Improvements in Governors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Governors.
We, PHILIP EDWARD RIPLEY, and SEVERIN NELSON, Engineers, both of
Ipswich in the County of Suffolk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :—
Our improved governor is of the crank shaft governor type in which there is a
wheel like casting on the shaft carrying a pair of symmetrically arranged weights
each jointed to it at one end and free at the other end to move in a plane vertical
to the shaft and in a more or less radial direction. The weights are so arranged
When the
that they balance each other with regard to gravity and act in unison.
apparatus revolves, centrifugal force moves the weights outwards compressing con-
trolling springs operating in the contrary direction. In our governor the foregoing
parts are mounted on one face of the wheel like casting and upon the other face
there is a circular recess the centre of which is at a distance from that of the shaft.
A disc is fitted into the circular recess and on the disc with its centre at a distance
from the centre of the disc is the eccentric which serves to operate the slide,
"Corliss" or other valve of the engine. There is a large aperture for the shaft to
pass through the eccentric and disc and these parts have no direct attachment to
the shaft. The weights have bosses or projections which pass through holes in the
wheel like casting from side to side. These bosses are connected by links with
studs provided upon the face of the disc so that the movement of the weights
inwards or outwards rotates the disc in its circular recess and changes the position
of the centre of the eccentric relatively to the centre of the crank shaft and the
centre line of the crank.
The disc is held in the circular recess without cover plates by a centre pin
passing through it and through the wheel like casting and secured by a nut beyond.
The pin holds the disc by its head alone, the hole through which it passes being
large enough to allow the disc to bear at its periphery against the walls of the
recess.
In some cases we modify this arrangement by forming the disc with the centre pin
or axis of a piece with it or securely fastened to it. The centre pin bearing within
the wheel-like casting is arranged so that the centre pin springs sufficiently to
At the end
allow the disc to bear at its periphery against the walls of the recess.
remote from the disc the pin or axis is provided with arms which may be cast
together on which are studs and these studs receive the links connecting tbe disc
with the weights; the links being on the outer side of the weights. When it is
desired that the governor should be readily reversible to suit for either direction of
rotation, the centre of the disc is placed in a line with the centre of the crank
preferably on the opposite side of the crank shaft to the crank. The disc in this
case is provided with two studs for each of the links, these two studs are
symmetrically arranged one on either side of a line joining the centres of the disc
and eccentric and when it is required to set the engine for running in the reverse
direction the links are shifted from stud to stud.
When it is not necessary to provide for the reversal of the engine we do not
arrange the disc with its axis on the centre line of the crank but somewhat to one
side so that when the disc is partially rotated by the movement of the weights, the
centre of the eccentric travels in a line such that the lead is approximately constant
whilst the cut off is changed.
When the governor is intended to control an auxiliary or cut off valve the centre
of the disc is so placed that its rotation carries the centre of the eccentric in a
direction approximately to and from the centre of the shaft. In this case reversal

page_text: may be effected by turning the entire governor on the shaft and at the same time-
shifting the attachment of the links to the disc. Or it may be effected by turning
the governor on the shaft without shifting the links.
Amongst the advantages which our governor presents are the following:-
1. It secures a variable cut off whilst maintaining a favourable valve setting as
to the lead.
2. It is self locking and not liable to yield to the resistance of the valve.
3. It is capable of casy reversal and the links and other parts are readily
accessible.
4. It possesses great governing power in relation to its size.
5. It is simple in construction and inexpensive.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Governors.
We, PHILIP EDWARD RIPLEY, and SEVERIN NELSON, Engineers, both of
Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, 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 :—
Our improved governor is of the crank shaft governor type in which there is a
wheel like casting on the shaft carrying a pair of symmetrically arranged weights
each jointed to it at one end and free at the other end to move in a plane vertical
to the shaft and in a more or less radial direction. The weights are so arranged
that they balance each other with regard to gravity and act in unison
When the
apparatus revolves, centrifugal force moves the weights outwards compressing con-
trolling springs operating in the contrary direction. In our governor the foregoing
parts are mounted on one face of the wheel-like casting and upon the other face
there is a circular recess the centre of which is at a distance from that of the shaft.
A disc is fitted into the circular recess and on the disc with its centre at a distance
from the centre of the disc is the eccentric which serves to operate the slide,
" Corliss " or other valve of the engine. There is a large aperture for the shaft to
pass through the eccentric and disc and these parts have no direct attachment to
the shaft. The weights have bosses or projections which pass through holes in the
wheel-like casting from side to side. These bosses are connected by links with
studs provided upon the face of the disc so that the movement of the weights
inwards or outwards rotates the disc in its circular recess and changes the position
of the centre of the eccentric relatively to the centre of the crank shaft and the
centre line of the crank.
The disc is held in the circular recess without cover plates by a centre pin
passing through it and through the wheel-like casting and secured by a nut beyond.
The pin holds the disc by its head alone, the hole through which it passes being
large enough to allow the disc to bear at its periphery against the walls of the
recess.
At the
In some cases we modify this arrangement by forming the disc with the centre
pin or axis of a piece with it or securely fastened to it. The centre pin bearing
within the wheel-like casting, is arranged so that the centre pin springs sufficiently
to allow the dise to bear at its periphery against the walls of the recess.
end remote from the disc the pin or axis is provided with arms which may be cast
together on which are studs and these studs receive the links connecting the disc
with the weights, the links being on the outer side of the weights.
When it is desired that the governor should be readily reversible to suit for either
direction of rotation, the centre of the disc is placed in a line with the centre of the
crank preferably on the opposite side of the crank shaft to the crank. The disc in

page_text: this case is provided with two studs for each of the links, these two studs are
symmetrically arranged one on either side of a line joining the centres of the disc
and eccentric and when it is required to set the engine for running in the reverse
direction the links are shifted from stud to stud.
When it is not necessary to provide for the reversal of the engine we do not arrange
the disc with its axis on the centre line of the crank but somewhat to one side so that
when the disc is partially rotated by the movement of the weights, the centre of the
eccentric travels in a line such that the lead is approximately constant whilst the
cut off is changed.
When the governor is intended to control an auxiliary or cut off valve the centre
of the disc is so placed that its rotation carries the centre of the eccentric in a
direction approximately to and from the centre of the shaft. In this case reversal
may be effected by turning the governor on the shaft without shifting the links.
Amongst the advantages which our governor presents are the following
:-
1. It secures a variable cut-off whilst maintaining a favourable valve setting as
to the lead.
2. It is self locking and not liable to yield to the resistance of the valve.
3. It is capable of easy reversal and the links and other parts are readily
accessible.
4. It possesses great governing power in relation to its size.
5. It is simple in construction and inexpensive.
And in order that our invention may be better understood we have appended
hereto 4 sheets of drawings marked with letters of reference, corresponding letters
indicating like parts.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 Sheet 1 show respectively a front elevation, section and back
elevation of one arrangement of our improved governor as applied to an engine
capable of easy reversal.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 Sheet 2 show respectively a front elevation, section and back
elevation of another arrangement of our improved governor as applied to a similar
engine.
Figures 7 and 8 Sheet 3 show respectively a frout and side elevation of a modi-
fication of our improved governor.
Figure 9 Sheet 3 is a diagram showing the centreing of the various parts of our
improved governor and the path described by the centre of the working eccentric
as we arrange it when the improved governor is applied to an engine in which casy
reversal is not required.
Figure 10 Sheet 4 shows a front elevation of our improved governor adapted for
controlling a supplementary or cut off valve and
Figure 11 Sheet 4 is a diagram shewing the centreing of the various parts of
our improved governor and the path described by the centre of the working
eccentric when the improved governor is applied to this purpose.
Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a is the wheel-like casting keyed fast on
the shaft and carrying weights 6b which are pivotted to it at the points e c',
ande e are the springs by which the weights are controlled, fis the circular recess
on the opposite side of the wheel-like casting to the weights, is the disc fitted into
the recess and g
is the common centre of the recess and also of the disc, it is at a
distance from the shaft, and opposite to and in a line with the centre of the crank
which direction is shewn in Figure 1 and in other figures by a horizontal dotted
line; is the working eccentric cast in one with or secured to the disc, and is its
centre at a distance from 9 the centre of the disc, 11 are bosses on the weights
passing through holes in the wheel-like casting, m' m' are studs on the disc, and
nn are links by which the bosses on the weights, and the studs on the disc are
connected, o is the pin by which the disc and eccentric are held into the circular
recess.
Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, p is the axis of the disc cast in one with it,
Qis the casting or piece forming the arms carrying the studs m¹ m², and fitted to
the axis at the end remote from the disc, it is provided with a feather which

page_text: prevents it turning on the axis and a tap bolt at the back serves to keep both it
and the disc in their right positions, are the bosses on the weights formed on the
opposite side to the wheel-like casting, and nn are the links by which the bosses
on the weights, and the studs on the arm-casting are connected.
Figures 7 and 8 show a modification of our improved governor, in which the
circular recess to receive the disc is obtained by fixing a ring or strap upon the
wheel-like casting. We face the wheel-like casting off flush on the eccentric side,
and we fit upon it a strap r, formed in two halves, secured to each other by bolts 8,
these bolts pass through wrought iron studs, or cast bosses t, by which the strap is
fixed to the wheel-like casting. The strap affords an opportunity of taking up any
wear which may occur round the periphery of the disc. We may employ this
method of obtaining the recess for the disc in all arrangements of our improved
governor.
In the drawings described of our improved governor as applied to an engine
capable of easy reversal, the centre of the disc g has been shown at a distance from
the shaft, and opposite to, and in a line with the centre of the crank, the weights
have been shown at the limit of their travel away from the shaft, in which position
the centre of the working eccentric k, is in a line with the centre of the crank,
whether the engine be set to run "in "out." The action of the governor is
as follows:
ג*
or
If the ends of the links n n remote from the weights, be attached to the
studs m² m², as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the engine will run "in,"
that is to say, in the direction indicated by the arrows in the Figures 1, 3, 4 and 6,
and the weights in moving from the limit of their travel farthest from the shaft to
the limit of their travel nearest to the shaft will move the centre of the eccentric
from the position to the position k¹, the angle and throw of the working eccentric
being thus altered, so as to give an early or late cut off, in accordance with the
position of the weights.
If on the other hand the ends of the links nn, remote from the weights, be attached
to the studs "m", as shewn in Figures 7 and 8 the engine will run "out," or in
the direction indicated by the arrow and the weights in moving as above will move
the centre of the eccentric from the position to the position ", the angle and
throw of the working eccentric being thus altered, to suit the rotation of the engine
in the opposite direction.
In engines which are not required to be capable of easy reversal, we prefer
to modify the centreing of the parts, and the path which the centre of the
working eccentric describes. We do not place the centre of the disc in a line
with the centre of the crank, but either to one side, or the other, of such a line as
shewn in drawing Figure 9. Here g' indicates the centre of the disc, when it is
required that the engine should run "in," and g" the centre of the disc, when it is
required that the engine should run out." A movement of the governor weights
corresponding to that described above will have the effect of moving the centre of
the working eccentric k to k', when running "in" and from k to A, when running
" out." In order to effect the reversal of the engine it is necessary, not only to
alter the attachment of the links to the disc as previously described but also to turn
the entire governor on the shaft, so as to bring the centre of the disc into either
the position g', 9" Figure 9, in accordance with the direction in which it is desired
to run the engine.
In order to adapt our improved governor, to control a cut off valve, working on the
back of, or in conjunction with a main valve, (which main valve effects the distribution
of the steam other than the cut off) we modify the centreing of the parts, and the
path described by the centre of the working eccentric, as shewn in the drawings
Figures 10 and 11; where g" is the centre of the disc if the engine is set to run
6.
out," and g' is the centre of the disc if the engine is set to run in.' The weights
in moving from the limit of their travel farthest from the shaft, to the limit of
their travel nearest to the shaft, rotate the disc, so that the centre of the eccentric
is moved from k to k¹¹, for engine running " ont," and from k to k¹ for engine
46

page_text: running "in," the throw of the working eccentric being thus altered, so as to give-
an early or late cut off, in accordance with the position of the weights, while the.
angle of the working eccentric, with reference to the crank, remains practically
the same, for any one direction of rotation of the engine. To alter the engine from
running "out to running "in," it is necessary to turn the governor on the shaft,
so as to move the centre of the disc from g₁ to g¹, the attachment of the links
to the disc is not altered.
"
When it is desired to adapt our governor to an engine, which must be capable of
reversal, while running, we duplicate it, that is to say, employ two wheel-like
castings, placed back to back (they may be cast in one). Each wheel-like casting-
has its own recess, disc, and working eccentric arranged as described. The centres
of the two discs will correspond. There is but one pair of weights and springs,
arranged between the wheel-like castings, and each weight has a pair of links one on
each side.
The attachment of the links to the discs, is so arranged, that the weights
operate the eccentric on one side for running "in," the eccentric on the other side
for running "out."
"
The eccentrics actuate eccentric rods coupled up to an ordinary link gear, by
which reversal is effected in the manner well known in connection with fixed
eccentrics.
In the case of a double cylinder or compound engine, with cranks set opposite
each other, we may if we desire it, employ a double governor, similar to that
described in connection with a link reversing gear but in this case, the centres of
the two discs will not correspond, but they will be diametrically opposite, one on
either side of the shaft, and the eccentrics which will both be arranged for running
say "in" will be connected to their respective valve rods, without the intervention
of any link gear.
In special cases when it is desirable to combine the governor with the fly wheel
of an engine, we may modify the construction of the fly wheel so that it takes the
place of the wheel-like casting which we employ in the various arrangements of
our improved governor hitherto described.
We reserve to ourselves the right to hold the disc within the recess by means of
a cover plate, or a plate made in the form of a ring (sometimes in segments)
fastened to the walls of the recess and overlapping the periphery of the disc, or we
may for n the strap with a rim overlapping the periphery of the disc for the same
purpose, but we prefer to hold the disc by the other methods described and shown.
In conclusion we would observe that we are not tied or bound to the exact and
precise position and movements of parts indicated, provided substantially the same
practical result is obtained by any slight variation thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination of the wheel-like casting, with symmetrically arranged
weights pivotted thereto on one side, and a working eccentric in one or rigidly
attached to a disc working in a recess on the other side, the disc being actuated by
the weights through links placed on the same side of the wheel-like casting as the
eccentric; all arranged, centred and. operating, substantially as described and shown
in the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 9.
2. The combination of the parts as in the preceding claim all arranged, centred
and operating substantially as described and shown in the drawings, Figures 10
and 11.
3. The combination of the wheel-like casting, with symmetrically arranged
weights pivotted thereto on one side and a working eccentric in one or rigidly
attached to a disc working in a recess on the other side, the disc being actuated by
the weights through links placed on the side of the weights remote from the wheel-
like casting and connected to arms fitted to the disc axis which passes through the

page_text: wheel-like casting, all arranged centred and operating substantially as shewn in the
drawings, Figs. 4, 5, 6 and-9.
4. The combination of the parts as in Claim 3 all arranged centred and operating,
substantially as described in drawings Figures 10 and 11.
5. Attaching the eccentric disc within the recess by a pin fast in the wheel-like
casting and fitting loosely in the disc, thus dispensing with cover plates,
substantially as described and shown in the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 10.
6. Governors substantially as herein described and having the recess for the disc
formed by means of a loose strap made in halves, bolted together and secured to
the wheel-like casting by studs or bosses which admits of adjustment for wear as
shown, Figures 7 and 8.
7. In shaft governors such as described, in which a working eccentric, mounted
upon a fixed internal or external eccentric is applied to drive a main slide Corliss
or other valve the method of reversing the direction of the rotation of the engine
by altering the points of attachment of the links connecting the weights to the
working eccentric either independently or in conjunction with a partial revolution
of the fixed eccentric upon the shaft.
Dated this 14th day of Sontember 1903
P. E. RIPLEY.
S. NELSON.