HAVING REFERENCE TO STEAM AND OTHER ENGINERY
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jeremiah Avery Marden, of Boston, Massa-
chusetts, United States of America, for an Invention "HAVING
REFERENCE TO STEAM AND OTHER ENGINERY."
Sealed the 25th June 1869, and dated the 11th May 1869.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Jeremiah Avery Marden
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 11th May 1869, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT KNOWN,
that I, JEREMIAH AVERY MARDEN, of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention "HAVING REFERENCE
TO STEAM AND OTHER ENGINERY," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant
unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the
first and true Inventor thereof.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jeremiah Avery Marden, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and
seal fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, in
which Figure 1 is a perspective representation, and Figure 2 a vertical
and longitudinal section of a governor, in the construction of which my
Invention is embodied.
The Invention comprising the subject-matter of this Patent is
intended to constitute a governor for regulating the speed of steam
engines and other motors, possessing the desired simplicity and durability
combined with extreme cheapness of production and a highly sensitive
and effective action.
This Invention consists in the adoption of one or more shallow vanes
or blades affixed to arms swivelled to a revolving disc mounted upon a
tubular shaft, supported in suitable bearings and carrying a sliding
spindle connected with the engine valve by an intermediate lever and
weighted connecting rod and engine valve, the whole being so arranged
that friction upon the blades induced by contact with the atmosphere
against which they are driven by the revolution of their supporting
disc, they shall govern and control in combination with the weighted
lever the longitudinal movements of the spindle and of the weighted rod
and engine valve.
Referring to the Drawings before mentioned as accompanying this
Specification, and which illustrate my Invention, the reader will see
that a device comprising my Invention is shown at A, in which B
denotes a tubular shaft properly supported in boxes or bearings fixed to
uprights D, D, making part of a standard or frame to which the
working parts are applied. To one extremity of the shaft B and outside
of one upright DI affix a driving pulley E, while upon the opposite
side of the upright D I affix to the shaft a disc F. G, G, in the
Drawings denote two thin flat blades or vanes affixed at one edge to
the outer extremities of two oscillating rods or rocker shafts H, H,
supported within guides or bearings I, I, affixed to the inner face of the
disc F and extending in opposite directions therefrom, the said vanes
being of like size and shape and in disposition being concentric with
the path of revolution of the disc and its shaft, and when at their
extreme inward positions are parallel or thereabouts to such shaft. To

page_text: each rod H a tripper or pallet J is affixed, each pallet projecting
laterally inward from the rod and extending into the interior of the
tubular shaft through a longitudinal slot cut within opposite sides
thereof as represented in the Drawings. L in the Drawings denotes a
spindle disposed loosely within the bore of the shaft B, and abutting at
one end against the free ends of the pallets J, J, before-mentioned, the
opposite extremity of the spindle projecting some distance beyond the
shaft and being stepped in the upright arm a of a bell crank lever b,
this lever being fulcrumed to a bracket c or to any suitable projection or
extension of the frame which supports the working parts of the device.
From the lower or horizontal arm d of the bell crank 6 I suspend a
connecting rod e, such rod having a series of weights f f properly
combined with it. The lower end of the rod e is to be connected with
the valve of the engine which the device is intended to control, in such
manner that fluctuations of the bell crank 6 shall produce corresponding
reciprocations of the rod and through it the valve.
Although various modifications of the characteristic features of my
Invention may be developed, the above description embraces one form of
construction which I have put into practical use.
The operation of the device as above constructed may be thus
described, premising such description by the supposition that the
intelligent reader will see that a revolution of the shaft and disc in the
direction of the arrow upon the latter will have the effect, varying in
degree with rapidity of revolution of such disc, of deflecting the
vanes G, G, by impact with the atmosphere from a parallel to an
oblique position with respect to the axis of their shaft, it also being
understood that the weights upon the rod e are of more than sufficient
gravity to maintain the spindle L in contact with the pallets J, J, under
all conditions of service, notice also being taken of the fact that a
depression of the rod e and of the lower arm of the lever 6 by the action
of the weights produces an opening of the valve and increasing the
amount of steam admitted to the engine. Whereas the gravity of the
weights operates through the medium of the lever band rode to move
the valve in one direction or to open it, and the contact of the revolving
blades with the atmosphere tends to force the spindle and lever, and
consequently the valve in the opposite direction and so as to close the
latter an entire preponderance of either will of necessity detract to some
extent from the perfect working of the apparatus. Therefore the

page_text: amount of weights applied to tho rode should be varied according to
the number of revolutions to be obtained from the engine per minute,
since the greater the rapidity with which the vanes are impelled through
the atmosphere the greater will be their resistance thereto, the result of
which is to drive the spindle and the lever in a direction opposite to that
effected by the weights, in other words, if a sufficient quantity of weights
are added to the rod e to overcome the action of the semi-rotation of
the blades upon the spindle L the valve is caused to remain fully open or
approximately so- and the engine attains too great speed, while vice versa
should sufficient weights be removed to allow the vanes to remain at
their extreme oblique position they will actuate the spindle and the
lever in opposition to the gravity of the weight to such an extent as to
close the valve and reduce the speed of the engine to too low a degree.
We will suppose the instrument to be adjusted to allow the engine to
run at the rate of 200 revolutions per minute. If it is desired to
increase this ratio to 300 more or less more weights, as practice shall
determine, are to be added to those upon the rod e which will cause the
power of the weight to overbalance that of the blades, and by lowering
the rod e open the valve and admit a greater quantity of steam to the
engine. Vice versa, should it be desirable to reduce the rate of speed
below 200 revolutions, weights are to be taken from off those originally
upon the rod e which allows the superior action of the power exerted by
the vanes to drive the spindle against the crank 6 to such an extent and
in such a direction as to close the valve partially and reduce the speed of
the engine. The instrument being thus adjusted to the number of
revolutions required of the engine becomes afterwards automatic and
regular in performing its functions, the vanes standing preferably about
midway between their extreme positions. Should the engine increase
in speed to too great an extent beyond the mean stand point required,
the increased resistance of the vanes to the atmosphere consequent upon
their accelerated flight tends to overcome the power exerted by the
weight and to deflect the said vanes toward their extreme oblique
position with respect to the tubular shaft and spindle, and in manner as
before explained effects a longitudinal movement of the latter in such a
direction as to raise the rod e and close the valve and consequently
reduce the amount of steam admitted to the engine. Per contra, should
the speed of the engine decrease from the desired stand point to an
excess, the diminished speed and the resistance of the vanes allow the
gravity of the weight to overcome the power exerted by such resistance

page_text: upon the spindle, and by lowering the rod e open the valve and increase
the amount of steam admitted to the engine. As I desire to secure
about an equal action of the power exerted by the vanes and the weights
respectively, the number of the latter must be varied according to the
various conditions of speed and labor required of the engine. Practice
will soon enable experienced persons to regulate it perfectly. As before
observed various modifications may be made of the principle of my
Invention. For instance, in lieu of the disposition of the vanes as
before explained their supporting rods may be applied radially to the
disc and pivoted thereto, and with the inner extremities of such rods
extending into the interior of the tubular shaft and abutting against
the spindle, the faces of the vanes being placed at an angle of about
forty-five degrees to the path of revolution of their supporting disc.
Under this arrangement of the floats their impact against the atmo-
sphere has the effect of producing a forward movement of the lower
extremities of their rods which act directly upon the spindle with the
same effect as the pallets J, J, before mentioned. Although in the
present instance I have shown two vanes in practice, it may be
found expedient to employ three or even a greater number. This,
however, would undoubtedly add to the expense of the device without
an equivalent benefit. I would remark that in place of the weights f,f,
&c. a spring or other equivalent device may be employed which in
case of marine engines would be important. I would remark that a
belt driven by a pulley from the engine is to travel about the pulley E
and so as to rotate the disc F at the rate of about 300 revolutions per
minute.
In practical use of governors in which the principal feature is a pro-
peller wallowing in oil, it has been found that the varying density of the
oil caused by changes in temperature produces a changeable action of the
instrument, in addition to which much more power is required to drive
the governor than in my Invention.
One resulting advantage of the adoption of my Invention which will
readily manifest itself to engineers, to whom this Specification is chiefly
addressed, is that it is equally effective in any position with respect to
the horizon, or in any locality in which it may be placed, and for this
reason will be found valuable for the necessities of marine engines where
ordinary governors cannot be used.

page_text: Another advantage of the use of my Invention results from several
points of economy as compared to "propeller governors" so called, and
to the generality of governors now in use.
One point of economy is the extreme low cost of original manu-
facture.
Another point is that it requires no care beyond that required to oil
its bearings.
Another point of economy is that it dispenses with the use and waste
of oil as well as time required to replenish the same as in propeller
governors.
It has been found in practical use of my Invention that its valve-
controlling portion does not fluctuate to the extent observable in other
governors, and although being very sensitive maintains an even and
steady motion of the engine under whatever amount of work is put
upon or taken from it.
I would remark that in practical use the vanes should be enclosed
within a screen or shield of such formation that while permitting free
access of the atmosphere to the vanes it shall protect them from any
strong currents of wind which would tend to impair their efficient
action. This screen further serves the purpose of preventing accidents
to persons employed about the enginè.
CLAIMS.
First. I claim in a governor for steam or other engines the adoption
of one or more vanes or blades so applied as by impact against the
atmosphere to impel the valve in one direction in combination with a
weight or other means of driving the valve in an opposite direction, the
device being provided with means of maintaining an equal action or
thereabouts between the two.
Second. I claim the improved governor for steam or other enginery
before described, the same consisting in general of the floats G, G,
spindle L or its equivalent, and bell crank b or its equivalent provided
with a weight or other actuating means, the spindle or its equivalent
being a medium between the power of the vanes exerted to force the
valve in one direction, and that of the weight or its equivalent to force
the valve in the opposite direction.

page_text: Third. I claim the arrangement of the vanes G, G, supported upon
the rods H, H, as explained and provided with the pallets J, J, in com-
bination with the spindle L or its equivalent, the whole operating in
manner and for the purpose substantially as before explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jeremiah Avery Marden, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this 13th day of April 1869.
JEREMIAH AVERY MARDEN. (L.S.)