IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNORS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNORS."-A communication from abroad by David
Shive, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Sealed the 6th October 1866, and dated the 15th May 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
May 1866.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNORS," a communication, to be as follows:-
The nature of the said improvements consists in swinging the balls of
a centrifugal governor at an angle to a radial line harmonizing with and
corresponding to the motion of the said balls in such a manner that the
inertia, the momentum, and the centrifugal force all act in favour of the
governor instead of against it, as in ordinary centrifugal governors.

page_text: The manner of constructing my improved governor is illustrated in the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a Diagram showing
the mode of "setting out" a governor for stationary engines, and Figure 2 a
plan shewing the arrangement of balls for a marine governor. Like letters
refer to corresponding parts in each of the Figures.
The size of the balls A is first determined; a circle a is then struck from a
point b representing the centre of the shaft or spindle; the diameter of this
circle is equal to the diameter of the said balls; the lines c and d are next
drawn, forming a square, see Figure 1; the lines d constitute the centres
of the pins, upon which the pendulum arms e and links fare firmly fixed, and
which form the points of suspension. The length from the lines c to the
centre of the arms e equals one-tenth part of the diameter of the circle a.
The connecting pins d are supported so as to turn freely in the sockets g.
The links f, which form the connection with a sliding sleeve or equivalent
device, play in planes radial to the centre of the spindle b, and the pendulum
arms e swing in parallel planes. The length of the pendulum arms e from
the centres of suspension d to the centres of the balls A equals twice the
diameter of the circle a. The angle of the plane in which the balls swing is
indicated by radial line h. Balls vibrating at this angle will swing freely whether
moving quickly or slowly. If moved slowly they will be acted upon by but
little centrifugal force, and will swing low and perfectly free from their points
of suspension. If the balls are moved quickly they will be acted upon by
greater centrifugal force, and will swing higher and farther out, though quite
freely, without causing binding or friction at the joints by which the arms are
suspended. The balls are at liberty either to fall to the rear of the points of
suspension or to swing in advance of the said points, according as the force
of their inertia or their momentum predominates. By this arrangement the
sensitiveness and power of the governor is increased tenfold, and its effective-
ness is obtained at a much slower rate of speed than that of ordinary
governors,
My improvements may be adapted to marine governors by the arrangement
of balls represented in Figure 2. The said balls are suspended round the
spindle b at such points in a circle as will prevent the governor being rendered
temporarily ineffective by being thrown into an unfavourable position by the
motion of the vessel. In the construction of this governor the size of the balls A
is determined as though only two balls were to be employed, and the dimensions
of the pendulum arms e and other parts are proportioned therefrom as already
described. The balls actually employed are made only half the weight of those
used for the stationary governor. The governor may be allowed to run at a

page_text: greater speed, and thus rendered more positive and less likely to be affected
by the motion of the vessel, by a lever and spiral spring applied in such a
manner as to load the balls down,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Haseltine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRËSËNTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Haseltine, Her special licence that I, the said George Haseltine, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Haseltine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNORS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George Haseltine, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming part
of this Specification:-
The nature of the said improvements consists in swinging the balls of a
centrifugal governor at an angle to a radial line harmonizing with and cor*

page_text: the momentum, and the centrifugal force all act in favour of the governor,
instead of against it, as in ordinary centrifugal governors.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
a governor
Figure 1 is a Diagram illustrating the mode of "setting out'
for stationary engines; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the said governor;
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a similar governor of modified construction;
Figure 4 is a plan of the top of a governor adapted for marine engines;
Like letters refer to corresponding
Figure 5 is a vertical section of the same.
parts in each of the Figures.
ars.
The size of the balls A is first determined; a circle a is then struck from
a point b representing the centre of the shaft or spindle B; the diameter of
this circle is equal to the diameter of one of the said balls; the lines c and d
are next drawn, and a square is formed thereby (see Figure 1); the lines d
constitute the centres of the pins C, upon which the pendulum arms D and
links E are firmly fixed, and which form the points of suspension for the said
The length from the lines c to the centre of the arms D equals one-
tenth part of the diameter of the circle a. The connecting pins C are
supported so as to turn freely in the sockets F; these sockets are provided
with a yoke or cross head F¹, and are thereby firmly secured to the spindle B.
The links E which form the connection with a sliding sleeve G or equivalent
device play in planes radial to the centre of the spindle B, and the pendulum
arms D swing in parallel planes. The length of the pendulum armis D from
the centres of suspension d to the centres of the balls A equals twice the
diameter of the circle a. The angle of the plane in which the balls A swing
is indicated by the radial line e. Balls vibrating at this angle will swing
freely whether moving quickly or slowly. If moved slowly they will be acted
upon by but little centrifugal force, and will swing low and perfectly free
from their points of suspension. If the balls are moved quickly they will be
acted upon by a greater centrifugal force, and will swing higher and farther
out, though quite freely, without causing binding or friction at the points by
which the arms are suspended. The balls are at liberty either to fall to the rear
of the points of suspension or to swing in advance of the said points according
as the force of their inertia or their momentum predominates. By this arrange-
ment the sensitiveness and power of the governor is increased tenfold, and its
effectiveness is obtained at a much slower rate of speed than that of ordinary
governors.
My improvements may be advantageously adapted to marine governors by

page_text: the arrangement of balls represented in Figures 4 and 5. The said balls are
suspended round the spindle B at such points in a circle as will prevent the
governor being rendered temporarily ineffective by being thrown into, an
unfavorable position by the motion of the vessel. In the construction of this
governor the size of the balls A is determined as though only two balls were to
be employed, and the dimensions of the pendulum arms D and other parts are
proportioned therefrom, as already described. The balls actually employed in
this governor are made only half the weight of those used for the governor of
a stationary engine, the dimensions of the arms and other parts being the same
in both cases. The total weight is therefore one half more in the marine than
in the stationary governor. The governor may be allowed to run at a greater
speed, and thus rendered more positive and less likely to be affected by the
motion of the vessel by a lever H and spiral spring I applied in such a manner
as to load the balls down (see Figure 5).
The rules herein laid down for determining the angles and proportions of the
various parts of the governor have been found to give most satisfactory results,
but the said angles and proportions may be considerably varied without departing
from the principles of my Invention.
Having thus fully described the said improvements, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,―
First, suspending the balls of a centrifugal governor to vibrate in planes at
an angle to the line e, substantially in the manner set forth.
Second, the arrangement of parts for adapting the said governor to marine
engines, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
HENRY WILLIAM GILBY,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.s.)