IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE SPEED OF ROTATING SHAFTS
Year: 1881

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to David Young, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR INDICATING THE SPEED OF ROTATING SHAFTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Young at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1881.
DAVID YOUNG, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE SPEED OF ROTATING
SHAFTS."
The object of my Invention is to produce an improved speed gauge or indicator
capable of being applied to any rotating shaft to show at a glance the speed at
which such shaft is running.
The first part of any Invention consists in constructing apparatus which is fitted
in a suitable casing so as to form a portable speed gauge. For this purpose,
according to one method, an ordinary centrifugal ball governor, in which the
centripetal force is obtained by means of a spiral or other spring, is fixed upon a
spindle carried in suitable bearings, and driven by being thrust against the end of
the shaft, the speed of which is to be ascertained, or it may be driven by frictional
or other suitable gearing. The sleeve or sliding bush of the governor acts upon
another bush fitting into a suitable bearing, and prevented from rotating, but free
to slide to and fro in the bearing. A spindle provided with a screw of, say,
4 threads or less to the inch, screws into this bush, and is free to turn round, but
is prevented from moving in a line with its axis. This spindle, which carries an
index or pointer, turns round in one direction or the other as the bush is moved
to and fro in its bearing by the centrifugal and centripetal actions of the governor,
and the index or pointer indicates the speed upon a suitable dial.
The second part of my Invention consists in constructing apparatus somewhat
similar to that already described to form a stationary speed gauge, which is either
placed permanently in gear with the shaft, the speed of which is to be indicated,
Price B1

page_text: or is so arranged that it can be put in or out of gear with the said shaft as desired.
For this purpose the casing or frame of the speed gauge is either fixed in a suitable
position relative to the shaft, or it is carried in a suitable guide, in which it is
free to slide, and can be moved to or from the shaft by means of a screw or by
other well known and suitable means.
If necessary in order to prevent any shock to the apparatus by its being suddenly
brought into contact with a shaft, or with gearing upon a shaft rotating at a high
speed, a volute spring is introduced between the spindle carrying the governor and
another spindle driven by contact with the shaft, or by gearing upon the shaft.
Or in place of this the governor spindle is provided with a flange, inside of which
fits another flange fixed to the driven spindle; the latter is provided with recesses,
in which are placed suitable rollers, so that the rotation of the driven spindle
generates centrifugal force in the said rollers, and when a certain speed is attained
Bufficient friction will be produced between the rollers and the inside of the flange
upon the governor spindle to carry the said spindle round at the same speed as the
driven spindle. Or other means may be employed to counteract any shock to the
apparatus in the manner described.
I do not limit myself to the use of the ordinary centrifugal ball governor in
carrying out my said Invention, as it is obvious that many of the known forms of
governors may be used to attain the same end.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Young in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th April
1882.
DAVID YOUNG, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE SPEED OF ROTATING
SHAFTS."
The object of my Invention is to construct an improved speed gauge or indicator
capable of being applied to a rotating shaft to show at a glance the speed at which
such shaft is running.
The first part of my said Invention consists essentially in constructing apparatus
which is fitted in a suitable casing so as to form a portable speed gauge or
indicator. For this purpose, according to one method, an ordinary centrifugal ball
governor, in which the centripetal force is obtained by means of a spiral or other
spring, is fixed upon a spindle carried in suitable bearings, the said governor being
rotated by means of a spindle, or a carrier thereon being thrust against the end of
the shaft, the speed of which is to be indicated, or it may be driven by other
suitable means. The sleeve or sliding bush of the governor acts upon another
bush fitting into a suitable bearing, and prevented from rotating, but free to slide
to and fro in the said bearing. A spindle provided with a screw of, say, four
threads to the inch, or thereabouts, screws into this bush, and is free to rotate, but
is prevented from moving in a line with its axis. This spindle, which carries an
index or pointer, turns round in one direction or the other as the said bush is
moved to and fro in its bearing by the centrifugal and centripetal actions of the
governor, and the index or pointer indicates the speed upon a suitable dial.
According to another method the sleeve or sliding bush of the governor is arranged
to act upon the index or pointer by means of suitable levers and gearing.
The second part of my said Invention consists essentially in constructing
apparatus somewhat similar to that above described to form a stationary speed
gauge or indicator, which is either placed permanently in gear with the shaft, the
speed of which is to be indicated, or is so arranged that it can be put in or out of
gear with the said shaft as desired. For this purpose the casing or frame of the
speed gauge is either fixed in a suitable position relative to the shaft, or it is carried
in a suitable guide, in which it is free to slide, and can be moved to or from the
shaft by means of a screw or other suitable means.
If necessary in order to prevent any shock to the apparatus by its being suddenly
brought into contact with a shaft, or with gearing upon a shaft rotating at a high
speed, the governor spindle is provided with a flange, inside of which fits another
flange fixed to the driven spindle; the latter is provided with recesses, in which
are placed frictional rollers, so that the rotation of the driven spindle generates
centrifugal force in the said rollers, and when a certain speed is attained sufficient
friction will be produced between the said rollers and the inside of the flange, upon
the governor spindle, to carry the said spindle round at the same speed as the
driven spindle. Other means may be employed to counteract or prevent any shock
to the apparatus in the manner above described; for instance, the governor may be
fitted upon its spindle so as to be rotated by friction in the manner hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Fiore shows a front view of a nortable anood cence or indinetan made amording

page_text: Figure 3 shews a front view of a portable speed guage or indicator made
according to another method, having the screw-cap and dial removed to shew the
mechanism.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 5 is a detail view shewing the method of attaching two of the governor
arms to the fly-wheel.
Figure 6 is part side elevation and part section of a speed gauge or indicator
constructed in accordance with my said Invention, and designed to be permanently
attached to a machine, the speed of whose shaft is to be indicated.
Figures 7 and 8 represent in plan and sectional elevation drawn to an enlarged
scale a device for preventing any shock to the apparatus.
Figure 9 shews a device whereby a speed guage or indicator may be put in or
out of gear with a shaft as desired.
Figures 10, 11, and 12 represent the carrier for placing upon the end of the
spindle, and thrusting against the end of the shaft.
Similar reference letters indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A, A', are the governor balls or weights which are
provided with arms a, a', and are connected by means of screws to the arms b, b¹,
which are also connected in a similar manner to the sleeve or sliding bush B, the
arms a, a, being connected to the flange C, which is provided with a bush or
boss c, whereby it is fixed to the spindle D by a pin c passing through the said
boss and spindle. The sleeve or sliding bush B fits freely upon the bearing E, and
is provided with the internal flange d which surrounds the bush F, and bears
against a flange e thereon. The bush F fits into the bearing E, being made square
at that part, so that it is prevented from rotating, but is free to slide to and fro in
the said bearing. The spindle G is formed with an external screw-thread, of, say,
four threads to the inch, or thereabouts, which fits into a corresponding internal
screw-thread in the bush F, and the said spindle carries the index or pointer f, and
is also provided with a collar g held as shewn, or it may be held in any well-known
and suitable manner, to allow the said spindle to rotate freely, but at the same
time prevent it from moving in a line with its axis. The end of the spindle G also
bears against the end of the spindle D for the same purpose. H is a bevel wheel
turning freely on the spindle D, and secured in any suitable manner to the flange h.
The said bevel wheel gears with another bevel wheel K fixed on the spindle L,
which is carried in the bearings 1, 1, and passes out through the casing of the
instrument to receive the carrier L', shewn in Figures 10, 11, and 12; the spindle L
is also provided with the pinion 12 which gears with the spur-wheel m fixed on the
spindle M, the said spindle being carried in bearings m³, m³, and passing out
through the casing like the spindle L, to receive the said carrier when it is desired
to indicate a lower rate of speed. The spindles L, M, have pins l³, m³, passing
through them, which pins take into slots in the said carrier, as hereinafter described.
The flange h is provided with the device (shewn to an enlarged scale in Figures 7
and 8) for preventing any shock to the apparatus. N is the dial, which is marked
with figures according to the two rates of speed respectively indicated by applying
the spindles L and M to a shaft whose speed is to be ascertained.
This instrument operates as follows:-The said carrier being placed upon either
of the spindles L or M is thrust against the centre of one end of a shaft, and the
governor is thereby rotated; the balls A, A¹, flying outwards by reason of the
centrifugal force generated, draw the sleeve or sliding bush B and the bush F
towards the boss c, thereby compressing the spiral spring O and causing the
spindle G to turn round and indicate the speed of the shaft upon the dial N by
means of the index or pointer f. When the said carrier is withdrawn from the
shaft, the elasticity of the spiral spring O forces the bush F back to its original-
position, and the index points to zero on the dial.
In Figures 3, 4, and 5, A, A¹, are the governor balls which are provided with
arms a, a¹, and are connected by means of screws to the arms b, b¹, b, b³, which are
also connected in a similar manner to the sleeve or sliding bush B, the arms a, a²,

page_text: being connected to the fly-wheel P in the manner shewn, that is to say, a plate n
is passed over a screwed tube formed on the fly-wheel P until it rests against the
said fly-wheel, and a nut n* is then screwed down over it. Or in place of this
arrangement the plate n may be passed over the spindle and secured to the fly-
wheel by means of screws. The said plate n is formed with lugs n¹, n³, through
which pass screws n³, n, having conical ends which fit into corresponding recesseя
in the parts at of the arms a, a'; the said screws can therefore be adjusted
accurately to hold the said arms, and at the same time allow of their necessary
movement. The fly-wheel P is fitted upon the spindle D in such a manner that
when the said spindle is rotated, the fly-wheel will be carried round with it by
friction as soon as the inertia of the fly-wheel is overcome. The spindle D passes
through the casing to receive the carrier L', which is here shewn as placed upon.
the said spindle. The pinion is fixed upon the spindle D, and gears with the
spur-wheel m fixed on the spindle M, which is carried in bearings m¹, m³, and
passes through the casing to receive the said carrier. The pieces o, o¹, are fixed to
the casing to give larger bearing surfaces to the spindles.
The sleeve or sliding bush B is constructed with a circular groove, into which
fit two arms p, p', of the rod Q, the said rod being carried in the lugs q, q', on the
frame Q¹, and being free to slide therein. R is a toothed segment pivoted upon
the pin fixed in the frame Q¹, the said segment being provided with a slot r
through which passes the pin ³, the said pin being capable of adjustment in the
said slot, and being secured by means of a nut upon one end of it. The pin r
at its other end fits into a slotted arm q' fixed on the rod Q. By means of this
arrangement motion is imparted by the sleeve or sliding bush B to the segment R
which actuates the index or pointer f by means of the pinion f¹ which gears with
the toothed segment R, and is fixed on the spindle f' carrying the said index or
pointer, the said spindle turning in bearings in the frame Q and bracket Q².
This instrument operates as follows:-The said carrier being placed upon either
of the spindles D or M is thrust against the centre of one end of the shaft whose
speed is to be indicated, and the governor is thereby caused to rotate owing to the
friction between the spindle D and fly-wheel P; the balls A, A', flying outwards
by reason of the centrifugal force generated draw the sleeve or sliding bush B
towards the fly wheel P, thereby compressing the spiral spring O which is retained
by a collar o² and pin o³, and at the same time acting upon the arms p, p¹, of the
rod Qto cause the said rod to move in the lugs or bearings q, q¹; by this move-
ment the slotted arm q³ is caused to act upon the pin r², and thus turn the toothed
segment R upon its pivot or pin r; the toothed segment acts upon the pinion f¹,
and thereby moves the index or pointer f, so that it indicates upon the outer
figures of the dial the number of revolutions per minute of the governor, and (if
the carrier is upon the spindle D, as shewn) of the shaft against which such carrier
is thrust. If the carrier is placed upon the spindle M, the speed of the shaft
against which it is thrust will be indicated upon the inner figures of the dial.
In the instruments herein before described two different rates of speed are
indicated upon the dial, the spindle for the lower rate of speed being provided with
multiplying gear, that is to say, with a spur-wheel which gears with a pinion upon
the other spindle. When it is desired to indicate very high speeds, say, six
thousand or seven thousand revolutions per minute, the reverse of this arrangement
is adopted, and if a long range of speed is to be indicated, say, from one hundred
up to six thousand, both these arrangements are combined, that is to say, three
spindles are employed, one of which transmits the motion of the shaft to which it
is applied directly to the governor, and is provided with a spur-wheel gearing with
a pinion on one of the other spindles, and with a larger spur-wheel on the remaining
spindle; thus one of the latter spindles is provided with multiplying gear, and the
other with reducing gear. It is obvious that if only a small range of speed is to
be indicated one spindle will be sufficient, and it may transmit motion to the
governor either directly or by means of multiplying or reducing gear.
In place of the spiral springs shewn I may employ circular springs of flat steel,

page_text: which will also serve to carry the governor balls or weights, the arms being then
dispensed with. The spindles may be applied to a shaft without the intervention
of a carrier if desired, their construction being modified accordingly.
In Figure 6 is shown a speed guage or indicator designed to be permanently
attached to a machine. The internal mechanism may be constructed in a similar
manner to that of either of the indicators already described. The casing S of the
instrument is provided with a base plate 8. for securing it to the frame of a
machine, or to any suitable part in proximity to the shaft. The said base plate is
extended at one side, and has two standards 81, 82, (shewn by dotted lines in
Figure 9) fixed to it by means of screws; the upper ends of these standards are
adapted to form bearings for the shaft S' of the pulley S, which is grooved round
its periphery so that it may be driven by a belt or cord passing over it and over a
pulley fixed on the shaft of the machine. One end of the shaft S¹ is bored out to
fit onto the spindle D, and a pin 83 is passed through the shaft S¹ and takes
into a slot in the end of the spindle D in order to transmit motion to the same.
Figures 7 and 8 shew to an enlarged scale the device represented in Figure 2,
for preventing any shock to the apparatus. The flange h is fitted on to the spindle D
and is formed with recesses in which are placed the rollers t; over the said flange
and rollers is fitted the outer flange C, which is fixed to the spindle D in any
suitable manner. The flange being caused to rotate upon the spindle D, the
rollers fly outwards by reason of the centrifugal force generated, and as the speed
increases, press against the inside of the flange C, so that the said flange and the
spindle D are rotated at the same speed as the flange h, but if the apparatus is
applied suddenly to a shaft rotating at high speed, the said rollers will slip upon
the interior surface of the flange C, and the speed of the latter will be gradually
increased until it rotates at the same speed as the shaft.
In Figure 9 is shewn a device whereby a speed gauge or indicator permanently
attached to a machine may be put in or out of gear with the shaft. The base
plate 8 of the instrument is fitted to slide in grooves u formed in the piece T, and
is provided with a lug u¹. A screwed spindle is screwed into one end of the
piece T and passes through the lug u¹, a collar v¹ being secured upon its end.
Between the said lug and the end of the piece T is a spiral spring w which tends
to keep the frictional pulley U in gear with a corresponding frictional pulley upon
the shaft whose speed is to be indicated. The frictional pulley U is put out of
gear with the pulley upon the shaft by turning the screwed spindle v by means of
the milled wheel so as to compress the spiral spring and draw the base plate 8
back in the grooves u, and is again put into gear by turning the screwed spindle in
the opposite direction.
The carrier L', already referred to for placing upon either of the spindles, is
shewn in Figures 10, 11, and 12. It consists in a metal rod formed with a conical
triangular head x, and bored to fit the said spindles, and it has a slot y at each
side, which slots fit over the pins or m³ when the carrier is placed upon one or
other of the spindles.
In carrying the first part of my said Invention into practice I do not limit
myself to the use of a centrifugal ball governor, as it is obvious that many of the
known forms of governors may be used to attain the same end.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention and the
manner of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details hereinbefore set forth, which may be varied without
departing from the principles of my Invention, but what I claim is,-
First. A portable speed gauge or indicator consisting in a governor fitted in a
suitable casing, acting upon an index or pointer to indicate the speed of a rotating
shaft, and provided with means for applying it to such shaft, substantially as set
forth.
Second. A speed gauge or indicator, designed to be permanently attached to a
machine to indicate the speed at which the shaft of such machine is rotating,
constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as set forth,

page_text: Third. In a speed gauge or indicator the combination with a governor of a sleeve
or sliding bush, a rod carried in suitable bearings and actuated by the movements
of the said bush, and a toothed segment gearing with a pinion upon a spindle
carrying an index or pointer, the said toothed segment being moved by an arm
fixed upon the said rod, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In a speed gauge or indicator the combination with a governor of a
fly-wheel rotated by means of frictional contact with the shaft or spindle of the
said governor, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a speed gauge or indicator the combination with a governor of an
internal flange turning freely upon the spindle and provided with rollers, and an
external flange fixed to the said spindle and arranged to be rotated by means of
the frictional contact of the said rollers, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with a speed gauge or indicator, designed to be
permanently attached to a machine, of a pulley fixed upon a shaft carried in
suitable bearings, one end of the said shaft being bored to receive the spindle of
the said indicator, and a pin fixed in the said shaft and fitting into a slot in the
said spindle, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. A device, constructed and arranged substantially as set forth, for
putting a speed gauge or indicator in or out of gear with a shaft whose speed is
to be indicated.
Eighth. In a speed gauge or indicator the combination with a governor of the
sleeve or sliding bush B, bush F, bearing E, and screwed spindle G, substantially as
set forth.
Ninth. In a speed gauge or indicator two or more spindles carried in suitable
bearings and provided with multiplying gear or reducing gear, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Young, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
DAVID YOUNG. (L.S.)