Improvements in the Method of Regulating, Controlling, or Governing the Speed of, or Stopping, Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Regulating, Controlling, or
Governing the Speed of, or Stopping, Engines.
I, JOHN HENRY GREENWOOD, Engineer, of 370 Colne Road, Burnley, in the
County of Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In my improved method for regulating or controlling the speed of, or stopping
engines, I employ a frame or holder which is attached to any suitable reciprocating
part of an engine. In this frame, or holder, place a sliding bar or rod, this
sliding bar or rod I weight either at each end or in the centre by suitable weights,
so that being carried by the frame or holder, which, as stated, is attached to a
suitable reciprocating part of the engine, it is moved, or thrown, to and fro, by the
movement of the frame. The length of the movement of the weighted bar or rod,
I control by means of a spring or springs.
So long as the engine is moving at its normal speed, the sliding bar is moved to and
fro a certain regular distance, but on any increase in the speed of the engine, the sliding
bar is moved to and fro with a greater velocity, and consequently travels a greater
distance, and by so doing is caused to come into contact with and make an electrical
or other connection, made to let go a valve or other appliance for preventing the
admission of steam or other pressure to the cylinder.
Or the bar can be made to come into contact with a catch or trigger, thus
releasing a weight or spring, in connection with a valve, so preventing the
admission of steam or other pressure; or the bar may be used for throwing out a
trip gear for Corliss valves, for regulating the speed of an engine; or for closing
or opening a cut off valve.
It will be seen, that any variation in the speed of the reciprocating part of the
engine to which the frame is attached, will be communicated to the weighted bar,
which will be thrown to and fro a greater or less distance, according to the speed
at which the engine is moving, and that such distance being suitably controlled by
a spring or springs, can be utilised for the purpose of opening or closing any
description of valve, and so regulating the admission of steam or other pressure,
thus controlling the speed of the engine or if necessary stopping it.
Dated this 30th day of October 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Regulating, Controlling, or
Governing the Speed of, or Stopping, Engines.
I, JOHN HENRY GREENWOOD, Engineer, of 370 Colne Road, Burnley, in the
County of Lancashire, 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 :-
In my improved method for regulating or controlling the speed of, or stopping

page_text: engines, I employ a frame or holder which is attached to any suitable reciprocating
part of an engine.
In this frame or holder I place a sliding bar or rod, this sliding bar or rod
I weight either at each end or in the centre by suitable weights, so that being
carried by the frame or holder, which, as stated, is attached to a suitable recipro-
cating part of the engine, it is moved, or thrown, to and fro, by the movement of
the frame. The length of the movement of the weighted bar or rod, I control by
means of a spring or springs.
So long as the engine is moving at its normal speed, the sliding bar is moved
to and fro a certain regular distance, but on any increase in the speed of the
engine, the sliding bar is moved to and fro with a greater velocity, and con-
sequently travels a greater distance, and by so doing is caused to come into contact
with and make an electrical or other connection, made to let go a valve or other
appliance for preventing the admission of steam or other pressure to the cylinder.
Or the bar can be made to come into contact with a catch or trigger, thus
releasing a weight or spring in connection with a valve, so preventing the admission
of steam or other pressure; or the bar may be used for throwing out a trip gear
for Corliss valves, for regulating the speed of an engine; or for closing or opening
a cut off valve.
It will be seen that any variation in the speed of the reciprocating part of the
engine to which the frame is attached will be communicated to the weighted bar
which will be thrown to and fro a greater or less distance, according to the speed
at which the engine is moving, and that such distance being suitably controlled by
a spring or springs can be utilised for the purpose of opening or closing any
description of valve, and so regulating the admission of steam or other pressure,
thus controlling the speed of the engine or if necessary stopping it.
In the drawings annexed hereto Fig. 1 shows a plan, Fig. 2 a side elevation of
my governing arrangement mechanically applied and Fig. 3. an elevation of stop
valve.
Like letters refer to similar parts throughout the figures.
A. and B. represent respectively the main and cut off valve rods in a horizontal
engine, to the main valve rod A. is attached a frame C₁ holding a spiral spring C³
one end of which is fixed to the frame at C. the other end being fastened to the
spindle D carrying the weights D. thus allowing the spindle to move freely in a
borizontal direction through the end bushes of the frame, and upon compression or
extension of the spring by the reciprocating motion of the valve rod A. such an
action is set up-thus, upon an increase of speed of the engine, the increased
momentum gathered by the weights D. D. will put more work upon the spring,
and so allow the spindle D' to travel further through the frame than when the
engine is running at its normal speed, and so, when a decrease of speed takes place,
the travel of the spindle D' will be less. To the end of the spindle is jointed the
swinging lever E the pivot N of which is upon the main valve rod A; the travel
of the spindle D' with the weights D. D. (hereinafter called the governor) varying
with the speed, causes a similar variation in the length of the arc through which
the lever will oscillate, and upon the oscillation of this lever varying beyond a
certain point, the end E¹ of same will come into contact with the screw head F
upon the lever G (the central pivot point of which G' is stationary) causing an
alteration in its position. The end K of this lever G is suitably connected to the
guard carrier O, and upon F' being depressed, the guard under pawl L falls away,
and so allows connection between the pawl and the ratchet wheel P beneath; upon
a decrease in engine speed the end E of lever E comes into contact with F' and
depresses the guard under pawl M allowing it to gear with the ratchet. The
pawls L and M are mounted on opposite arms of a lever to which a recipro-
cating motion is given from the eccentric rod Q as shown; thus, when by reason
of an increase or decrease of speed either pawl is in gear with the ratchet this
ratchet is rotated in either one or the other direction. Upon the other end of
the spindle R. carrying the ratchet, is a worm, gearing with the worm wheel S.

page_text: mounted upon the square on the cut off valve rod B.; thus a circular or twisting
action is given to this rod to which is attached a circular or other suitable
cut off valve inside the steam chest, the twisting action of which regulates the
amount of steam admitted to the cylinder.
Upon the oscillation of the governor becoming excessive by reason of a large
increase of engine speed, contact is made between the screw heads T Fig. 2. thus
pushing over lever and releasing the weighted lever U. from which connection
is made to the catch lever W. Fig. 3. one end of which rests in a notch under
the steam stop valve hand wheel ✗; and upon the weighted lever U falling, after
release, the catch lever W is withdrawn from the notch and by means of the
weight and strap Y. Y. connection with the valve Z. is closed.
Fig. 4. shows an elevation of my governing arrangement, Fig. 5. shows a plan of
same, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of stop valve, showing an electrical method of
closing the stop valve.
In Fig. 4. D is the reciprocating bar, when the engine over-runs its normal
speed, it causes the weight D. on this bar to travel beyond its ordinary distance,
and makes the studs T. T. come into contact with each other, letting go the
paw! H, which falls upon the plate H', containing the terminal T', the pawl being
carried on a pivot attached to the terminal plate T. The electrical connection
being made charges the electro magnet D2, Fig. 6., which draws and holds the
pendulum weight L', thus allowing the coil spring M₁ to lift the catch lever N',
the other end of the lever N₁ being thereby depressed, and letting go the hand
wheel X, thus closing the stop valve by means of the weight and strap Y. Y.
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 :-
1. The use of a reciprocating bar or rod suitably weighted, and controlled by a
spring or springs, and connected to a suitable reciprocating part of an engine, for
the purpose of regulating or controlling the speed of such engine substantially as
described.
2. The use of a reciprocating bar or rod suitably weighted, and controlled by a
spring or springs, and connected to a suitable reciprocating part of an engine for
the purpose of stopping such engine, substantially as described.
3. The improved method of regulating controlling or governing an engine
substantially as described and shown in drawings.
Dated this 29th day of July 1895.