IMPROVED COMPENSATING Apparatus TO BE APPLIED TO STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolphus Sington, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVED COMPENSATING Apparatus
TO BE APPLIED TO STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS."-A communication from
abroad by Adolphe Saurelier of Lillo in the Ranuhlia of Tivanan
Sealed the 8th February 1876, and dated the 16th August 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolphus Sington at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th August 1875.
I, ADOLPHUS SINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED COM-
PENSATING APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS," (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Adolphe Sarralier, of Lille, in the
Republic of France), to be as follows:-
In consequence of the invariable relation between the position of the
balls and the opening of the valve ordinary ball governors cannot
assume a position of stable equilibrium when the resistance varies.
If the resisting work of a machine varies its speed varies also, the
balls change their position, modifying the opening of the valve or the

page_text: degree of steam admission in a corresponding ratio and the regulated
speed is restored; but the balls tending to oscillate about this position
and not rest there they move the valve and alter the degree of expansion,
and the machine changes its speed again. The speed of the machine
cannot then be regular, since the apparatus which should regulate it
cannot maintain a stable position. In order that the speed of a machino
may be really and absolutely regular it is necessary that for one position
of the balls the valve may occupy different positions. It is also necessary
that the degree of expansion shall not be determined by the speed, but
may be varied more or less according to the load or resistance, still
maintaining the same number of revolutions. The means of arriving at
this result is to render variable the connection between the balls and the
valve, and it is to effect this object that the present Invention is designed.
In most engines when the resistance or load varies the engineer is
obliged to come and modify the steam admission, which is ordinarily
effected by varying the length of the rod which connects the balls with
the valve. With this improved "compensator" all the changes are
effected automatically, whatever may be the variations of the resistance
or load.
The apparatus consists of a box connected by a rod to the governor,
and capable of sliding in a fixed frame. To this box are fixed two
catches or pawls working in two reversed racks attached to the
valve rod.
Two pins attached to the framing project beneath the catches or
pawls, and raise one or the other according to the direction of the move-
ment of the box. In their normal position these catches or pawls do
not work, but if the box, that is to say the governor to which it is
connected, makes a movement in either direction, that catch which is
opposite to it is raised by the pin fixed in the framing, and the other
catch carries the rack and the valve rod with it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Adolphus Sington in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th February 1876.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Adolphus Sington, Her
special license, that I, the said Adolphus Sington, my exccutors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Adolphus Sington,
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 for
"IMPROVED COMPENSATING APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO STEAM ENGINE
GOVERNORS," (a communication to me from abroad by Adolphe Sarralier,
of Lille, in the Republic of France), upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Adolphus Sington, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, 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 Scal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Adolphus Sington, 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 :-
In consequence of the invariable relation between the position of the
balls and the opening of the valve, ordinary ball governors cannot
assume a position of stable equilibrium when the resistance varies.
If the resisting work of a machine varies its speed varies also, the
balls change their position, modifying the opening of the valve or the
degree of steam admission in a corresponding ratio, and the regulated
speed is restored; but the balls tending to oscillate about this position and
not to rest there they move the valve and alter the degree of expansion,
and the machine changes its speed again. The speed of the machine
cannot then be regular, since the apparatus which should regulate it
cannot maintain a stable position. In order that the speed of a machine

page_text: may be really and absolutely regular, it is necessary that for one position
of the balls the valve may occupy different positions. It is also necessary
that the degree of expansion shall not be determined by the speed, but
may be varied more or less according to the load or resistance, still main-
taining the same number of revolutions. The means of arriving at this
result is to render variable the connection between the balls and the valve,
and it is to effect this object that the present Invention is designed.
In most engines when the resistance or load varies the engineer is
obliged to come and modify the steam admission, which is ordinarily
effected by varying the length of the rod which connects the balls with
the valve. With this improved "compensator" all the changes arc
effected automatically, whatever may be the variations of the resistance
or load.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention I will now
proceed to describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or
may be performed or carried into practical effect, and in order that the
same may be clearly understood I have annexed hereunto a Drawing
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof :-
The Drawing represents a longitudinal section of the apparatus,
which is composed of a box A, A, connected to the "governor" and
capable of sliding in the frame B, B, which is fixed. To this box A, A,
are fixed two catches or pawls C, C', working in two reversed racks on a
rod D, D, connected to the valve rod. Two fixed pins E, E', attached
to the framing B, B, project beneath the catches or pawls C, C³, and
raise one or the other according to the direction of movement of the
box A, A. In their normal position these catches or pawls C, C¹, do not
work; but if the box A, A, (that is to say the governor with which it is
connected) makes a movement in either direction the catch which is
opposed to it is raised by the pin E or E, and the other catch carrics
the rack D, D, and the valve rod as well as the box A, A, with it.
The Drawing shows the apparatus in the position which it occupics
when the governor and the engine are at their proper speed, that is to
say, in its mean or central position. Let us suppose now that the
resistance of the engine diminishes, and that the governor in order to
effect the closing of the valve draws the box A, A, from right to left,
the catch C gears with the rack D, D, and causes it to follow its move-

page_text: ment, which continues until the new position of the valve modifics the
speed of the engine.
As soon as the displacement of the box A, A, commences the fixed
pin E raises the catch C which becomes thus disengaged from the
rack D.
The speed of the engine being re-established the governor again
assumes its mean position, pushes the box A, A, from left to right; the
catch C moves without acting upon the rack D, D', which with its
attachments preserves its position until an increased resistance causes
the position of the governor to vary.
If the resistance increases the governor pushes the box A, A, from
left to right, the catch C will be raised by the fixed pin E, whilst the
catch C¹ will remain in gear with the rack, and the same effects are
produced in an inverse direction to those of the first.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I
claim as the Invention communicated to me by the said Adolphe
Sarralier, the arrangement of apparatus above described and shown in the
Drawing hereto annexed, or any modification thereof, wherein one or
more fixed pieces are combined with one or more moving pieces having
an alternate movement capable of producing cither by friction clutches
or gearing the change of the position of the valve, and allowing the
governor to reassume its normal position.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adolphus Sington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.
ADOLPHUS SINGTON. (L.S.)