AN IMPROVED GOVERNOR FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES; PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR MARINE STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Lewis Parker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
December 1873.
I, LEWIS PARKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Surgeon Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED GOVERNOR FOR REGULATING AND CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF STEAM
AND OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES; PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR MARINE STEAM
ENGINES," to be as follows:-
The general principle of a governor constructed according to this
Invention is that of a cistern ball and cock.
The governor consists of a cranked lever or its mechanical equivalent,
with a float of metal or other suitable material at the end of, say, the
long arm of the said lever. The float and lever or its mechanical
equivalent are fitted at the stern of the vessel whose engines have to be
governed, and so arranged that the float is always at the level of the
water line of the vessel. The short arm of the lever or its mechanical

page_text: equivalent is connected to the throttle valve of the engines to be
governed.
The action of the float and lever or its mechanical equivalent is so
arranged that it can be regulated according to the load draught of the
vessel.
.
A governor constructed on this principle is especially adapted to
regulate and control the engines of screw steamers. The following
will explain the methods of applying the governor :-A self contained
arrangement of the governor consists of a tank conveniently placed as
far aft in the vessel as practicable, the top of the tank being slightly
above the level of the load water line. At the bottom of the tank there
are openings into the sea. At the top of the tank there are suitable air
tubes, thereby allowing an easy flow of water out of and into the tank
as the vessel rises or falls. The governor, lever, and float, are fixed and
work in the tank. The governor is kept in place by a quadrant guide,
which is bracketted to the side of the tank. The small arm of the
governor lever is connected direct to the throttle valve of the engines by
means of a rod which passes out of the tank through a suitable stuffing
box. The float on the long arm of the lever lays on the level of the
water line. It will thus be seen that as the level of the water in the
tank rises and falls, so is the action of the float and lever, and thereby
the rod connected to the throttle valve. In this arrangement steam
would be shut off when the propeller and stern of the vessel were lifted
half out of the water, unless the governor was adjusted with the throttle
valve.
The amount of stroke can be regulated by suitable adjusting gear, so
as to regulate the amount of steam passing to the engines, according to
the degree to which the screw is exposed or lifted out of the water.
A second arrangement of the governor as before described consists in
fitting the governor on the outside of the vessel. The shaft on which
the long arm of the lever of the governor works passes through suitable
stuffing boxes on the vessel's side and in the screw tunnel, the short arm
being connected within the tunnel to the rods working the throttle valve.
With this outside arrangement. the governor may be so arranged as to
admit of the float falling nearly as low as the bottom of the propeller or
heel of the stern post.

page_text: The advantages attendant upon this arrangement of governor for
marine purposes over governors now in use are as follows:-
First. Its action in shutting off the steam is instantaneous, no
increased speed of the engines being required to make it act.
Secondly. The speed of the screw and engines being reduced as soon
as the stern of the vessel commences to rise out of the water all risk is
avoided of damage to the propeller resulting from any sudden jar or
shock occasioned by an increased speed being suddenly checked.
Thirdly. In doing away with all increased speed or racing of the
propeller, when the vessel is pitching, all the discomfort to passengers
occasioned by unusual vibrations and noise is done away with.
Fourthly. The speed of the engines never being allowed an unusual
increase, even to that amount now required in many engines so as to
make their governors act, a saving of steam and therefore fuel will
ensue.