IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES, AND FOR INDICATING THE POWER OF THE SAME
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings; Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM AND
OTHER ENGINES, AND FOR INDICATING THE POWER OF THE SAME."-A com-
munication from abroad by Edouard des François de Pontchalon,
of Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 12th May 1868, and dated the 1st January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st January 1868.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF
STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES, AND FOR INDICATING THE POWER OF THE SAME,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
My Invention consists chiefly in the mode of arranging differential
wheels for causing two opposing forces to produce a regulating action
upon the throttle valve of a steam or other engine, and for ascertaining

page_text: the amount of power developed by such engines, and also in the devices
employed in combination with the said wheels to bring them properly
under the influence of the two opposing forces.
In one arrangement of parts one or more arms or levers are fixed
upon a shaft or spindle, and provided at their outer ends with vanes
or small fly wheels, or with both combined. These vanes or fly wheels
are fitted to turn freely in bearings formed in the arms, and are provided
with pinions working into a toothed wheel, which is connected to a
pulley, whereby it receives motion from the engine to be regulated.
The resistance of the air to the revolution of the vanes upon their axes
tends to move the arms in the direction for closing the throttle valve
against the force of a spring, weight, or other device which pulls the
arms in the other direction. When the engine is running at its normal
speed the arms carrying the said vanes remain stationary, but when
the speed increases the said arms are carried partially around the
central wheel, depressing the arms and closing or partially closing the
throttle valve. As the speed of the engine is reduced the arms return
and open the said valve. Instead of pinions for driving the vanes a
worm working into the main spur wheel may be used, the teeth of
the said wheel being properly formed for the purpose. Instead of
arranging the vanes to vibrate with the arms the said vanes may be
fitted to rotate upon a spindle supported in fixed bearings. The opening
and closing of the throttle valve is in this case effected by the sliding
of the worm upon the said spindle, the turning of the said worm
independently upon the spindle being prevented by a key or feather.
When
A single rotating vane may serve the purpose in either case.
it is desirable to have the benefit of an isochronous movement without
the weight of the vibrating arms and other parts connected to the
same the pinions should be firmly fixed centrally to other wheels or
pinions which should gear again into a central pinion attached to and
moving with a vibrating sleeve on the main spindle or shaft, which
sleeve is arranged to operate the throttle valve. In this latter arrange-
ment an isochronous momentum wheel may be substituted for the lever
arm or arms and this wheel carries the outer pinions around with it.
This arrangement of the wheels forms one peculiarity of my Invention.
The speed of the isochronous wheel or equivalent device may be limited
by vanes rotating in either air or liquid, or by an escapement similar
to clockwork. If a spring is used as a counteracting force an eccentric
should be applied to equalize its resistance when in action. In order

page_text: to avoid the use of the sliding sleeve, which forms a part of ordinary
centrifugal regulators, I place my improved arrangement of gearing at
the axis of motion of the arms or levers bearing the centrifugal weights
and also upon the main spindle in such a manner that the centrifugal
weights expand or contract their relative position in response to the
variation of the speed of the driving pulley from that of the spindle
or shaft which carries both the wheels and weights. The vibration of
the centrifugal weights operates a rocking or vibrating sleeve which
forms a substitute for the ordinary sliding sleeve. In this arrangement
of parts also either a spring or counterweight may be used to counteract
the centrifugal force.
When my Invention is to be applied to a dynamometer the driving
pulley or drum receives motion from the engine, and a second pulley
is substituted for the isochronous wheel. This second pulley com-
municates motion to the machinery to be driven, and the power required
to drive the same is indicated by means of the vibrating sleeve which
through its wheel connection above described moves a pointer over a
dial in resistance to the spring. An indicator diagram may be taken
with a pencil affixed to this pointer acting upon a moving slip of
paper in the ordinary manner. A registration of the amount of power
developed in a given time may be obtained by mechanism similar to
that of a gas dial driven at greater or less speed according to the
vaation of power developed. This mechanism is operated by means
of two reversed cone pullies one of which is connected to the said
mechanism and is driven by a band or belt from the other pulley
which receives motion from the engine, the position of the said band
upon the pulleys being controlled by the action of the vibrating
sleeve.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the First day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence, that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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 Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM AND
OTHER ENGINES, AND FOR INDICATING THE POWER OF THE SAME,' upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, 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 William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
My Invention consists chiefly in the mode of arranging differential
wheels for causing two opposing forces to produce a regulating action
upon the throttle valve of a steam or other engine, and for ascertaining
the amount of power developed by such engine, and also in the devices
employed in combination with the said wheels to bring them properly
under the influence of the two opposing forces.
In one arrangement of parts one or more arins or levers are fixed upon
a shaft or spindle, and provided at their outer ends with vanes or small fly
wheels, or with both combined. These vanes or fly wheels are fitted to
turn freely in bearings formed in the arms, and are provided with pinions
working into a toothed wheel, which is connected to a pulley, whereby it
receives motion from the engine to be regulated. The resistance of the

page_text: air to the revolution of the vanes upon their axes tends to move the arms
in the direction for closing the throttle valve against the force of a spring,
weight, or other device which pulls the arms in the other direction.
When the engine is running at its normal speed the arms carrying the
said vanes remain stationary, but when the speed increases the said arms
are carried partially around the central wheel, depressing the arms and
closing or partially closing the throttle valve. As the speed of the
engine is reduced the arms return and open the said valve. Instead of
pinions for driving the vanes a worm working into the main spur wheel
may be used, the teeth of the said wheel being properly formed for the
purpose. Instead of arranging the vanes to vibrate with the arms the
said vanes may be fitted to rotate upon a spindle supported in fixed
bearings. The opening and closing of the throttle valve is in this case
effected by the sliding of the worm upon the said spindle, the turning of
the said worm independently upon the spindle being prevented by a key
or feather.
A single rotating vane may serve the purpose in either case.
When it is desirable to have the benefit of an isochronous movement
without the weight of the vibrating arms and other parts connected to
the same the pinions should be firmly fixed centrally to other wheels or
pinions, which should gear again into a central pinion attached to and
moving with a vibrating sleeve on the main spindle or shaft, which sleeve
is arranged to operate the throttle valve. In this latter arrangement au
isochronous momentum wheel may be substituted for the lever arm or
arms, and this wheel carries the outer pinions around with it. This
arrangement of the wheels forms one peculiarity of my Invention. The
speed of the isochronous wheel or equivalent device may be limited by
vanes rotating in either air or liquid, or by an escapement similar to
clockwork. If a spring is used as a counteracting force an eccentric
should be applied to equalize its resistance when in action. In order
to avoid the use of the sliding sleeve which forms a part of ordinary
centrifugal regulators I place my improved arrangement of gearing
at the axis of motion of the arms or levers bearing the centrifugal
weights, and also upon the main spindle, in such a manner that the cen-
trifugal weights expand or contract their relative position in response to
the variation of the speed of the driving pulley from that of the spindle
or shaft which carries both the wheels and weights. The vibration of the
centrifugal weights operates a rocking or vibrating sleeve which forms a
substitute for the ordinary sliding sleeve.
In this arrangement of parte

page_text: also either a spring or counterweight may be used to counteract the
centrifugal force.
When my Invention is to be applied to a dynamometer the driving
pulley or drum receives motion from the engine, and a second pulley is
substituted for the isochronous wheel. This second pulley communicates
motion to the machinery to be driven, and the power required to drive
the same is indicated by means of the vibrating sleeve, which through its
wheel connection above described moves a pointer over a dial in re-
sistance to the spring. An indicator diagram may be taken with a pencil
affixed to this pointer acting upon a moving slip of paper in the ordinary
manner. A registration of the amount of power developed in a given
time may be obtained by mechanism similar to that of a gas dial driven
at greater or less speed according to the variation of power developed.
This mechanism is operated by means of two reversed cone pullies, one
of which is connected to the said mechanism, and is driven by a band
or belt from the other pulley, which receives motion from the engine,
the position of the said band upon the pulleys being controlled by the
action of the vibrating sleeve.
Figures 1 and 2 are a front and end elevation of my improved governor,
showing the same constructed with two vanes and fly wheels, which are
driven by spur gearing from a horizontal shaft. Figure 3 is a side
elevation of a governor with vanes carried on a vertical shaft driven by a
worm wheel. Figures 4 and 5 are a longitudinal and transverse section
of a modification of my improved vane governor, showing the vanes
carried by an isochronous wheel, and connected by a system of differential
spur gearing with a horizontal shaft and vibrating sleeve. Figure 6
illustrates the application of bevel gearing to my improved vane governor.
Figure 7 is a side view of the counteracting spring, showing the same
provided with an adjustable eccentric for equalizing its tension. Figure 8
is a side elevation illustrating my improved method of arranging bevel or
mitre gearing to adapt the same to a centrifugal governor. Figures 9
and 10 show the position of the balls when opened and closed. Figures 11
and 12 are a longitudinal section and end view illustrating the adaptation
of my Invention to the construction of a dynamometer. Like letters
'indicate the same parts in all of the Figures.

page_text: In Figures 1 and 2 a is a hanging frame or bracket, whereby the
governor is secured to the top or other convenient part of the engine
room. The vibrating shaft or spindle 6 is fitted to work freely in the
bearings a formed in the bracket a. This shaft carries the lever a², which
is connected by suitable devices to the throttle valve. The arms or
levers c are fixed by pins or keys upon the said shaft, so as to vibrate or
oscillate with the same. The vanes d are provided with centre pins or
journals d', which are fitted to turn freely in bearings formed in the outer
ends of the arms c. The fly wheels e are fixed or formed upon the
vanes d, the said wheels and vanes turning together. The pinions f
which are fixed on the projecting ends of the journals d', gear into the
wheel 9, which is cast upon or otherwise firmly secured to the driving
pulley h, whose boss is bored to fit the shaft 6 in such a manner as to
turn freely upon the same. A belt or cord is passed over this pulley to
connect the same with a pulley on the shaft of the engine to be regulated!
I prefer to counteract the force of the atmospheric resistance upon the
vanes by the spring i, which is secured to the bracket a by the set screw j.
By means of this screw the tension of the said spring is regulated accord-
ing to the desired speed of the engine. The eccentric k, whereby the
resistance of the spring is equalized, is secured upon the shaft by the
screw 7, which allows the said eccentric to be adjusted to suit springs of
various length. Instead of the spring i a weight may be used to coun-
teract the force tending to close the throttle valve. So long as the engine
runs without any tendency to depart from its normal speed the arms c
remain in such a position as to keep the throttle valve open sufficiently to
admit the proper quantity of steam to maintain that speed, and any
increase in the velocity of the engine is prevented by the increased atmo-
spheric resistance to the revolution of the vanes d upon their axes d';
which resistance causes the arms c to turn in the direction of the arrow 1;
and thereby partially or entirely close the throttle valve. The supply of
steam being thus reduced the atmospheric resistance to the vanes is nó
longer sufficient to counteract the tension of the spring i, which therefore
opens the throttle valve, and thus prevents any diminution of the speed
of the engine which is thus controlled or regulated. If desired the
governor may be provided with only one of the vanes d, a smaller pinion
in proportion to the wheel g being used to connect the vane with the said
wheel than when two vanes are used. The fly wheels e serve to steady
or equalize the motion of the vanes at any given speed of the engine, but
if desired these wheels may be dispensed with, or one or two of these

page_text: wheels may be used alone instead of the vanes, their revolution being
resisted by friction springs acting upon them at or near their axes.
In the modification of my Invention illustrated in Figure 3, motion
is communicated from the shaft 6 to the vertical vane spindle m by means
of the wheel n and worm o, whose teeth are suitably formed for such
purpose, the worm being fitted to slide upon the spindle m, but caused to
turn therewith by means of a key or feather fixed on the same, and fitted
to slide in a groove in the said spindle. The worm o is formed with a
collar and groove at its lower end to operate the lever p, which is
connected with the throttle valve. The shaft b is connected to the shaft
of the engine by any suitable driving means. The vanes d are fixed on
the upper end of the spindle m, whose lower end is supported in the
fixed bearing m¹. When there is any tendency to increase the speed
of the engine beyond its proper rate the increased resistance of the
atmosphere to the vanes d causes the endwise or downward movement
of the worm upon the spindle m. The throttle valve is thereby closed,
or partially so, and prevents such increase of speed. On the other
hand when the engine runs with a tendency to diminish its velocity
this diminution is prevented by the spring i, which raises the worm o
and lever P, thus opening the throttle valve, and keeping the speed of
the engine uniform. Instead of supporting the spindle m in a fixed
bearing as shown in Figure 3, the same may be carried in a bracket
fitted to vibrate upon the shaft b. The said bracket is formed with two
arms, in which are formed the bearings for the spindle m, and with a
third arm, which is connected with the throttle valve. A spring similar
to that shown in Figure 1 is applied to the vibrating bracket, which is
moved in either direction to open or close the throttle valve as one or
other of the opposing forces of the governor predominates.
In the governors illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6, I obtain the
benefit of an isochronous movement without the weight of the vibrating
arms c.
In Figures 4 and 5, the pinions f, f, are cast or otherwise securely
attached to each other, and are fitted to turn upon the pins f³ fixed
in the box f', whose boss or socket f5 is fitted to turn upon the
shaft b. The pinions f¹ gear into the pinion q, which is attached to the
vibrating sleeve q', and moves with the same. The said sleeve may be
connected directly with the throttle valve, and with the spring or weight
for counteracting the effect of the atmospheric resistence to the vanes,

page_text: but I prefer to provide the sleeve with a pinion 8, which gears into the
wheel s', the throttle valve, lever, and spring being connected to the said
wheel. The pinions f" are geared into the pinion q', which is fixed on
the shaft b. The latter is supported to turn freely in suitable bearings a¹
in the frame a, and is driven by the pulley h, which is connected with
a pulley on the engine shaft by a driving belt or cord. The vanes d
are preferably fixed in front of the arms of the wheel e, which rotates in
the direction of the arrow, Figure 5. The said arms are cast upon or
otherwise securely attached to the box f. The spring i as in the other
arrangement herein-before described may be adjusted to allow the engine
to run at any desired speed, and any variation from such speed will
immediately affect the position of the throttle valve, which will be closed
by the atmospheric resistance if the speed of the engine is increased, and
opened by the counteracting spring if the speed is diminished.
When my Invention is employed in connection with twin screw
engines a double set of differential wheels and pinions similar to those
shewn in Figures 4 and 5 is used. One set is driven by the shaft 6, and
the other by a sleeve or hollow spindle on the said shaft. Both the shaft
and the sleeve are provided with a pulley driven by a cord or band from
pulleys on the engine shafts, and one set of pinions is connected with
the throttle valve of each engine. Thus both engines are controlled by
one governor, which occupies no more space, and costs but little more
than the governor of a single engine. In this case it may be desirable
to fix the vanes on a separate spindle provided with a friction wheel
moving in contact with the periphery of the momentum wheel e.
In Figure 6 I have shown a convenient method of applying diffe-
rential bevelled gearing to the purposes of my Invention. The shaft 6
is supported to turn freely in suitable bearings, and is driven by a belt
or cord passing over a pulley on the engine shaft and over the pulley h,
which is keyed or otherwise made fast to the shaft b. The crosshead
b', which carries the pinions 6 is also made fast to the said shaft, and
turns with the same and the pulley h. The pinion c' is attached to the
arms e' which carry the vanes d, and turns with the said vanes.
pinion is fixed on the vibrating sleeve q', which is connected with
the counteracting spring and with the throttle valve lever, either
directly or through the bevelled pinions 8, 8', as already described in
reference to Figures 4 and 5. Any tendency toward an increase of
speed of the engine beyond that to which the governor is adjusted is
The

page_text: communicated through the pulley h, shaft b, crosshead b', and pinions
6 and c to the vanes d, and is immediately checked by the action of
the said vanes upon the throttle valve, which is again acted upon to
prevent a reduction in the speed of the engine by the spring i as already
described.
In the modification of my Invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9,
the centrifugal force of the balls u is employed as the means of closing
the throttle valve when the engine runs too fast, the spring i or a weight
serving as in the other arrangements herein described to open the said
valve when the speed of the engine is diminished below its proper rate.
In this case the spring is not provided with an eccentric to equalize
its tension as the increasing resistance of the spring as the balls are
thrown out is only sufficient to counteract the increased centrifugal force
of the same. The rods u¹ of the balls u are jointed to the arms. u², u³, in
such manner that the arms open and close freely according as the
centrifugal force or the force of the spring predominates, and the two
balls are accurately counterbalanced so that the weight of the same
has no effect in changing their position. The pulley and pinion 6³ are
fixed on the shaft b and turn with the same. The pinion is fixed on
the vibrating crosshead v', which is connected with the counteracting
spring i and with the throttle valve. The pinion gears into the double
pinion, which, through the intermediate pinion v³, gears with the
pinion fixed on the arm u³, which is loose upon the shaft b. The
other arm u³ is fixed by a pin or otherwise upon the said shaft. The
double set of pinions is necessary in order to permit the vibration of
the balls or differential movement of the spindle or axis b. This
centrifugal governor may be provided with a double set of spur pinions
instead of the bevelled pinions shown in Figure 8. One set of such spur
pinions is arranged upon a loose sleeve or hollow spindle connected with
one of the balls, and geared in such a manner with the other set which
is connected with the other ball as to drive both balls in the same
direction. This arrangement of gearing may be applied to other forms of
centrifugal governors.
In the dynamometer represented in Figures 11 and 12 the power of
'the engine to be tested is measured upon the spring balance w, which is
connected to one end of a cord or chain, whose other end is secured upon
the wheel or pulley wo¹; this pulley is cast upon or otherwise securely
attached to the sleeve to, which carries the pinion g; the latter gears

page_text: with the pinion f, which forms part of one arrangement of differential
gearing similar to that shown in Figures 4 and 5, carried in the box or
pulley 6, which is fitted to turn upon the shaft b. The pinions f¹ are
fixed upon the pinions f" and gear into the pinion q on the shaft b, on
which is also fixed by keys or otherwise the pulley h; the latter is
connected by a strap or band with the shaft of the engine to be tested,
the pulley 6 being in like manner connected with the machinery to be
driven or subjected to the action of a friction brake or other means of
resistance to the driving power, the amount of such resistance being
accurately shown upon the spring balance w.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First. The wheel g and pinions f arranged and operating in com-
bination with the spring i or a weight, and with vanes d, fly wheels e,
or with both, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The wheel n and worm o, arranged and operating in com-
bination with a spring or weight and with the vanes d, or with a
fly wheel, or with both, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Third. The differential pinions f¹, f, geared with the pinions q and q³,
arranged and operating in combination with the vanes d and centrifugal
wheel, and with the vibrating sleeve and counteracting spring or weight,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The bevelled pinions 63 on the crosshead 6', geared with
the other bevelled pinions q³ and c¹ on the vibrating sleeve q¹
and the arms e, and arranged to operate in combination with the
vanes d and with a spring or weight, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fifth. Equalizing the force of the spring i to offer a uniform resistance
to the opposing force of the governor by means of an eccentric, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Sixth. The application of the series of bevelled or spur pinions to
operate in combination with the balls u and with a spring in a
centrifugal governor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The differential wheel gearing arranged to rotate upon the
shaft of a dynamometer and operating between and in combination

page_text: with the two pulleys 65 and h, and spring balance w, or other gauge.
to ascertain the power exerted by an engine, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
THO. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings, W. C.