IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES PRO
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS · PATENT to John Musgrave and Robert Gregory 'junior both of
Bolton in the County of Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Musgrave and Robert
Gregory, junior, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
4th May 1883.
JOHN MUSGRAVE and ROBERT GREGORY, Junior, both of Bolton in the County of
Lancaster, IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES
"
Our invention relates to governors for steam engines and the object of our
Invention is to maintain an uniform or nearly uniform rate of speed under varying
conditions of load or pressure of steam
To accomplish this we form an eccentric groove in the sleeve of the ordinary
governor in addition to the ordinary groove in the sleeve for actuating the forked.
lever connected to the valve rod. A strap rests in this eccentric groove connected
to which is a forked lever which is free to slide with and swivel on a stud in a
stationary bracket. This forked lever may be made in two pieces (or in one piece
alotted in the middle) and a carriage or sliding block is placed between these two
pieces and free to slide with but may not swivel on the stud to which it as well as
the forked lever is pivoted. Fingers or pawls are pivoted to the forked lever one
on each side of the stud. Two pins are secured to the carriage and rest in slots in
the fingers. These fingers are free to act upon a pair of ratchet wheels with teeth
cut in opposite directions: the ratchet wheels are bored and secured to and near
the end of a screwed rod supported in bearings near each end: a ball or boss is
screwed on to the rod and a vertical double ended lever is pivoted to the ball: one
end of the double ended lever is connected by a rod or rods to the lever secured in
the ordinary groove in the governor sleeve: the other end of the double ended
lever is connected by rods or levers to the valve gear.
While the engine remains at its normal speed no motion is conveyed to the
forked lever and fingers but so soon as the speed varies and the governor rises or
falls the eccentric groove in the sleeve actuates one or other of the two fingers and
DC77

page_text: thus turns the corresponding ratchet wheel which causes the screwed rod to make
a partial revolution thereby shifting the position of the ball or boss on the screwed
rod the ball or boss in its turn acts upon the double ended lever and thus alters
the position of the rod or rods connected to the valve gear.
We have said in our description that we employ two ratchet wheels but one
would be sufficient if divided on the face by a groove and with teeth cut in different
directions on each edge of the periphery.
In a modification of our Invention we use an eccentric groove in the sleeve of the
ordinary governor the strap, forked lever, carriage or sliding block two fingers and
ratchet wheel or wheels as previously described: the ratchet wheels are secured to
a bush in which is bedded one half of a float key: a second bush is fitted inside
the first bush and receives the other half of the float key: at one end of the inner
bush is a ball joint or other joint in which a rod is fitted connected in any
convenient manner to the ordinary forked lever of the governor: the other end
of the inner bush is bored and has a screw thread cut in it to receive the
screwed end of a rod supported in a bearing to prevent its turning: the other end
of the screwed rod is connected in any convenient manner to the valve gear.
Instead of using the eccentric groove in the slide of the governor we may employ
a disc crank, or other suitable mechanism to traverse the carriage and forked lever
in the stationary bracket the action is similar to that already described when the
ratchet wheels are moved the outer bush makes a partial revolution carrying with
it the inner bush and the rod is screwed into or out of the bush and thus alters the
position of the cut-off lever.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Musgrave and Robert Gregory, junior, in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd November 1883.
JOHN MUSGRAVE and ROBERT GREGORY, Jun:, both of Bolton in the County of
Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM ENGINES
Our invention relates to governors for steam engines and the object of our
Invention is to maintain a uniform or nearly uniform rate of speed under varying
conditions of load or pressure of steam.
To accomplish this we form an eccentric groove in the sleeve of the ordinary
governor in addition to the ordinary groove in the sleeve for actuating the forked
lever connected to the valve rod. A strap rests in this eccentric groove connected
to which is a forked lever which is free to slide with and swivel on a stud in a
stationary bracket. This forked lever may be made in two pieces (or in one piece
slotted in the middle) and a carriage or sliding block is placed between these two
pieces and is free to slide with but may not swivel on the stud to which it as well
as the forked lever is pivoted. Fingers or pawls are pivoted to the forked lever
one on each side of the stud. Two pins are secured to the carriage and rest in slots
in the fingers. These fingers are free to act upon a pair of ratchet wheels with
teeth cut in opposite directions: the ratchet wheels are bored and secured to and
near the end of a screwed rod supported in bearings near each end: a ball or boss
is screwed on to the rod and a vertical double ended lever is pivoted to the ball :
one end of the double ended lever is connected by a rod or rods to the lever secured
in the ordinary groove in the governor sleeve: the other end of the double ended
lever is connected by rods or levers to the valve gear.
While the engine remains at its normal speed no motion is conveyed to the
forked lever and fingers but so soon as the speed varies and the governor rises or
falls, the eccentric groove in the sleeve actuates one or other of the two fingers and
thus turns the corresponding ratchet wheel which causes the screwed rod to make
a partial revolution thereby shifting the position of the ball or boss on the screwed
rod: the ball or boss in its turn acts upon the double ended lever and thus alters
the position of the rod or rods connected to the valve gear.
We have said in our description that we employ two ratchet wheels but one
would be sufficient if divided on the face by a groove and with teeth cut in
different directions on each edge of the periphery.
In a modification of our. Invention we use an eccentric groove in the sleeve of
the ordinary governor the strap forked lever carriage or sliding block, two fingers
and ratchet wheel or wheels as previously described: the ratchet wheels are secured
to a bush in which is bedded one half of a float key: a second bush is fitted inside.
the first bush and receives the other half of the float key: at one end of the inner
bush is a ball joint or other joint in which a rod is fitted connected in any'
convenient manner to the ordinary forked lever of the governor: the other end of
the inner bush is bored and has a screw thread cut in it to receive the screwed end.
of a rod supported in a bearing to prevent its turning: the other end of the
screwed rod is connected in any convenient manner to the valve gear.
Instead of using the eccentric groove in the slide of the governor we may
employ a disc crank or other suitable mechanism to traverse the carriage and
forked lever in the stationary bracket, the action is similar to that already
described.
When the ratchet wheels are moved the outer bush makes a partial revolution
carrying with it the inner bush and the rod is screwed into or out of the bush and
thus alters the position of the cut off lever..

page_text: And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations and Fig. 3 a section in plan through the line A B,
Fig. 2, of part of the governor of a steam engine to which our Improvements are
applied. Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations, the latter partly in section and Fig. 6 a plan
of Fig. 5 of the governor of a steam engine to which a modification of our
Invention is applied and Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of part of the same.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3.-a is the governor: 6 the ordinary groove in the sleeve a¹
of the governor for actuating the forked lever connected to the cut off valve rod:
we form in the sleeve a an additional eccentric groove b¹ in which the strap c rests:
a forked lever c¹ made in two pieces is connected to the strap c at c³ and is pivoted
to and swivels on a stud d which is free to slide with the forked lever c¹: the
carriage is placed between the two pieces of the forked lever c' and is free to
slide with but cannot swivel on the stud d to which it, as well as the forked
lever c¹ is secured: Two fingers or' pawls s'e' are pivoted at c³ ³ to the forked
lever c¹ one on each side of the carriage : to the carriage d¹ are secured two
pins dd which rest in slots in the pawls e e¹ and support them when required.
Two ratchet wheels ff with their teeth cut in opposite directions are bored to fit
and are secured to a screwed rod g with a single thread on it supported in bearings
on the governor stand: a ball or boss g' with a screw-thread formed inside is
screwed on to the rod g and a vertical double ended lever g² connected to the valve
rod his pivoted to the boss g¹: the lower end of the lever g³ is connected by a
rod g³ to a lever g' fixed to a shaft g³ held in a stationary bracket g: to the shaft g³
is also secured one end of the lever g' the forked end of which rests in the ordinary
groove b in the sleeve a¹ of the governor.
While the engine remains at its normal speed no motion is conveyed through the
forked lever c¹ and fingers e e¹ to the ratchet wheels fand f¹. When the speed of
the engine increases the governor sleeve a¹ rises and carries with it the end of the
forked lever g' in the groove b: the rod gs is moved in the direction of the arrow
Fig 2 and causes the lever g' to swing on the pivots fixed to the ball g¹ and move
the valve rod h so as to partially close the cut off valve.
While the above described operation is taking place the eccentric groove b¹ is
actuating the strap c, and forked lever c¹ connected to the stud d and carriage d¹
and when the speed of the engine increases the governor rises, carrying with it the
strap c and forked lever c²: as the forked end of the lever c¹ rises the pin c² at the
other end of the lever falls and the finger e being supported on the pin de which
remains on one level is raised out of contact with the ratchet wheel f: at the same
time the pin crises and the finger el being supported on the pin d³ which remains
at one level falls into gear with and turns the wheel f¹: as the ratchet wheel f¹
turns it causes the screwed rod 'g to turn and move the screwed ball g¹ lever g² and
rod h connected to the cut off valve, thus assisting the governor to maintain a
constant or regular speed of the engine.
When the speed of the engine decreases and the governor falls and carries with it
the forked end of the lever c¹ the finger e¹ is raised out of gear with the ratchet
wheel f¹ and the other end of the forked lever o' is raised, the finger e falls into
gear with the ratchet wheelf and turns it in the opposite direction so as to
reverse the action just described and assist the engine in regaining its normal
speed. The end of the carriage d' is cranked upward and has an adjustable screw i
passed through it and on the finger e is cast or secured a tail piece e' which comes
in contact with the screw i in order to lift the finger e out of contact with the
ratchet wheelf before the governor falls to its lowest point.
In Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7.-a' is the governor sleeve: 6 the ordinary groove and b¹
the eccentric groove in the governor sleeve: the strap c, forked lever c¹ stud d
carriage d', the fingers or pawls e el pivoted to the forked lever c¹ at c and.c³
respectively and resting on the pins d² aud d³ secured to the carriage d', the ratchet

page_text: wheels and are secured to a bush k in which is bedded one half of a float
key l, a second bush m is fitted and is free to slide in the bush k and receives the
other half of the float key 1: at one end of the bush m is a joint in which is fitted
a ball n on the rod or link n¹: the rod n¹ is notched at n² and fits on a projection
of the lever o secured to the shaft o³ in which is keyed a lever o' the forked end of
which rests in the ordinary groove 6 of the governor sleeve a¹. The other end of
the bush m is bored and has a screw thread cut in it to receive the screwed end of
the valve rod h supported in the bearing h¹ in such manner that it is free to slide
but cannot turn.
When the speed of the engine increases the governor rises which causes the
ratchet wheel f¹ to be turned in the manner previously described: the bush k with
the inner screwed bush m is turned by the ratchet wheel f¹ and thus the valve
rod h is screwed further into the bush m and the action of the cut off altered so as
to bring the engine back to its normal speed.
When the speed of the engine decreases the governor falls which causes the
ratchet wheel to be turned and the reverse action takes place.
The ratchet wheels may be made in one piece with two sets of teeth or in two
pieces as described.
Instead of using the eccentric groove b¹ we may employ a disc crank or other
suitable mechanism to traverse the forked lever c and carriage and actuate the
parts connected therewith.
Having stated the nature of our Invention and described the manner of
performing the same
We declare that we claim.
1.-The improvements in governors for steam engines, substantially as and for the
purposes herein shown and described.
2. The additional eccentric groove 6¹ in the governor sleeve combined with the
strap c, forked lever c¹ and other mechanism for actuating the fingers e e¹ and
ratchet wheels f f¹ operating a rod or shaft with a single thread for the purpose
specified substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof I the said John Musgrave for myself and on behalf of the
said Robert Gregory, Junior have hereunto set my hand and seal this second
day of November One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
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