Improved Means of Controlling the Speed of Motive Power Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Controlling the Speed of Motive Power Engines.
We, JOHN BRINDLEY, of 57 Waterloo Road North, Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford, Engineer, and ABRAHAM HOPWOOD, of 3 Culwell Terrace,
Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Heretofore, in devices in which a centrifugal governor has been employed for the
purpose of controlling the speed of a motive power engine, the operation of the
governor in controlling the supply of motive fluid to the engine is consequent on a
variation in the speed of the engine, and it has therefore been impossible for the
governor to prevent more or less irregularity of speed of the engine.
Now, the object of this invention is to make the operation of the governor
consequent, not essentially on a variation in the speed of the engine, but on a
variation of the resistance of the load, whereby the action of the governor may be
made to anticipate (or very nearly so), and therefore prevent, any variation in the
speed of the engine which would otherwise follow from the variation in the load.
According to this invention, an elastic medium is inserted between some portion
of the engine (preferably the fly wheel) and the belt, ropes, gearing or shafting
through which the power is transmitted to the driven machines; consequently the
resistance of the work or load is transmitted to the engine entirely through such
elastic medium which therefore alters in form with any variation in the resistance
of the work or load.
Any variation of such resistance produces, therefore, a movement in the relative
positions of two points which while the resistance remains constant are fixed in
relation to one another. This motion is utilised, by a suitable device, to either
vary the resistance against an ordinary centrifugal governor, or cause such a
governor to be varied in speed while the resistance to it remains constant or
approximately so.
In applying our invention to an ordinary steam engine, when the power is to be
transmitted through the fly-wheel and through ropes or belting to the driven
machines, a grooved or other rim of light construction, which transmits the power
direct to the ropes or belting, is mounted on the shaft to be capable of turning a
short angular distance independently of the fly-wheel and is driven by the fly-wheel
through an elastic medium. This rim may encircle the fly-wheel and be carried
by a casing, disc or spokes, from centre pieces which are capable of running freely
on the fly-wheel shaft or on the turned boss of the fly-wheel, as may be preferred;
or such rim may be at one side of the fly-wheel and be supported by a disc or arms
from a centre piece which is capable of running freely upon the fly-wheel shaft or
on the turned boss of the fly-wheel. The rim aforesaid is linked up to the
fly-wheel by a series of tension bolts with suitable springs interposed, in such a way
that the strain is transmitted from the fly-wheel to the said rim through the springs.
The springs are consequently compressed to a greater or less extent accordingly
as the resistance in the driven machines varies. The relative positions of rotation
of the fly-wheel and rim aforesaid thus vary with any alteration in the resistance
of the work or load. The linking of the rim aforesaid and fly-wheel together
may be conveniently effected by using the tension bolts to connect the arms of the
fly-wheel with the arms, casing or disc, supporting the rim.
In order to utilize the variation above described in the relative position between

page_text: points of the rim aforesaid and fly-wheel, for the purpose of this invention, we
attach to the side of the fly-wheel rim, and on opposite sides of the centre thereof,
short toothed segments. One or any number of such segments may, of course, be
used if desired, but it is preferred to use two only. A loose sleeve is fitted on the
crank shaft and is provided at one end with one or more short toothed racks, and
on the other end with a circumferential groove. If two segments are used at
opposite sides of the centre of the wheel, two racks are used at opposite sides of the
sleeve, the racks in any case corresponding in number and relative position to the
segments. On the side of the casing carrying the independent or driving rim, or
attached to the spokes, casing or disc, supporting such rim, suitable brackets or
pedestals are provided carrying light shafts which extend from the sleeve aforesaid
outwards and have pinion wheels fixed to their inner and outer ends. The pinion
wheels on the outer ends of such shafts gear into the toothed segments carried
by the fly-wheel, and those on the inner ends gear into the racks on the sleeve.
It will thus be apparent that any variation of position circumferentially between
the driving rim and the fly-wheel will cause the sleeve to move endways along the
fly-wheel shaft. Suitable provision is, of course, made for ensuring that the sleeve
will move circumferentially upon the fly-wheel shaft to correspond with the
movement of the inner ends of the light shafts aforesaid in relation to the fly-wheel
shaft. This may be accomplished by making the inner ends of such shafts just an
easy turning fit within longitudinal grooves formed in the sleeve, or between
longitudinal guides thereon.
Equivalent devices to those above described, for transferring to the sleeve
aforesaid the varying movement of the fly-wheel in relation to the driving rim, may
of course be adopted; for instance, a system of articulated levers with motion shafts
and fork pieces, or an arrangement of steel cords or bands passing over guide
pulleys, may be used, if desired. We consider, however, the use of the shafts above
described for the purpose to be more convenient. These shafts, however, may be
carried by the fly-wheel and the segments travel with the driving rim; in which
case the sleeve may travel along. a feather key as it does not require to turn in
relation to the fly-wheel shaft.
In lieu of springs to form the elastic medium between the engine and the load or
work, small hydraulic cylinders may be employed in connection with a vessel
partly charged with compressed air or fitted with a spring-loaded compensation
plunger.
The endway movement of the sleeve on the fly-wheel shaft may be utilized to
vary the resistance against the governor through the medium of a lay shaft carried
in suitable bearings and having on one end a forked lever with trunnions
working in the circumferential groove of the sleeve. On the other end of the lay
shaft is fixed a lever to which the resistance spring of the governor is attached;
and a suitable screw adjustment is provided for the purpose of adjusting the
resistance of the spring in accordance with the speed at which it is desired to run
the engine. Any convenient means, however, may be employed for transmitting
the movement of the sleeve to the resistance spring of the governor.
The governor may be driven by means of a belt, cord, pitch chain, or gearing, in
the ordinary way, and may operate a throttle valve or cut-off gear of any
description.
The movement of the sleeve or the fly-wheel shaft may be utilized to vary the
speed of the governor (the resistance thereagainst remaining constant, or
approximately so) through the medium of a lay shaft and levers in such manner as
to operate a suitable device interposed in the driving arrangement of the
governor, such as a movable friction cone working on the face of a bevelled
disc, and moved to and from the centre of same as required, or a speed-varying
device such as used with the potters wheel, consisting of two barrel-shaped friction
cones capable of being readily varied as to their point of contact.
To compensate for variation in pressure of the motive fluid, we make use of
a small cylinder fitted with a piston and opposing spring. One side of the

page_text: piston is in constant communication with the motive fluid supply, consequently
any variation of pressure causes a corresponding variation of the position of said
piston in its cylinder, in accordance with the greater or less compression of the
opposing spring; and this latter variation is utilized to increase or decrease the
resistance to the governor accordingly as the pressure of the motive fluid is
decreased or increased. This cylinder device may be adapted to adjust the fulcrum
of a lever connecting the governor with its resisting device.
In place of the cylinder and piston arrangement just described, we may employ
a flexible diaphragm, or other equivalent device, for the purpose.
The arrangements above described for the purpose of enabling an elastic medium
to be interposed between the engine and its resistance or load may be modified
considerably as circumstances may make it expedient; thus, for instance, where an
engine is coupled direct to a dynamo, a kind of large coupling-box may be
interposed between the engine and dynamo, having one part capable of turning in.
relation to the other, the power being transmitted from one of such parts to
the other through an elastic medium such as above described; and the movement
of the two parts of the coupling in relation to one another may be transmitted
to a sleeve by racks and motion gear in the manner above described. In the
case of an engine from which the power is given off from a pulley or spur
wheel, and not through the fly-wheel, such pulley or spur wheel is formed of a
fixed portion and of a portion which is capable of independent movement and
is connected by an elastic medium such as above described with the fixed portion.
The fixed portion may be made as a disc, and the portion which is capable of
moving independently thereof consist simply of a driving rim with arms and
centre pieces which turn loosely on the boss of the disc or on the shaft.
In some cases, it may be found more convenient to interpose the clastic medium,
aforesaid, between fixed and loose parts carried by a counter-shaft.
Dated this 16th day of Mar 1905
Improved Means of Controlling the Speed of Motive Power Engines.
We, JOHN BRINDLEY, of 57 Waterloo Road North, Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford, Engineer, and ABRAHAM HOPWOOD, of 3.Culwell Terrace,
Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, aforesaid, 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 :-
Heretofore, in devices in which a centrifugal governor has been employed for the
purpose of controlling the speed of a motive power engine, the operation of the
governor in controlling the supply of motive fluid to the engine is consequent on a
variation in the speed of the engine, and it has therefore been impossible for the
governor to prevent more or less irregularity of speed of the engine.
Now, the object of this invention is to make the operation of the governor
consequent, not essentially on a variation in the speed of the engine, but on a
variation of the resistance of the load, whereby the action of the governor may
be made to anticipate (or very nearly so), and therefore prevent, any variation in
the speed of the engine which would otherwise follow from the variation in the
load.
According to this invention, an elastic medium is inserted between some portion
of the engine (preferably the fly-wheel) and the belt, ropes, gearing or shafting

page_text: through which the power is transmitted to the driven machines; consequently the
resistance of the work or load is transmitted to the engine entirely through such
elastic medium which therefore alters in form with any variation in the resistance
of the work or load.
Any variation of such resistance produces, therefore, a movement in the relative
positions of two points which while the resistance remains constant are fixed in
relation to one another. This movement is utilised, by a suitable device, to either
vary the resistance against an ordinary centrifugal governor, or cause such a
governor to be varied in speed while the resistance to it remains constant or
approximately so.
In applying our invention to an ordinary steam engine, when the power is to be
transmitted through the fly-wheel and through ropes or belting to the driven
machines, a grooved or other rim of light construction, which transmits the power
direct to the ropes or belting, is mounted on the shaft to be capable of turning a
-short angular distance independently of the fly-wheel and is driven by the fly-
wheel through an elastic medium. This rim may encircle the fly-wheel and be
carried by a casing, disc or spokes, from centre pieces, which are capable of
running freely on the fly-wheel shaft or on the turned boss of the fly-wheel, as
may be preferred; or such rim may be at one side of the fly-wheel and be
supported by a disc or arms from a centre piece which is capable of running freely
upon the fly-wheel shaft or on the turned boss of the fly-wheel. The rim aforesaid
is linked up to the fly-wheel by a series of tension bolts with suitable springs
interposed, in such a way that the strain is transmitted from the fly-wheel to the
said rim through the springs. The springs are consequently compressed to a
greater or less extent accordingly as the resistance in the driven machines varies.
The relative positions of rotation of the fly-wheel and rim aforesaid thus vary
with any alteration in the resistance of the work or load. The linking of the rim
aforesaid and fly-wheel together may be conveniently effected by using the tension
bolts to connect the arms of the fly-wheel with the arms, casing or disc, supporting
the rim. A single tension bolt and spring only may be used for linking the rim
and fly-wheel together, but it is obviously better to use two or more.
In order to utilize the variation above described in the relative positions between
points of the rim aforesaid and fly-wheel, for the purpose of this invention, we
attach to the side of the fly-wheel rim, and on opposite sides of the centre thereof,
short toothed-segments. One or any number of such segments may, of course, be
used if desired, but it is preferred to use two only. A loose sleeve is fitted on the
crank shaft and is provided at one end with one or more short toothed racks, and
on the other end with a circumferential groove. If two segments are used at
opposite sides of the centre of the wheel, two racks are used at opposite sides of
the sleeve, the racks in any case corresponding in number and relative position to
the segments. Qn the side of the casing carrying the independent or driving rim,
or attached to the spokes, or disc, supporting such rim, suitable brackets or
pedestals are provided carrying light shafts which extend from the sleeve aforesaid
outwards and have pinion wheels fixed to their inner and outer ends. The pinion
wheels on the outer ends of such shafts gear into the toothed segments carried by
the fly-wheel, and those on the inner ends gear into the racks on the sleeve. It
will thus be apparent that any variation of position circumferentially between the
driving rim and the fly-wheel will cause the sleeve to move endways along the
fly-wheel shaft. Suitable provision is, of course, made for ensuring that the sleeve
will move circumferentially upon the fly-wheel shaft to correspond with the
movement of the inner ends of the light shafts aforesaid in relation to the fly-wheel
shaft. This may be accomplished by making the inner ends of such shafts just an
easy turning fit within longitudinal grooves formed in the sleeve, or between
longitudinal guides thereon.
Equivalent devices to those above described, for transferring to the sleeve
aforesaid the varying movement of the fly-wheel in relation to the driving rim,
may of course be adopted; for instance, a system of articulated levers with

page_text: motion shafts and fork-pieces, or an arrangement of steel cords or bands passing
over guide pulleys, may be used, if desired. We consider, however, the use of
the shafts above described for the purpose to be more convenient. These shafts,
however, may be carried by the fly-wheel and the segments travel with the driving
rim; in which case the sleeve may travel along a feather key as it does not.
require to turn in relation to the fly-wheel shaft.
In lieu of springs to form the elastic medium between the engine and the load
or work, small hydraulic cylinders may be employed in connection with a vessel
partly charged with compressed air or fitted with a spring-loaded compensation
plunger. The arrangement, however, in which the springs are used is preferred.
The end way movement of the sleeve on the fly-wheel shaft may be utilized to
vary the resistance against the governor through the medium of a lay-shaft
carried in suitable bearings and having on one end a forked lever with trunnions.
working in the circumferential groove of the sleeve. On the other end of the
lay-shaft is fixed a lever to which the resistance spring of the governor is
connected; and a suitable screw adjustment is provided for the purpose of
adjusting the resistance of the spring in accordance with the speed at which it
is desired to run the engine. Any convenient means, however, inay be employed
for transmitting the movement of the sleeve to the resistance spring of the
governor.
The governor may be driven by means of a belt, cord, pitch chain, or gearing,.
in the ordinary way, and may operate a throttle valve or cut-off gear of any
description.
The movement of the sleeve along the fly-wheel shaft may be utilized to vary
the speed of the governor (the resistance thereagainst remaining constant, or
approximately so) through the medium of a lay-shaft and levers in such manner
as to operate a suitable device interposed in the driving arrangement of the
governor, such for instance as a movable friction cone working on the face of a
bevelled disc, and moved to and from the centre of same as required, or a device
such as used with the potters' wheel, consisting of two barrel-shaped friction
cones capable of being readily varied as to their point of contact.
To compensate for variation in pressure of the motive fluid, we make use of a.
small cylinder fitted with a piston and opposing spring. One side of the piston is
in constant communication with the motive fluid supply, consequently any variation.
of pressure causes a corresponding variation of the position of said piston in its
cylinder, in accordance with the greater or less compression of the opposing
spring and this latter variation is utilized to vary the resistance to or the speed
of the governor.
This cylinder device may be adapted to adjust the fulcrum of
a lever connecting the governor with its resisting device, or to operate through.
the medium of a speed-varying device, such as for instance as those above referred.
to, in varying the speed of the governor.
In place of the cylinder and piston arrangement just described, we may employ
a flexible diaphragm, or other equivalent device, for the purpose.
The arrangements above described, according to which an elastic medium is
interposed between the engine and its resistance or load, may be modified con-
siderably as circumstances may make it expedient; thus, for instance, where an
engine is coupled direct to a dynamo, a kind of large coupling-box, may be
interposed between the engine and dynamo, having one part capable of turning in
relation to the other, the power being transmitted from one of such parts to the
other through an elastic medium such as above described, and the movement of
the two parts of the coupling in relation to one another may be transmitted to a
sleeve by racks and motion gear in the manner above described. In the case of au
engine from which the power is given off from a pulley or spur wheel, and not
through the fly-wheel, such pulley or spur wheel is formed of a fixed portion and
of a portion which is capable of independent movement and is connected by an.
elastic medium such as above described with the fixed portion. The fixed portion.

page_text: may be made as a disc, and the portion which is capable of moving independently
thereof consist simply of a driving rim with arms and centre pieces which turn
loosely on the boss of the disc or on the shaft.
In some cases, it may be found more convenient to interpose the clastic medium,
aforesaid, between fixed and loose parts carried by a countershaft.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood we have illustrated the
same upon the accompanying sheets of drawings, which we will now proceed to
describe.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an ordinary horizontal steam engine with
the invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same engine.
Figures 3 and 4 shew views, taken at right angles to one another, of an
alternative method of applying the separate outer rim.
Figure 5 shews, on an enlarged scale, the application of the "potters wheel"
friction driving device for altering the speed of the governor.
Figures 6 and 7 shew, in longitudinal section and inner end elevation, respectively,
the method of applying the elastic medium in the case of an engine crank shaft
when coupled direct to a dynamo or similar machine.
Figures 8 and 9 shew, on an enlarged scale, elevations taken at right-angles to
one another of the movable friction cone and bevilled disc arrangement for altering
the speed of the governor.
It will be noticed that in Figure 1 the fly-wheel C is shewn with the sheet iron
casing E removed entirely from the near side and partly cut away on the far side
to shew the gear more clearly. Portions of the arnis and the centre boss of the
By-wheel are also removed, for convenience of illustration. In Figure 2 the
fly-wheel and loose outer driving rim are shewn in section. ff are the tension
bolts and springs connecting the arms of the fly-wheel to the cross-pieces f¹ fixed
to the plates or sides of the wrought iron or other casing E. D is the loose outer
driving rim, which may be arranged for rope, belt or spur gear driving. F F are the
short toothed segments fixed to the side of the fly-wheel rim. ; ; are the pinions
gearing into the segments and keyed to the motion shafts g which are also provided
with pinions k k at their other ends. G is the sleeve on the crank shaft carrying
the racks into which the pinions kk are geared. The lay-shaft H transmits the
end wise movement of the sleeve G to the lever and thence by means of the
rods to the governor resistance spring J. B is a governor of ordinary
description which may be conveniently carried by the main frame A of the engine
or be otherwise carried as may be convenient, and may operate a throttle valve or
a drop cut-off or Corliss valve gear or valve gear of any suitable description. In
addition to the usual bell-crank lever L, the governor is preferably provided with
a separate lever K to which the resistance spring J is connected.
The attachment for counteracting variation of steam pressure is shewn by
Figure 2. M is a small steam cylinder with trunk piston and with resistance
spring N coupled to a lever O keyed on a countershaft, which latter carries an
excentric Pon which the end of the lever K is pivoted. When a flexible
diaphragm regulator is used it is similarly applied in lieu of the steam cylinder M
with its piston.
•
In Figures 3 and 4 the loose outer rim D is shewn turned and fitted to the
fly-wheel rim without side casings and as coupled up to the tension bolts and
springs by means of brackets q.
The
The "potters wheel" friction driving device shewn by Figure 5 is so arranged
that the belt or cord driving device from the main crank shaft of the engine first
actuates the pulley a and thus actuates the pulley & through the cones cc.
pulley drives the governor. The lever e alters the point of contact of the
cones c, and is actuated from the lay-shaft H of the engine through a suitable
lever and rod.
Similarly, the movable cone 6 in the device illustrated by Figures 8 and 9 (when

page_text: such is used in lieu of the "potter's wheel" or other speed-varying device) is.
moved towards and from the centre of the bevilled friction disc a, and accordingly
varies the speed of the governor the base portion B of which only is shewn.
In Figures 6 and 7 the drum or casing D is keyed to the main crank shaft, and
the portion C with its two or more arms m is keyed to the shaft of a dynamo or
centrifugal pump, fan or other machine required to be driven direct. The tension
bolts and resistance springs fare coupled up as shewn. The portion D of the
coupling carries spindles g (of which, however, only one is shewn) and on the outer
end of each spindle is fixed a pinion ; and on the inner end a pinion k. The
pinions gear with corresponding racks F carried by the arms m, and the pinions k
gear with racks carried by the sleeve G which corresponds with the sleeve G
already described. The racks F may be formed as extensions of the inner sides
of the arms m which pass through openings formed therefor in the side of the
portion D of the coupling which is towards the sleeve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The use of an elastic medium between some portion of a motive power engine
or part driven by the engine and the belt, ropes, gearing or shafting through which
the power is transmitted to work driven by the engine, whereby any variation in
the resistance of the load produces a movement in the relative positions of two
points which while the load remains constant are fixed in relation to one another,
the said movement being utilized in governing the speed of the engine, substantially
as described.
2. The use of springs (or a spring) through the medium of which the power is
transmitted from a revolving portion of a motive power engine (such for instance as
the fly-wheel, or an arm or arms carried by the crank shaft) or other revolving part
driven by the engine (such for instance as a portion of a drum or coupling) to a
part which is directly driven thereby (such for instance as a rim grooved for ropes
or formed for a belt or having driving teeth, or the other portion of a drum or
coupling) and which is mounted to be capable of turning somewhat in relation to
the part by which it is driven, in combination with means by which any movement
in the relative position of the said driving and driven portions or parts is utilized
in varying the resistance of the engine governor or in causing the speed of the
governor to be varied, substantially as described.
3. In or in connection with a motive power engine, the use of springs (or a
spring) through the medium of which the power is transmitted from a revolving
portion of the eugine (such for instance as the fly-wheel or an arm or arms carried
by the crank shaft) or other revolving part driven by the engine (such for instance
as a drum or coupling) to a part which is directly driven thereby (such for instance
as a rim grooved for ropes or formed for a belt or having driving teeth, or a portion
of a drum or coupling) and which is mounted to be capable of turning somewhat
in relation to the part by which it is driven, in combination with a toothed segment
or with toothed segments carried by the driving portion (or driven portion) and a
spindle or spindles carried by the driven portion (or driving portion) having pinions
on its or their ends the outer of which gears or gear with the toothed segment or
segments and the inner of which gears or gear with a rack or racks carried by a
sleeve which is capable of endway movement, whereby any movement in the relative
positions of the said driving and driven portions or parts causes the sleeve to move
end ways, substantially as described and shewn, for the purpose set forth.
4. The means, substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith,
whereby variation in the resistance of the load driven by a motive-power engine is
utilized in varying the relative position between two parts in motion, and a sleeve
thereby caused to move endways along a shaft, for the purpose set forth.
5. A device comprising a piston, or flexible diaphragm, and opposing spring, or
equivalent device, to which motive fluid may be admitted and which fluid as it

page_text: varies in pressure moves such piston or diaphragm against the pressure of the
spring or allows it to be moved thereby, or affects an equivalent device and thereby
causes corresponding movements, such movements being utilised to vary the
resistance to or speed of the governor of a motive power engine, substantially as
described.
6. A device comprising a piston, or flexible diaphragm, and opposing spring,
or equivalent device, to which motive fluid may be admitted and which fluid as it
varies in pressure moves such piston or diaphragm against the pressure of the
spring or allows it to be moved thereby, or affects an equivalent device and thereby
causes corresponding movements, such movements being utilized to adjust the
position of the fulcrum of lever connecting the motor governor with a resisting
device, substantially as described and shewn by Figure 2 of the drawings
herewith.
Dated this 13th day of February 1896.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.