An Improvement in Centrifugal Governors.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Centrifugal Governors.
1, FRANCIS WILLIAM CROSSLEY, of Openshaw near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In many centrifugal governors the balls are pivotted on a sleeve which as they fly
outwards, is caused to slide up along the spindle of the governor in opposition to a
weight or spring.
My invention relates to a construction of such a governor and the counterpoise to
the centrifugal force so that this counterpoise can be readily and delicately adjusted
even while the governor is revolving, and thus the speed of the engine to which the
governor is applied can be easily and suitably adjusted.
For this purpose, I extend the governor spindle upwards above the top of the sleeve,
and I bore in this extended part a central hole in which I place a helical spring its
lower end abutting against the bottom of the bore, and its upper end against a plunger
which freely fits the bore. I provide a counterpoise weight in the form of a horizontal
disc with an elongated boss projecting up from its middle. I bore the disc and its
boss nearly to the top with a hole freely fitting the elongated governor spindle so
that the weight can slide up along the spindle or can slide down and rest on a shoulder
of the spindle a little above the top of the governor sleeve. Through the top of the
boss of the weight I fit a setting screw with lock nut, the point of the screw bearing
against the plunger which is fitted in the bore of the spindle. By screwing the
plunger more or less down, the spring within the spindle is more or less compressed,
and thus the downward strain of the weight is more or less relieved, so that, when the
governor sleeve rises tending to move the weight upwards, it encounters less or greater
resistance to its ascent.
As the weight is free to revolve as well as to slide on the spindle, it can be taken
hold of even while the governor is revolving, and the load can be adjusted to suit any
desired speed by means of the setting screw at the top.
The weight itself, when there is no straining of the spring, determines the maximum
peed of the engine to which the governor is applied, and the straining of the spring
by screwing down the setting screw can only determine a less speed.
Dated this 26th day of March 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Centrifugal Governors.
1, FRANCIS WILLIAM CROSSLEY of Openshaw, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 :-
In many centrifugal governors the balls are pivotted on a sleeve, which as they fly
outwards is caused to slide up along the spindle of the governor in opposition to a
weight or spring.
My invention relates to a construction of such a governor and the counterpoise to
the centrifugal force so that this counterpoise can be readily and delicately adjusted
even while the governor is revolving, and thus the speed of the engine to which the
governor is applied can be easily and suitably adjusted.

page_text: I adopt the construction shewn in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, or the
modified construction shown in Fig. 2, in which figures similar reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts.
For this purpose, I extend the governor spindle A upwards above the top of the
sleeve B, and as shewn in Fig. 1 1 bore in this extended part a central hole in which
I place a helical spring Cits lower end abutting against the bottom of the bore, and
its upper end against a plunger D which freely fits the bore. Or as shewn in Fig. 2
place the spring C above the end of the spindle A which is not in this case bored to
secure the spring. I provide a counterpoise weight E in the form of a horizontal disc
with an elongated boss projecting up from its middie. I bore the disc and its boss
nearly to the top with a hole freely fitting the elongated governor spindle A so that
the weight E can slide up along the spinille or can slide down and rest on a shoulder
of the spindle at a a little above the top of the governor sleeve B. Through the top
of the boss of the weight I fit a setting screw F with lock nut G the point of the
screw bearing against the plunger D which as shewn in Fig. 1 is fitted in the bore of
the spindle A or as shown in Fig. 2, is fitted in the bore of the weight E.
screwing the plunger D more or less down, the spring C is more or less compressed,
and thus the downward strain of the weight E is more or less relieved, so that, when
the governor sleeve B rises and bearing against the underside of the weight E, tends
to move the weight upwards, it encounters less or greater resistance to its ascent
according as the spring is more or less compressed.
By
As the weight is free to revolve as well as to slide on the spindle A it can be
taken hold of even while the governor is revolving, and the load can be adjusted to
suit any desired speed by means of the setting screw Fat the top.
The weight itself when there is no compression of the spring, determines the
maximum speed of the engine to which the governor is applied and as the compression
of the spring can only have the effect of determining a less speed, there is no risk of
causing excessive speed by adjusting the strain on the spring.
In many governors the strain of the weight or spring employed for determining
speed is transmitted through the clips that are engaged with the sleeve; the friction
thus produced at a rapidly moving part occasions great wear. By my arrangement of
the adjusting weight and spring this objection is entirely removed.
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
In combination with a centrifugal governor having its spindle elongated upwards,
a weight fitted to slide and revolve freely on the elongated part of the spindle above
the sliding sleeve and a spring within the weight abutting at one end on the spindle
and at the other on a plunger adjustable by a setting screw, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
1900
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.