this arrangement the two
bolts g, 9, are used for regulating the tension of the springs, each bolt being
applied so as to be capable of acting at once on the middle of one spring and
one end of the other. The ends r, r, of the springs may be connected to
links, or made to rest on solid blocks as shewn in Fig. 24.
"
}
Figs. 26 and 27, shew another mode of supporting the ring;s is the disc,
t, the ring; the inner surfaces u are wholly or partly turned or planed, and
the brasses formed to fit such surfaces. These brasses are kept to the arms
and up to the inner surfaces of the ring by means of set screws as shewn.
This arrangement may be used for a driving crank, toothed gearing, grooved
surface, belt, or other driving gear.
In cases wherein two or more cylinders are connected to one crank, the
crank pin may be fitted in the ring at a, Fig. 7, and the excentrics placed
between the disc and the bearing, the pin being elongated sufficiently to enter
the opposite ring in paddle wheel vessels; but the elongated end should enter
the hole easily so as to allow of a little play, one end only being firmly fixed
in its ring. In a similar case in screw vessels, the excentrics may be placed
as last-mentioned, or a small shaft may be provided for the
with a
light crank carried round by a small radius rod connected to a stud in the
crank pin.
purpose
It will be seen on reference to Fig. 5, that the curved slots in the plates f
are formed in a peculiar manner, the two ends approaching to parallelism
with the line of revolution of the ring. This is for the purpose of opening the
throttle valve fully before the springs become fully compressed. I prefer to
have the slots and springs so arranged that the throttle valve shall be fully
opened before the springs. are compressed. to the full amount by the thrust of
the engines, so that a little motion of the ring on the disc may take place

page_text: without closing the throttle valve at all, and so that the stops may seldom
come into action, as by this means the effect on the vessel arising from the
concussion of the paddle floats against the water, and from the vibration of
the screw propeller, may be diminished.
Fig. 28 shews an arrangement for working the grooved pulley without the aid
of the slotted plates. The bars 'm are fixed to the ring, and carried round with
it, and have no longitudinal motion on the shaft. The sliding pulley g, has a
longitudinal motion in the direction of the arrow when acted upon by the
cam w fixed to the bar m. The pulley 9 has a slot (not shewn) working on
a pin in the shaft by which the pulley is made to turn with the shaft, and thus
the independent motion of the cam w will move the pulley g in the direction
of the arrow, and compress the spring, the reaction of which keeps the pulley
in contact with the cam. The throttle valve is acted on by means of levers
connected to the pulley g.
"
Fig. 29, represents a substitute for the grooved pulley 9 consisting of a flat
ring, against which one or more friction wheel or wheels (connected to the
end of the throttle valve lever), is or are made to press by means of a spring
when the throttle valve is closed, but which do not touch the ring when this
valve is fully open.
Figs. 30 and 31, shew a simple mode of imparting the necessary motion to
the grooved pulley when a single acting governor is used. A short groove is
made to act on the pin of the inner arm, and impart through the outer arm
the necessary motion to the grooved pulley.
Fig. 32 represents a mode of communicating the required motion from the
ring without the aid of the plates f with their curved or other slots; y, shews
a part of the periphery of the ring to which two short racks z, z, are fixed as
shewn. It will be obvious that in whichever direction the ring revolves it will
cause one of the racks to move the arm in the direction of the arrow. I would
remark that various kinds of stops may be used as abuttals for the springs for
the purpose of stopping the independent revolution of the ring on or in
the disc.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I do not claim as of my
Invention the several parts of mechanism represented in the Drawings, and
herein-before described separately considered, but what I do claim is,
the direct application to the ordinary working shaft of the engine of a disc
combined with a ring having a limited motion over the face of the disc, or on
or in the same, and drawn in either direction from a middle position by the

page_text: engine through a connecting pin so as to open the throttle valve through the
grooved pulley or flange, or other intermediate mechanism, the elastic force of
a spring or springs on the disc having a tendency to keep the ring in its middle
position on or in the disc, and thereby close the throttle valve on the diminution
of the resistance of the work to the engine as described; I also claim the
governor acting as above, and adapted and applied to driving gear as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Moy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
50, Chancery Lane,
Patent Agent.
THO. MOY. (LS.)