Improvements in and connected with Shaft Governors.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Shaft Governors.
I, HERBERT LINDLEY, of Sandon Works, Patricroft, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of governors called shaft-governors, which
are fixed on crank-shafts or on shafts driven therefrom, and control the speed of
steam or other motive-power engines by varying the angular lead and throw of
eccentrics or crank-pins that give motion to the steam or other fluid: distributing
gear; the object of the invention is so to construct such governors as to render them
more efficient and simple than they have heretofore been.
A governor according to this invention comprises a plate or wheel (hereinafter
referred to as the fixed wheel) rigidly secured to the crank-shaft of the engine and
having a hole or bearing which is parallel and near to the crank-shaft and in which
is mounted a pin or gudgeon to which is rigidly secured the eccentric or crank-pin
(hereinafter referred to as the eccentric) that operates the valve or other steam or
fluid distributing gear, the arrangement being such that when the centres of the
gudgeon, the eccentric, and the crankshaft are in line, or nearly so, the throw of
the eccentric will be a minimum and consequently that required to actuate the valve
when no load is on the engine, and that on partially rotating the said gudgeon with
its attached eccentric, the centre of the eccentric will be moved outwards and away
from the shaft, giving the extra throw required by the valve for an increase of load
on the engine.
The connection between the gudgeon and the eccentric may be made by means of
a plate or disc or part disc (hereinafter referred to as the disc) weighted at or near
its periphery so as to be balanced about the axis of the gudgeon, so that the
inertia of the said weight and of the peripheral portion of the disc, when the
engine is running, will, if the speed of the engine is checked, tend to move
the eccentric into a position giving more steam to the engine, and if the
speed of the engine is increased, tend to move the eccentric in the reverse
direction.
A centrifugal weight secured on an arm or lever pivoted at one end to the disc
and linked or otherwise connected to the aforesaid wheel at the other end, has its
centrifugal movement restrained by a spring attached at one end to the disc and 'at
the other end to the fixed wheel, the arrangement being such that an increase in
speed in the engine (and therefore in the centrifugal force of the weight) will
partially rotate the disc with its eccentric about the gudgeon and towards the
position of least throw and a decrease in speed in the engine will similarly partially
rotate the eccentric towards the position of greatest throw, thus varying the
amount of steam or other fluid supplied to the engine in a manner now well
understood. The said centrifugal weight can be slidden along, and secured at
various points on the said lever so as to afford an adjustment by which the speed
at which the governor operates can be varied. The inertia of the 'centrifugal
weight will also, like that of the weight herein before mentioned, assist in moving
the eccentric towards the positions of greatest and least throw when the speed of
the engine is correspondingly changed.

page_text: In order to prevent a governor of this kind from operating too suddenly, a
dash-pot may be employed. The casing of the dash-pot may be secured to the
aforesaid fixed wheel and its rod be attached to the disc. The spring herein before
mentioned and the rod of the dash-pot may be connected together by a tie so that
centrifugal force of the one may, neutralize, or partially neutralize, that of the
other.
To enable the speed at which the governor will operate to be varied while
running, advantage is taken of the fact that the free suspension of the eccentric
allows of its being moved from the position that it naturally takes when working
by a force such as the load on the eccentric due to resistance of the valve. By
reducing or increasing the load on the valve and thereby, or in any other manner
reducing or increasing the amount of work to be done by the eccentric, the eccentric
is caused to shift more or less from the position it would take without such reduction
or increase. The effect of this is to add to or take away from the effect of the
spring attached to the disc and thereby give increased or decreased speed. One
way in which this may be done is to provide on or in connection with the valve-
spindle a piston working in a fixed-air-cushion cylinder so proportioned as to absorb
or neutralize the inertia of the valve and the parts connected therewith. When this
cylinder is in operation the load on the eccentric operating the valve is at its
minimum; on putting the two ends of the cylinder into communication by means
of a bye-pass so as to neutralize the effect of the cylinder, the work to be done in
moving the valve and connected parts by the eccentric is at a maximum; and by
throttling more or less the passage connecting the two ends of the cylinder, au effect
interinediate between these extremes can be secured.
Speeding gear of known construction may however be used for tightening
up or slackening the main spring whilst the engine is running and so
enabling the speed at which the governor will operate, to be varied to suit
requirement.
I, HERBERT LINDLEY, of Sandon Works, Patricroft, in the County of
Lancashire, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of governors called shaft-governors, which
are fixed on crank-shafts or on shafts driven therefrom, and control the speed of
steam or other motive-power engines by varying the angular lead and throw of
eccentrics or crank-pins that give motion to the steam or other fluid distributing
gear, and it has for object so to construct such governors as to render the n more
efficient and simple than they have heretofore been.
A governor according to this invention comprises a plate or wheel (hereinafter
referred to as the wheel) rigidly secured to the crank-shaft of the engine and having
a hole or bearing which is parallel and near to the crank-shaft and in which is
mounted a pivot pin or gudgeon to which is rigidly secured the eccentric or
crank-pin (hereinafter referred to as the eccentric) that operates the valve or
other steam or fluid distributing gear, the arrangement being such that when the

page_text: centres of the pivot pin, the eccentric, an the crank-shaft are in line, or nearly so, the
throw of the eccentric will be a minimum and, consequently that, required to actuate
the valve when no load is on the engine, and that on partially rotating the said
gudgeon with its, attached eccentric, the centre of the eccentric will be moved
outwards and away from the shaft, giving the extra throw required by the valve
for an increase of load on the engine.
The connection between the pivot pin and the eccentric may be made by means
of a plate or disc, or part disc (hereinafter referred to as the disc). weighted at or
near its periphery so as to be balanced about the axis of. the pivot, pin in order
that the inertia of the said, weight, and, of the peripheral portion of the disc,
when the engine is running, will, if the speed of the engine is checked, tend to
move the eccentric into a position, giving more steam to the engine, and, if
the speed of the engine is increased, tend to move the eccentric in the reverse
direction.
A centrifugal weight secured on an arm or lever, pivoted at one end to the disc
and linked or otherwise connected to the aforesaid wheel at the other, end, has its
centrifugal movement restrained by a spring attached at one en
end to the disc,and at
the other end, to the wheel, the arrangement being such that an increase in speed
in, the engine (and, therefore in the centrifugal force of the weig
weight).v will partially
rotate the disc with its eccentric, about the pivot pin and, towards the position
of least throw, and a decrease in speed in the engine will similarly partially
rotate the eccentric towards the position of greatest throw, thus, varying the amount
of steam, or other fluid supplied to the engine in a manner now, well understood.
The said centrifugal weight can be, slidden, along, and secured at various points o
the said lever, so as to afford an adjustment; by which the speed,
beed at which the
governor operates.can be varied. The inertia of the, centrifugal weight will also,
like, that of the weight bereinbefore mentioned, assist in moring the eccentric
towards the positions, of, greatest and least throw when the speed of the engine, is
correspondingly changed.
on
Figs. 1, and 2 of the accompanying drawings are elevations at right angles to one
another, and each partly, in section, showing a shaft, governor constructed according
to this invention.
1. is the engine, shaft, on, which is fixed the wheel 2 which is provided with a
bearing.3, for the pivot pin or gudgeon 4 of a part, disc,5, the said pin being shewn
supported at each end by an annular row of steel balls 3; running on a steel.cone 3
so,as to, reduce, friction as much as possible. The part disc,5, (herein-called, the
disc) carries an eccentric 6,and, a balancing weight 7., Og partial rotation of the
disc. 5 with eccentric 6, about the pin 4. as an axis, the centre of the, eccentric will
be moved between its two extreme, positions.6 and 6 of least and greatest throw.
respectively. 9 is an arm or lever pivoted to the disc,5 at 8 and restrained at the
other, end by, resting against a small, friction, roller. 10 pivoted to the wheel.2.,
Centrifugal force keeps the said. armor lever, in, contact wit
with the roller 10 when
the engine is running, and, a peg or stop, 12 serves to prevent it moving out of the
groove in the roller, when the engine is at rest. 8 is a centrifugal weight adjustable
longitudinally on the arm or lever 9, for, the purpose of obtaining slight, variations
in the speed at, which, the governor shall, operate. It must be understood that the
disc 5 with its eccentric. 6, and, balancing weight 7. is balanced about the pivot pin 4.
as an axis and consequently has no tendency to rotate about that axis c
of the engine, shaft. 13 is a pin in the disc 5 to, which is attached one end of the
retaining spring 14. the other end of which is attached to, a pin 15 in the fixed
wheel: 2. Means, may be provided at either end of the spring for increasing.or
decreasing the tension; of same, so, as, to vary, not only the, speed, but also the
amount of divergence, from isochronism that may be,
Aesired:
shifting the
weight 8 towards the roller 10, its effect is decreased, and the engine must go faster.
in order to overcome the resistance of the spring 14, but the spring may be rendered
less resistant, to neutralise this either by slackening out, either end, for example by
moving the pivot 15 nearer to the pivot, 13, or by using more, coils or convolutio
convolutions.
s. on rotation

page_text: of the spring, or by both these means, and thus normal speed in the engine may be,
again secured. On the other hand by shifting the weight 8 towards the pivot 8
and thereby decreasing the speed of the engine due to the increased effect of the
said weight, and then tightening up the spring either by using less convolutions of
the same, or by moving the pivot 15 away from the pivot 13, or by both of, these
means, the normal speed of engine can again be secured, but in this case the drop
or fall in speed from full load to no load in the engine will be less than in the case
where the weight 8 is moved towards roller 10, and by adopting a suitable proportion
between the length and strength of spring and the weight, the governor can be so
adjusted as to operate isochronously, that is to say, so that the engine will run at
the same speed whether loaded or unloaded.
Stops 16 and 17.are provided to limit the travel of the disc and eccentric in
either direction.
In order to prevent a governor of the kind described from operating too suddenly,
an air dash-pot 18 may be employed in a manner now well understood. The casing
of the dash-pot may be secured to the wheel 2 and its piston be connected by a rod
or link to pin 20 on the disc 5 as shown. The spring 14 and the rod or link 19
may be connected together by a tie, such as the link 21, so that the centrifugal
force of the one may neutralise or balance that of the other and thus friction of the
piston in the dashpot and bowing of the spring at high speeds may in great measure
be prevented.
To enable the speed at which the governor will operate to be varied while
running, advantage is taken of the fact that the free suspension of the eccentric
allows of its being moved from the position that it naturally takes when working,
by a force such as the load on the eccentric due to resistance of the valve. By
reducing or increasing the load on the valve and thereby, or in any other manner
reducing or increasing the amount of work to be done by the eccentric, the
eccentric is caused to shift more or less from the position it would take without such
reduction or increase. The effect of this is to add to or take away from the effect
of the spring 14 attached to the disc and thereby give increased or decreased speed.
One way in which this may be done is to provide on or in connection with the valve
spindle, a piston working in a fixed air-cushion cylinder so proportioned as to
absorb or neutralize the inertia of the valve and the parts connected therewith.
When this device is in operation the load on the eccentric operating the valve is at
its minimum; on putting the two ends of the cylinder into communication by
means of a bye-pass so as to neutralize the effect of the cylinder, the work to be
done in moving the valve and connected parts by the eccentric is at a maximum;
and by throttling more or less the passage connecting the two ends of the cylinder,
an effect intermediate between these extremes can be secured.
Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view showing an arrangement whereby the speeding
of the governor can be accomplished as hereinbefore described. A is the valve
spindle and B the valve. C is an air cylinder secured to the top of the valve
casing, and fitted with a piston D that is connected as shewu to a prolongation of
the valve spindle A. Holes E are provided at or about the centre of the cylinder
to allow of the entrance into each end of the cylinder of air to be compressed, such
holes being uncovered by the piston D at each stroke, and covered again on each
return stroke thus trapping a certain portion of air which is compressed in the
cylinder before the completion of the travel of the piston. in either direction i.e. up
or down, in the case of a vertical engine. F is the bye pass controlled by a cock G
by means of which the two ends of the cylinder, C can, when desired, be placed in
communication with each other and the balancing or cushioning effect of the
arrangement neutralised, a position of the cock G intermediate between the closed
and open positions serving to throttle to a greater or less degree the passage for the
air from one end of the cylinder to the other, and thus to give gradations in speed
as previously described.
:
Speeding gear of known construction, such for example as that described
in the Specification of my Patent No. 3262 of. 1895, may however be used for

page_text: tightening up or slackening the main spring whilst the engine is running and so
enabling the speed at which the governor will operate, to be varied to suit
requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a shaft governor, the construction and arrangement substantially as
described and shown of the wheel, balanced inertia plate pivoted thereto and
carrying an eccentric, adjustable inertia weight, and controlling spring operating as
set forth.
2. The combination with a shaft governor of the kind herein referred to and a
valve controlled thereby, of an air cushioning cylinder fitted with a piston
connected to the said valve and provided with an air inlet or inlets to its central
portion and with a bye pass that connects the ends of the cylinder and is fitted
with a regulating valve, the arrangement being such that the speed at which the
governor will operate can be varied during running by suitably adjusting the said
regulating valve, substantially as herein before described with reference to the
drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved shaft-
governor shown in and described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings
annescu.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1897.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.