IMPROVEMENTS IN.GOVERNORS AND IN MECHANICAL RELAY APPARATUS THEREFOR AND APPLICABLE TO STEERING ENGINES, STARTING ENGINES, AND ANALOGOUS APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS, PATENT to William Murdoch, of Glasgow in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN.GOVERNORS
AND IN MECHANICAL RELAY APPARATUS THEREFOR AND APPLICABLE TO
STEERING ENGINES, STARTING ENGINES, AND ANALOGOUS APPARATUS
:
23.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Murdoch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1883.
WILLIAM MURDOCH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS AND IN MECHANICAL RELAY APPARATUS
THEREFOR AND APPLICABLE TO STEERING ENGINES, STARTING ENGINES, AND
ANALOGOUS APPARATUS
"
This Invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
governors and comprises arrangements specially designed for screw-propeller
engines, although also applicable otherwise. And in such improved arrangements
the primary governing movement set in action' by a change of speed does not act
directly on the main throttle or regulating valve but on a cylinder and piston
worked by steam or other fluid and arranged to apply whatever power may be
required for shifting the throttle or other valve. The cylinder and piston with its
valve details which are of an improved kind forms a mechanical relay which
operates like an electrical relay in bringing a comparatively strong force into action
by means of a comparatively weak one, and which is applicable to steering engines,
starting engines, and other analogous apparatus.
In one modification of the improved governing apparatus comprised in the
present Invention the relay cylinder is by preference horizontal and is formed in
á casting which is also made, with bracket pieces having bearings for a horizontal
shaft. This shaft has loose on it a pulley for a driving cord this pulley having on
the inner side of it a bevil pinion; and fixed on the shaft there is a flywheel
combined with which there are four balls at the ends of two levers centered at
their middles on diametrically opposite sides of the flywheel boss. The two balls
on one side of the flywheel and nearest the pulley are formed with bevil toothed

page_text: segments gearing with the bevil pinion, and the other two balls on the other side
of the flywheel have pins projecting into inclined slots in lugs formed on a sleeve
which can move along the shaft and which is formed with a groove between two
collars to act on a bellcrank lever having one or two pins projecting into the
groove. When the governor is driven the flywheel receives motion from the pulley
through the bevil pinion and the toothed segments of the balls, the parts however
all moving as one piece as long as the proper speed is uniformly maintained, but
when a change of speed takes place the action due to the inertia of the flywheel
and to the centrifugal action of the balls causes a change in the angular position of
the ball levers and of the longitudinally moving sleeve. The centrifugal action of
the balls is opposed by a spring applied to the bellcrank lever acted on by the
longitudinally moving sleeve, and this spring which is very conveniently adjustable
even whilst the governor is in action, serves for determining the speed at which
the governor will tend to keep.the engines.
The valve of the relay cylinder is of a hollow cylindrical form its interior being
divided by a longitudinal diametrical partition and the two compartments being
open at opposite ends only. The valve has both a turning and a longitudinal
motion in a cylindrical chamber the opposite ends of which communicate with the
opposite ends of the cylinder. The steam or other fluid has access into the valve
chamber by two ports nearly opposite each other the exliaust port being between
the inlet ports. Each compartment of the valve has a helical slot or port in its
side and when the governor acts upon the valve it turns it so as to put one of its
'ports in communication with one of the inlet ports and the other with the exhaust
port and the piston in the cylinder is immediately acted on accordingly and shifts
the main throttle or regulating valve to which its piston rod is connected. The
rod of the relay valve is adjustably connected to a rod which passes through a
bush or ring held in a bearing and is connected to the ring by a key and feather
which makes it turn with the ring whilst it can move end ways through it. The
ring is formed with an arm which is connected by a link to the bellcrank lever
acted on by the sleeve of the governor shaft so that the action of the governor
causes the relay valve to turn. The rod which is turned by the ring is made with
a groove to be acted on by one or more pins on a lever which is connected to the
piston rod of the relay cylinder by a pin and slots or otherwise; and in consequence
of this arrangement the piston will move only to an extent corresponding to the
turning motion given to the valve, as the longitudinal motion which the piston rod
transmits to the valve will cause the ports in the valve to pass in consequence of
their helical form away from the inlet and outlet ports of the valve chamber..
In another modification of the improved governing apparatus the valve of the
relay apparatus is turned by means of a lever moved by differential gearing driven
by two miniature engines. Each engine drives a crank shaft and fly wheel and on
the two shafts are bevil or spur wheels geared together through an intermediate
wheel carried by the lever: One engine is driven at a rate which is as nearly
uniform as possible by steam supplied through a suitable reducing or other
adjustable valve; and the other engine has its cylinder passages connected to those
of the main engines or has its distribution valve or valves worked from the main
engines so as to. go. at the same speed or at a proportional speed.. With this
arrangement a variation in the speed of the main engines will be imitated by a
variation in that of one of the miniature engines and this will act through the
differential gearing on the relay valve and cylinder.

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SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Murdoch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th July 1883.
WILLIAM MURDOCH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS AND IN MECHANICAL RELAY APPARATUS
THEREFOR, AND APPLICABLE TO STEERING ENGINES, STARTING, ENGINES, AND
ANALOGOUS APPARATUS"
F
بنا
My said Invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
governors, and comprises arrangements specially designed for screw propeller
engines, although also applicable otherwise. And in such improved arrangements
the primary governing movement set in action by a change of speed does not act
directly on the main throttle or regulating valve but on a cylinder and piston
worked by steam or other fluid, and arranged to apply whatever power may be
required for shifting the throttle or other valve. The cylinder and piston with its
valve details, which are of an improved kind, forms a mechanical relay which
operates like an electrical relay in bringing a comparatively strong force into action
by means of a comparatively weak one and which is applicable to steering engines,
starting engines, and other analogous apparatus.
ก
In one modification of my improved governing apparatus a flywheel acting by
momentum is combined in an improved manner with four balls. operating by
centrifugal action; and these parts are very directly connected to the relay cylinder
the whole forming a very compact and self-contained arrangement which can be
fixed in any convenient position in relation to the engines which it is to govern.
The valve of the relay cylinder is of a hollow cylindrical form 'its interior being
divided by a longitudinal diametrical partition, and it has both a turning and a longi-
tudinal motion in a cylindrical chamber. Each compartment of the valve has a helical
slot or port in its side, and when the governor acts on the valve it turns it so as to
put one of its ports in communication with one of the inlet ports and the other with
the exhaust port. On the piston "moving in consequence of this action of the valve
it through suitable connections moves the valve longitudinally in a manner to cut
off the further entrance of steam, and the result of the arrangement is that the
piston moves to a greater or less extent in proportion to the greater or less action
of the governor.
..7.
T
In another modification of my improved governing' apparatus the valve of the
relay apparatus is turned by means of a lever moved by differential gearing driven
by two miniature engines. One engine is driven at a rate which is as 'nearly
uniform as possible by steam supplied through a suitable reducing valve or other
adjustable valve; and the other engine has its cylinder passages connected to those
of the main engines, or has its distribution valve or valves, worked from the main
engines so as to go at the same speed or at a proportional speed... With this
arrangement a variation in the speed of the main engines will be imitated by a
variation in that of the miniature engines, and this will 'act through the differential
gearing on the relay valve and cylinder.
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And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing examples of my improved
apparatus.
Figure, 1,.on sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical' section of my.
improved governor as arranged for screw-propeller engines. Figures, 2, and 3, are
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page_text: separate views of the governor balls and parts attached to them, and figure, 4, is a
transverse section of the relay cylinder and valve box. Figure, 5, is an end
elevation corresponding to figure, 1. Figure, 6, is a vertical section of the relay
cylinder and valve details as adapted for a starting engine, and figures, 7 and 8, are
horizontal sections. Figure, 9, on sheet, 2, is a plan of the modification of my
improved governor comprising differential gearing, and figure, 10, is a side
elevation with one of the small cylinders shown in section, the other small cylinder
being shown in section in figure, 11, Figures, 121, and 131, represent a modification
of the differential gearing. In these drawings the same reference numerals are
used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated...
In the governor shown in figures, 1, to 5, the relay cylinder, 12, is horizontal and
is 'formed in a casting which is also made with bracket pieces, 13, 14, having
bearings for a horizontal shaft, 15. The shaft, 15, has loose on a pulley, 16, for
a driving cord, this pulley having on the inner side of it a bevil pinion, 17; and
fixed on the shaft there is a flywheel, 18, combined with which there are four
balls, 19, at the ends of two levers, 20, 21, centered at their middles at diametrically
opposite sides of the flywheel boss, on pins entered through the rim of the flywheel
to the boss. The two balls, 19, on one side of the flywheel, 18, and nearest the
pulley, 16, are formed with bevil-toothed segments, 22, gearing with the bevil
pinion, 17, fast to the pulley, and the other two balls, on the other side of the
flywheel, 18, have pins, 23, projecting into inclined slots in lugs, 24, formed on a
sleeve, 25, which can move along the shaft, 15, and which is formed with a groove
between two collars to act on a bellcrank lever, 26, having a pin projecting into
the groove of the sleeve, 25: Figure, 2, is a plan view of the four balls when the
governor is in the position in which it is shown in figure, 1; and figure, 3, is an
end view showing the connection of two of the balls with the sleeve, 25, which last
is shown in section. When the governor is driven the flywheel, 18, receives motion
from the pulley, 16, through the bevil pinion, 17, and toothed segments, 22, of the
balls, the parts however all moving as one piece as long as the proper, speed, is
uniformly maintained, but, when a change of speed takes place the action due to
the inertia of the flywheel, 18, and to the centrifugal force of the balls, 19, causes
a change in the angular position of the ball levers, 20, 21, and in the position of
the longitudinally moving sleeve, 25. The centrifugal action of the balls, 19, is
opposed by a spring, 27, applied to the bellcrank lever, 26, acted on by the longi,
tudinally moving sleeve, 25, and this spring which is very conveniently adjustable
even whilst the governor is in action, serves for determining the speed at which the
governor will tend to keep the engines.. The spring 27, is connected by a screwed
rod and couple of nuts, 28, to a bracket, 29, which is bolted to the main casting.
I
The valve, 30, of the relay cylinder, 12, is shown in side view in its place in
figure, 1, and in longitudinal section below that figure, and it is of a hollow
cylindrical form, its interior being divided by a longitudinal diametrical partition
with the two compartments open at opposite ends only. The valve, 30, has both a
turning and a longitudinal motion in a cylindrical chamber, 31, the opposite ends
of which communicate with the opposite ends, of the cylinder, 12. The steam or
other motive fluid has access into the valve chamber, 31, by two ports, 32, nearly
opposite to each other, the exhaust port, 33, being between the inlet ports. Each
compartment of the valve, 30, has a helical slot or port in its side, and, when the
governor acts upon the valve it turns it so as to put one of its ports in
communication with, one of the inlet ports, 32, and the other with the exhaust
port, 33, and the piston in the cylinder, 12, is immediately acted on accordingly,.
and shifts the main throttle valve or regulating valve to which its piston rod, 34, is
connected. The rod of the relay valve, 30, is adjustably connected to a rod or
tube, 35, which passes through a bush or ring, 36, held in a bearing in the
bracket, 29, and is connected to the ring by a groove and feather which makes it
turn with the ring whilst it can move endways through it. The ring, 36, is
formed with an arm which is, connected by a link, 37, to the bellcrank lever, 26,
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page_text: acted on by the sleeve, 25, of the governor shaft so that the action of the governor
causes the relay valve, 30, to turn. The rod, 35, which is turned by the ring, 36,
is near its outer end made with a groove or pair of collars to be acted ou by one or
more pins on a lever, 38, which is centered on the bracket, .29, and is connected to
the piston rod, 34, of the relay cylinder, 12, by a pin and slots; and in consequence
of this arrangement the piston will move only to an extent corresponding to the
turning motion given to the valve, 30, as the longitudinal motion which the piston
transmits through the lever, 38, to the valve will cause the ports in the valve, to
pass, in consequence of their helical form, away from the inlet and outlet
ports, 32, 33, of the valve chamber, 31.
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In the starting-engine arrangement shown in figures, 6, to 8, the piston rod 34,
of the relay cylinder, 12, is represented as connected by links, 39, 41, and a
bellcrank lever, 40, to the valve-motion reversing link, 42, of large engines; it may
however be connected in any suitable manner to the valve gear of the large
engines. The relay valve, 30, is turned by means of a hand lever, 43, which is
fixed to the ring, 36, arranged for turning the valve. The lever, 38, by which the
piston rod, 34, transmits a longitudinal movement to the valve, is connected by a
link, 44, and swivel joint to the valve rod.
In the governor arrangement shown in figures 9, 10, and 11, the relay
cylinder, 12, is combined with two miniature engines each having a single
cylinder, 45, 46, driving each a crank shaft, 47, 48, and flywheel, 49, 50. Each
shaft has on it a bevil wheel, 51, 52, and the two bevil wheels have in gear with
them a third bevil wheel, 53, turning on a stud on a lever frame, 54. One
engine, 45, is driven at a rate which is as nearly uniform as possible by steam or
other motive fluid supplied through a suitable reducing valve, the distribution
valve, 55, being worked in the ordinary way by an eccentric 56, on the crank
shaft, 47. The other engine, 46, has its cylinder passages connected by pipes (to be
attached at the parts, 57) to those of the main engines; a valve, 58, worked by an
eccentric, 59, on the shaft, 48, is however interposed to prevent irregular action, by
closing the passages to the ends of the cylinder when the crank, 48, is not in a
suitable position for the proper action of the steam in the cylinder. Or the
cylinder, 46, may be worked with an ordinary distributing valve worked from the
main engines so as to go at the same speed or at a proportional speed. With this
arrangement a variation of the speed of the shaft, 48, caused by a variation in the
speed of the main engines will act through the differential gearing 51, 52, 53, so as
to move the lever frame, 54, and this movement will through the connecting
link, 37, ring, 36, and rod, 35, cause the relay valve (30) to be turned as in the
first modification. In figures, 12', and 13', a combination of spurwheels is shown
which may be used for the differential gearing instead of the bevil wheels 51, 52, 53,
when the proper relative speeds of the shafts, 47, 48, are unequal. There are also
other ways in which the differential gearing may be arranged.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The improved arrangement of the flywheel, four-ball levers, sleeve on the
shaft, and stationary spring forming the governor mechanism acting by the speed,
substantially as herein before described with reference to figures, 1, 2, 3, 5, of the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of the relay cylinder. with the combined momentum and
centrifugal action governor mechanism substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described.
3. The improved relay valve combined with the parts for moving it, the whole
being arranged and operating substantially as described and in connection with
governing apparatus, or starting engines, or steering engines, or other analogous
apparatus.

page_text: 4. The combination of governing apparatus substantially as herein before
described with reference to figures 9, 10, and 11, of the accompanying drawings.
In Witness, whereof I, the said William Murdoch, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this third day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.