Improved Means of Regulating the Supply of Water or other Fluid under Pressure to Centrifugal Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
Improved Means of Regulating the Supply of Water or other Fluid
under Pressure to Centrifugal Machines.
I, JOHN LAIDLAW, of the Firm of Watson, Laidlaw, & Co., 98, Dundas Street
South, in the County of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to the economical regulation of the supply of water or
other fluid under pressure when employed to drive centrifugal machines and is
more particularly applicable to that class where the motor is fixed direct upon the
spindle of the machine itself. To apply the proper size of jet or jets which will
maintain a uniform maximum speed, it may be found in some cases that the time
required to attain full speed is too great, on the other hand if the jets are made
larger or of such a number as to be capable of getting up full speed in a suffi-
ciently short time, the speed may increase beyond that which is desired. One or
more jets may be shut off by hand at the proper time, leaving a jet or jets in opera-
tion, which are just sufficient to maintain a uniform rotation of the machine after
the desired maximum rotation has been attained, or where one jet only is employed
the orifice may be contracted or reduced at the proper time.
In carrying out my invention I cut off the surplus supply of fluid pressure by
mechanical means automatically, preferably controlled by the rotation of the
machine itself, or it may be arranged independently so that after the interval
of time fixed upon during which the machine would be increasing its speed had
expired, the superfluous supply would be shut off.
Of course it is to be understood that my invention is also applicable to such
motors as are not fixed directly upon the machine spindle, but are geared with it.
Dated thie 1st day of Nov 1897
Improved Means of Regulating the Supply of Water or other Fluid
under Pressure to Centrifugal Machines.
I, JOIN LAIDLAW, of the Firm of Watson, Laidlaw, & Co., of 98, Dundas Street
South, in the County of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby
037

page_text: declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following:-
―
My invention relates to the economical regulation of the supply of water or
other fluid under pressure when employed to drive centrifugal machines and is
more particularly applicable to that class where the motor is fixed direct upon the
spindle of the machine itself. To apply the proper size of jet or jets which will
maintain a uniform maximum speed, it may be found in some cases that the time
required to attain full speed is too great, and on the other hand if the jets are made
larger or of such a number as to be capable of getting up full speed in a suffi-
ciently short time, the speed may increase beyond that which is desired. One or
more jets may be shut off by hand at the proper time, leaving a jet or jets in opera-
tion, which are just sufficient to maintain a uniform rotation of the machine after
the desired maximum rotation has been attained, or where one jet only is employed
the orifice may be contracted or reduced at the proper time.
In carrying out my invention, I cut off the surplus supply of fluid pressure by
mechanical means automatically, preferably controlled by the rotation of the
machine itself, or it may be arranged independently so that after the interval
of time fixed upon, during which the machine would be increasing its speed had
expired, the superfluous supply would be shut off..
In the first method I do not limit myself to any particular arrangement of
mechanical construction but prefer to attach to the spindle of the machine a centri-
fugal governor of suitable form which by virtue of the centrifugal force will close
the valve or valves against the auxiliary supply of water when the required speed
has been obtained, and allowing only the necessary quantity of water to maintain
the required speed to operate upon the motor.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I have hereunto appended two sheets of drawings on the several figures of
which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference."
Figure 1 is a view showing one method of carrying out my invention.
Figure 2 is a view showing the supply of water to the auxiliary jets cut off.
Figures 3 and 4 are views of one arrangement of external apparatus, which will
shut off the surplus water at some fixed time after starting the machine.
The water or other fluid under pressure is admitted into the pipe B, Figure 1,
by means of some well known form of valve at A (not shown on drawings). From B.
the water passes by the branch C to the jet or jets which are intended to maintain
the maximum speed; and through the valve D and the outlet-11, it passes to the
auxiliary jet or jets required to bring the machine to full speed in the time desired.
On the centrifugal spindle M is the centrifugal governor E, the revolving weights
of which pass through a circle which widens as the speed of the machine increases
until, when the correct maximum speed has been reached, they come in contact
with the stop F which causes the hole I to come below the stop L. The stop L
no longer being supported is caused, by the water pressure on valve D, to take
the position as indicated in Figure 2, and the valve I thereby shuts off the supply
of water to the auxiliary jets. The water now only reaches the motor through
the pipe C to the maintaining jet or jets until the machine is stopped by the closing
of the valve at A (not shown). When the valve at A is closed, the pressure on the
valve D is relieved, and the spring J restores the valve D to the open position as
in Figure 1, the spring K at the same time restoring the stop F to its original
position as shown in Figure 1.
I may also employ some external apparatus, which will shut off the surplus water
at some fixed time after starting the machine, arranged to suit the material to be
operated upon in the centrifugal machine. For this purpose many well known
devices, such as escapements, cataracts or any other time measurer may be used.
One device may be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4 of which N is a valve
operated by any suitable means at the end of its spindle at 0. When the valve is
opened it uncovers the ports P and Q as shewn in Figure 3 and allows water or
other fluid under pressure to flow from the valve chest R to the motor jets

page_text: through Q to the auxiliary jet or jets, and through P to the maintaining jet or jets.
This causes a pressure in P which is communicated through the pipe S to the
cylinder T causing the piston U to move forward until it comes into contact with
the valve spindle at V pushing it forwards until the valve N covers the port Q, thus
cutting off the supply of water to the auxiliary jet or jets as shewn in Figure 4.
The time taken to do this is regulated by the valve W which can be adjusted at
pleasure and also by the length of the stroke of the piston U.
When now the valve N is drawn forward to cover the port P as well as Q the
pressure in P is relieved and the fluid under pressure in the chest R escapes by the
pipe, and acting on the other side of the piston U it pushes it into its original
position. The check valve Y is provided to allow of this being rapidly done. It
will be noticed that there is always pressure on the under side of the piston U, but
when pressure is put on the piston through the pipe S it acts on a larger area and
is therefore able to overcome the pressure exerted through the pipe X.
I may also employ a modification of both these methods and operate the valve
by a screw driven by the centrifugal so that the valve is shut when the centrifugal
Or I may
has made a certain number of revolutions previously determined upon.
use the well known device of constructing or reducing the orifice of the jet or jets
controlled by a governor driven by suitable mechanism from the centrifugal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The combination with a centrifugal machine driven by a fluid pressure motor
of an automatic regulator for controlling the supply of fluid for the acceleration
and maintenance of any desired speed.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.