An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Regulating or Governing the Speed of Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 5'h Dec., 1891
PRUVIDIONAL CIUIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Regulating or Governing
the Speed of Engines.
I, OWEN JONES, of 58 Great Russell Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for automatically
regulating or governing the speed of engines. .
The chief object of my said invention is to provide, in a more efficient manner
than heretofore, for preventing what is termed the " racing "of marine engines
at sea.
Heretofore it has been usual to accomplish this result by means of a valve fitted
in the steam-pipe of the engine and governed by mechanism which is operated by
the engine itself or by the varying column or head of water in a tube or well com-
municating with the water outside the ship.
In marine engines, this method of governing the speed is inefficient, more especially
in compound and other multiple expansion engines, inasmuch, by reason of the
existence of a vacuum in the condenser and the expansion of the steam contained in
the engine, considerable power is exerted to drive the engine after the governor has
operated the valve to shut off the steam. Attempts have been made, in some
instances, to choke or govern the exhaust as well as the steam supply, but without
satisfactory results.
Now according to my present invention, I govern the speed of the engine by
setting up within the engine itself a resistance to the movement thereof.
For this purpose I cut off the supply of steam to the engine and also the com-
munication between the cylinder and the exhaust-port, and at the same time, I put
the two ends of the cylinder in communication with each other through one or more
apertures, pipes or passages of such area in transverse section that the piston, in
moving from end to end of the cylinder, must force the steam through the said
passage alternately in either direction, and thus resistance will be offered to the
movement of the engine by the engine itself. I connect in this manner the ends of
each of the cylinders of the engine.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I find it advantageous to connect the
steam-ports of the cylinder by means of one or more suitable pipes or passages, and
to arrange in the said ports suitable plugs or valves whereby the said ports may be
closed, when necessary, to prevent the flow of steam through them from the steam-
chest or valve-casing, and also to cut off communication with the exhaust-port, and
whereby, at the same time, cominunication will be opened between the said steam-
ports through the said pipes or passages, so that the steam in the cylinder will be
forced from end to end thereof alternately in either direction as above mentioned.
For controlling the said plugs or valves, I can employ any well-known or other
suitable form of steam-engine governor, whether operated by the increase of speed
of the engine, or by the varying height of a column of water in a well or tube fixed
in any desirable part of the vessel, or otherwise."
I prefer to connect the said plugs or valves with the piston of a steam or
hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, the distribution of the fluid to which is controlled
by the said governor.
I can, however, employ other suitable means for opening and closing the com-
munication between the two ends of the cylinder. For instance, I sometimes provide
one or more apertures or passages through the piston; which are closed by valves so
arranged that they will open only when subjected to pressure higher than the
maximum initial pressure in the said cylinderen

page_text: It may be advantageous to provide suitable means for varying the area of the
apertures, pipes or passages through which the steam is compelled to flow alternately
in either direction for the purpose above specified.
"
When the cylinders are completely shut off or isolated from the steam-supply and
from the exhaust-port, and the two ends of each cylinder are put in communication
through the aforesaid pipes or passages, as above mentioned, it is evident that,
instead of the momentum of the moving parts being greatly increased by the steam
contained in the engine (during such time as diminished resistance is offered to the
movement of the propeller), the motion of the engine will be resisted and "racing
effectually prevented. A further advantage afforded by my said invention is that,
as soon as the plugs or valves in the steam-ports are moved back to their normal
position, the engine will be under practically the same conditions as it was before
the steam-ports were closed to the supply and exhaust and connected with each
other as above mentioned, and steam contained in the engine will at once be available
for driving the same.
It is obvious that my said invention is applicable to various kinds of engines,
whether the distribution of the fluid is effected by means of slide-valves or in any
other convenient manner.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Regulating or Governing
the Speed of Engines.
I OWEN JONES of 58, Great Russell Street in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for regulating or
governing the speed of engines, and the chief object of my said invention is to
provide, in a more efficient manner than heretofore, for preventing or diminishing
what is termed the "racing" of marine engines.
Heretofore it has been usual to accomplish this result by means of a valve fitted
in the supply pipe of the engine and governed by mechanism which is operated by
the engine itself or by the varying column or head of water in a tube or well com-
municating with the water outside the ship. This method of governing the speed
is inefficient, more especially in compound and other multiple expansion engines,
inasmuch as, by reason of the existence of a vacuum in the condenser and the
expansion of the steam contained in the engine, considerable power is exerted to
drive the engine after the governor has operated the valve to shut off the steam.
Attempts have been made, in some instances, to choke or govern the exhaust to the
condenser as well as the steam supply, but without satisfactory results.
It has also been proposed to diminish the "racing" of marine engines by putting
the ends of the cylinder or cylinders in communication with each other and
thus permitting the steam from the steam-side of the piston or pistons to pass to
the exhaust-side thereof. But this proposed method of governing the speed, is
unsatisfactory, by reason of the fact that the steam thus allowed to pass from one
to the other side of the piston, has free access either to the receiver for the next
cylinder, or to the condenser; and, so far as I am aware, no method has heretofore
been devised or suggested whereby the steam can be retained in the cylinder itself
and simply caused to flow from end to end thereof alternately in either direction.
Now according to my present invention, I provide for setting up within the engine
itself a resistance to the movement of the same, by cutting off the communication.
between the cylinder and the supply and exhaust and thus retaining the steam in

page_text: the said cylinder, and, at the same time, putting the two ends of the cylinder in
communication with each other through one or more apertures, pipes or passages of
such area in transverse section that the piston, in moving from end to end of the
cylinder, must force the steam through the said passages alternately in either
direction. I find it advantageous to connect in this manner the two ends of each
of the cylinders of the engine, and also to provide for varying the internal resistance
set up in the engine in accordance with variations in the speed of the engine.
For cutting off communication between the cylinder and the supply and exhaust
and connecting the ends of the cylinder, I find it advantageous to employ plug or
other suitable valves in the admission-ports and to so arrange these valves that they
may be operated, either automatically by a suitable governor or by hand, to simul-
taneously close the said ports to the supply and exhaust, and open them to the pipe
or passage for connecting the ends of the cylinders. And for the purpose of varying
the resistance set up within the engine, I provide in the pipe or passage connecting
the ends of the cylinder, a suitable plug or other valve which is preferably arranged
to be operated by a suitable governor driven by the engine itself, and whereby the
transverse sectional area of the passage for the steam from end to end of the cylinder
will or may be varied according to any variation in the speed of the engine.
In the accompanying drawings I have shewn how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of part of a compound engine
having my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section showing the valves in a different
position.
Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating means for operating the said valves.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of one of the valves for closing the admission-
ports to the supply and exhaust and opening communication between the ends of the
cylinder.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure 5 a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 4, showing how my inven-
tion may be applied to an existing engine.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a, a are the cylinders; b, are the admission-ports; c, c are the slide-valves.
The ports b, b' of each cylinder are connected by a pipe or passage d, and in the
said ports are arranged suitable valves e, e¹ whereby the said ports may be closed,
when necessary, to prevent the flow of steam through the same from the steam-chest
or valve-casing, and also to cut off communication between these ports and the
exhaust. These valves are so constructed and arranged that simultaneously with
the closing of the said ports to the steam supply and exhaust, the said valves will
open communication between the said ports through the said pipe or passage d, as
shown in Figure 14, so that the steam in the cylinder, whilst being retained therein,
will be forced from end to end thereof alternately in either direction, as above
mentioned, through the pipe or passage d.
For controlling the said valves, I can employ any well-known or other suitable
form of governor, whether operated by the increase of speed of the engine, or by
the varying height of a column of water in a well or tube fixed in any desirable
part of the vessel, or otherwise.
"
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 2, the valves e, el are provided with arms or
levers 9, 9' which are connected by rods or links ; one of the said valves e is
provided with another arm or lever ; which may, with advantage, be connected, by
a rod or link k, with a "Dunlop' or other suitable governor, or, by preference,
with one governor driven by the engine itself and with another governor actuated
by the varying column of water in a well or tube communicating with the water
outside the ship. The other valve e is provided with an arm or lever j¹ which is
connected, by a rod or link h', with the said arm or lever j. By these means, each
of the valves e can be turned in one direction and the corresponding valve e¹ simul-
taneously turned in the reverse direction by the said governor or governors.

page_text: I prefer to connect the said valves, through the rod or link k, with the piston of
a steam or hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, the distribution of the fluid to which is
controlled by the said governor or governors.
To provide for varying the area of the pipe or passage d through which the
steam is compelled to flow alternately in either direction for the purpose above
specified, a plug or valve fis arranged in combination with each of the pipes or
passages d. These plugs or valves should be connected with a speed governor
actuated by the engine itself, so that any undue increase in the speed of the engine
will effect the closing of the pipe or passage d to the required extent, as indicated
in Figure 14, and thus increase the resistance to the flow of steam through the
same.
The internal resistance to the movement of the engine will thus be varied in such
a manner as to efficiently regulate the speed of the engine.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, each of the plugs or valves fis provided
with an arm or lever l, and these levers are connected by a rod or link m. One of the
said levers is also connected, by means of a rod or link m', with a bell-crank-lever n
pivoted at n' to a bracket attached to a bulkhead, or to any other convenient
support. The said bell-crank-lever is also connected, by a rod or link p, with the
piston-rod 9 of a steam-cylinder q, the slide-valve of which is controlled by a
governor (for example, what is known as a "Durham Velometer") driven from
the engine-shaft 8.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the pipe or
passage d is formed in a casting secured to the exterior of the cylinder, and
suitable holes are bored in the said casting and in the cylinder to receive the
valves e, e, and a suitable hole is also bored in the said casting to receive the plug
or valve f
The valves e, e' are formed and arranged as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the ends
of each valve working in stuffing-boxes t, t', and the said valves being held in place
by means of nuts u, u¹.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, that is to say :-)
-When
the cylinders are completely shut off or isolated from the steam supply and exhaust,
and the two ends of each cylinder are put in communication through the pipes or
passages d, as above mentioned, it is evident that, instead of the momentum of the
moving parts being greatly increased by the steam contained in the engine (during
such time as diminished resistance is offered to the movement of the propeller), the
motion of the engine will be resisted or retarded.
The apparatus is to be so arranged and adjusted that, when the resistance to the
rotation of the propeller is diminished to such an extent as to cause any undesirable
acceleration of the engine, the valves e, e will be turned so as to close the admission-
ports to the supply and exhaust, and at the same time open the pipe or passage d
for connecting the ends of the cylinder as shown in Figure 1. If, under these
conditions, the speed of the engine should not be sufficiently checked, the governor r
will turn the plugs or valves so as to partially close the pipes or passages das
indicated in Figure 14, thus diminishing the effective area of the same and increasing
the internal resistance to the movement of the engine. It will, therefore, be seen
that, by my invention, undue acceleration or "racing" of an engine will be
effectually prevented or very greatly diminished.
A further advantage afforded by my said invention is that, as soon as the valves
in the admission-ports are moved back to their normal position, the engine will be
under practically the same conditions as it was before the said ports were closed to
the supply and exhaust and connected with each other as above mentioned, and
steam contained in the engine will at once be available for driving the same.
Moreover should the engine-shaft break, great resistance will at once be offered to
movement of the engine.
It is obvious that my said invention is applicable to various kinds of engines,
whether the distribution of the fluid is effected by means of slide-valves, or piston-
valves, or in any other convenient manner.

page_text: I can, if desired, employ other suitable means for permitting the flow of the fluid
from one to the other end of the cylinder when the communication between the
latter and the fluid supply and exhaust is cut off. For instance I sometimes provide
one or more apertures or passages through the piston, which apertures or passages
are closed by valves so arranged that they will open only when subjected to a
pressure higher than the maximum initial pressure in the said cylinder.
It is, moreover, obvious that any other suitable means may be used for operating
the valves above described or other suitable valves for the purposes specified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. An engine provided with suitable means for confining the steam or other
fluid within the cylinder or cylinders whilst permitting the flow of such fluid from
end to end thereof, for the purpose above specified.
Second. An engine provided with suitable means for preventing undue acceleration
or "racing" thereof, by setting up within itself à varying resistance to its move-
ment by confining the steam or other fluid within the cylinder or cylinders whilst
permitting its flow from end to end thereof and regulating such flow as required.
Third. The use of valves in the admission-ports of an engine-cylinder for cutting
off communication between the said cylinder and the fluid supply and exhaust, for
the purpose above specified.
Fourth. The herein described method of preventing undue acceleration or
"racing "of an engine by closing the admission-ports of the cylinder or cylinders
to the fluid-supply and to the exhaust and simultaneously opening communication
between the admission-ports of each cylinder through a suitable aperture or passage,
for the purpose above specified.
Fifth. The herein described method of governing the speed of an engine by
cutting off the communication between the cylinder or cylinders and the fluid supply
and exhaust thereof, and, at the same time, opening communication between the two
ends of each cylinder through a suitable aperture or passage, and varying the flow
of the fluid through such apertures or passages in accordance with variations in the
speed of the engine, for the purposes above specified.
Sixth. The combination, with an engine-cylinder, of one or more pipes or passages
for connecting the admission-ports thereof, and valves in the said admission-ports
adapted to simultaneously cut off the communication between the cylinder and the
fluid supply and exhaust, and open communication with the said pipes or passages,
and suitable means for operating the said valves, substantially as, and for the
purposes, above set forth.
Seventh. The combination, with the cylinder, of the valves in the admission-ports
thereof, the pipe or passage for connecting the said ports, a valve in the said pipe
or passage, and suitable means for controlling the action of the said valves, sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
1001
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.