MENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR MARINE AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"
I, ANDREW AINSLIE COMMON, of 63, Eaton Rise, Ealing, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE
MENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR MARINE AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES" to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to an improved Governor which, while particularly
applicable to Marine Engines to prevent their racing, may also be adapted to
other Engines where the work being done is subject to sudden changes necessitating
a compensating arrangement.
The essential feature of my Invention is the use of a current of water, or other
fluid, produced by the working of the Engine that it is desired to control, sent into
a cylinder, the piston of which is in connection with the throttle valve of the main:
steain pipe, this cylinder being provided with an outlet of such an aperture in rela-
tion to the normal current (which aperture may be varied by a suitable device,)
that any increase in the velocity of the current is utilized to move this piston and
close the throttle valve, or operate relief valves.
I now propose to operate as follows:-I obtain a current of water, or other
fluid, supplied by a pump (preferably a three throw pump) worked by or from
the main shaft of the Engine; this current of water I direct into a cylinder having
a piston in communication with the throttle valve of the steam supply pipe.
In this cylinder I provide an outlet which will allow the current of water when
flowing in at the determined speed to pass out and return to the pumps; on the
increase of this current, through the increased velocity of the main shaft, the
pressure in the cylinder is increased and the piston moves forward closing
the throttle valve in proportion to this movement.
'
For the purpose of accelerating the action, I propose to control the aperture of
the outlet from this cylinder by an arrangement which may consist of a cover,
slide, or rod of varying diameter working in the cylinder outlet and in connection
with the piston in such a way that on a slight acceleration of the current of water
from the pump and a consequent slight movement of the piston, this device will
come into operation and reduce the aperture of the outlet, allowing the diverted
current to act with greater effect on the piston; closing the throttle valve to such
[Price 6d

page_text: an extent that the velocity of the main shaft is brought to nearly its normal
state,
My improved Governor may be used to operate suitable valves in connection
with a steam cylinder for the purpose of working the throttle valve, or for
operating relief valves placed at the ends of the main cylinders of the Steam
Engine to reduce the actual pressure therein.
I ANDREW AINSLIE COMMON, of 63 Eaton Rise, Ealing in the County of
Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR MARINE AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
My Invention relates to an improved governor which, while particularly
applicable to Marine Engines to prevent their racing, may also be adapted to
other Engines when the work being done is subject to sudden changes necessitating
a compensating arrangement.
The essential feature of my Invention is the use of a current of water, or other
fluid, produced by the working of the Engine that it is desired to control, sent into
a cylinder, the piston of which is in connection with the throttle valve of the main
steam pipe, this cylinder being provided with an outlet of such an aperture in rela-
tion to the normal current, (which aperture may be varied by a suitable device,)
that any increase in the velocity of the current is utilized to move this piston and
close the throttle valve, or operate relief valves.
I now propose to operate as follows:-I obtain a current of water or other
fluid, supplied by a pump (preferably a three throw pump) worked by or from
the main shaft of the Engine, this current of water I direct into a cylinder having
a piston in communication with the throttle valve of the steam supply pipe.
In this cylinder I provide an outlet which will allow the current of water when
flowing in at the determined speed to pass out and return to the pumps; on the
increase of this current, through the increased velocity of the main shaft, the
pressure in the cylinder is increased and the piston moves forward closing
the throttle valve in proportion to this movement.
For the purpose of accelerating the action, I propose to control the aperture of
the outlet from this cylinder by an arrangement which may consist of a cover

page_text: slide, or rod of varying diameter working in the cylinder outlet and in connection
with the piston in such a way that on a slight acceleration of the current of water
from the pump and a consequent slight movement of the piston, this device will
come into operation and reduce the aperture of the outlet; allowing the diverted
current to act with greater effect on the piston; closing the throttle valve to such
an extent that the velocity of the main shaft is brought to nearly its normal
state.
My improved Governor may be used to operate suitable valves in connection
with a steam cylinder for the purpose of working the throttle valve, or for
operating relief valves placed at the ends of the main cylinders of the Steam
Engine to reduce the actual pressure therein.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings-Fig 1 is a longitudinal section of a
governor embodying my invention-A indicating a cylinder having a piston and
rod B; C is a spring-D a regulating rod, and Ĕ a valve. In the cylinder A, at F,
is an inlet, and at G an outlet for the current of water, or other fluid, from
say a three throw or other pump worked by the Engine to be governed or
controlled.
Fig 2. is a cross section of the regulating rod D and the valve E when the piston
has moved forward from the position shewn in Fig 1 to that produced by a
normal current.
Fig 3 shews a similiar section when the piston is moved further forward under
an increased velocity of the current caused by an increase in the speed of the
Engine.
The valve E is capable of movement for the purpose of regulation, and a further
means of regulation may be obtained by a bye pass pipe between the outlet and
inlet pipes.
The connection between this Governor and the throttle valve of the Engine is
made from the piston rod by any suitable mechanical means, either directly or
indirectly, by causing the movement of the piston to open and close valves, per-
mitting steam to effect this purpose in a way that does not need description
here.
The action of this governor is as follows-When the current flows under the
action of the pumps, the piston is moved forward slightly from the position shewn
in Fig 1 until the least section of the regulating rod comes over the valve as in
Fig 2 and this position is retained while the current is of a normal speed-On a
slight increase of speed the piston is moved forward, slightly compressing the
spring, and this forward movement has the immediate effect of very much
reducing the aperture through which the current can pass by bringing the larger
section of the rod over the valve as shewn in Fig 3-The fluid not being able to
pass so freely drives forward the piston thereby compressing the spring, and in
thus moving closes the throttle valve, and reduces the speed of the Engine.
The flow of the current under the increase of pressure is going on, but throngh a
reduced aperture, and the proper relation between the pressure produced in the
cylinder by the compression of the spring can be adjusted in proportion to the
increased speed of Engine and the reduced aperture; so that a slight increase over
the normal rate will keep the throttle valve at the proper position for that speed
and duty. Whilst a very small decrease of speed will be insufficient to keep up
the pressure in the cylinder and consequently allow the spring to come to its
normal position and the throttle valve to open.
In cases where the lead of the Engine is taken off very suddenly, and the
pressure of steam or vacuum alone in the cylinders would suffice to cause racing, or
running away, although the throttle valve be at once closed, I use relief valves as
mentioned, fixed at ends of cylinder of Engine connecting these valves either to
the open air or from one end of the cylinder to the other, or from one end of
one cylinder to one end, of another, as may be most convenient to effect the
purpose required, that is the immediate reduction of pressure; and I operate these
relief valves either directly or indirectly as before mentioned, with regard to the

page_text: throttle valve; and either at or near the time when the pressure in the cylinder is
the greatest, by means of the piston shewn, or by a smaller piston working under a
slightly greater pressure than that required to operate the larger one..
In thus stating the means by which I obtain this increased pressure by a reduced
aperture, I would have it understood that there are other ways of effecting this
besides the rod of different sections but that I have not thought it necessary to
give more than one example as that will shew the principle of the device.
I am aware that governors have been made to be operated by a current of water
but, from the fact that it has not been taken into consideration that the flow of a
current of water through an aperture of fixed size is very much increased by an
increase of pressure, none of these governor's have had the requisite sensibility.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The use of a, Governor consisting of a piston or pistons working in a cylinder
or cylinders operated by a current produced by the Engine, in connection with a
device for automatically varying the aperture through which the current passes
substantially as described.
2. The use of such a Governor in connection with relief valves to the cylinders of
the Engine as set forth.