Improvements in Governors for Steam and other Engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Governors for Steam and other Engines.
I, CHARLES HENRY BRIGG, of 14, Newcombe Street, Elland, in the County of
York, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
. 1
In the Porter type or central weighted governor usually three connections are made
to couple each centrifugal ball from the point of suspension at the top of governor
spindle down to where they connect to the sleeve or muff on spindle, assuming the
central weight or the tension upon a spring to be equal to 100 lbs. then each centri-
fugal ball would have 50 lbs. to lift.
One of my improvements consists in attaching the centrifugal ball to the sleeve
or muff on governor spindle by means of a chain or steel tape passing over 2 or more
pulleys made suitable to receive the said chain or steel tape and the centrifugal ball
can either be suspended from the top of governor spindle on arms banging parallel-
with the governor spindle itself, or they shall slide upon horizontal arms projecting
out at right angles, with the governor spindle.
Therefore in case of four carrying pulleys being used with a central weight equal
to 100 lbs. to lift, and assuming that little friction will arise from centrifugal balls
sliding loosely upon horizontal arms, then the total load upon the pulleys and pins
that carry them would be a little over 200 lbs., whereas in the ordinary thigh speed
central weighted governor six bearings or joints are used, and with a central weight
equal to the above the total load upon the bearings or joints cannot be less than
300 lbs., but more in proportion to the angle at which the governor arms are set to
work. And further I contend that all previous attempts to produce a sensitive
governor upon the principle of having the centrifugal balls to slide upon horizonta!
arms, has failed for the want of suitable connections from the centrifugal balls to the
sleeve or muff on spindle.
Another of my improvements relates to the application of a spring either in con-
junction with or without a central weight.
There are now many makers of spring weighted governors but all the governors of
this class are not made with any means whereby to alter the travel between the
centrifugal balls and the movement or tension upon the spring, that is to say that if
the centrifugal balls moves one inch then the movement upon the spring would be
the same in others it may be less or more, nevertheless invariably they are made
fixtures and intended to be permanent, but a governor is'needed that can be altered
at will. to meet the many different circumstances under which an engine has to
run.
:
Therefore my improvement shall consist in having a cross-head fixed upon the
governor spindle so as to carry two levers one end of these levers to act as a fulcrum
the other end to be 'connected to the sleeve or muff by rods or links. Immediately
over the aforesaid levers and upon the governor spindle shall be a sliding boss having
two arms projecting out to fulcrum end of levers named. On this sliding boss the
spring shall rest and on the levers and arms mentioned two sliding joints or a roller

page_text: pulley can be used to connect them and by this means a full movement of centri-
fugal balls can be made with little or no movement or increased tension upon the
spring.
A thread is provided on spindle and two lock nuts for putting pressure upon
spring.
"
1000
Improvements in Governors for Steam and other Engines.
I, CHARLES HENRY BRIGG, of 14, Newcombe Street, Elland, in the County of York,
Mechanic, 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 :--
This invention relates to governors for steam and other like engines or motors and
the object of my improvements is to produce a simple and sensitive governor in which
the load or weight will be distributed over or mainly borne by carrying pulleys
instead of by the joints of the governor connections heretofore employed and to provide
means for permitting adjustment or alteration, at will, between the travel of the
centrifugal balls and the movement or tension of a resistance spring to meet the many
different circumstances under which an engine has to run.
In the Porter type or central weighted governor usually three connections are made
to couple each centrifugal ball from the point of suspension at the top of the governor
spindle to the loose sleeve or muff at the lower end of said spindle. In this construc-
tion assuming the central weight or the tension upon a spring or both, to be equal
say to 100 lbs., then each centrifugal ball, through the three connections, will have
50 lbs. to lift. The first part of my invention consists in dispensing with the usual
arms and connections and attaching each centrifugal ball direct to the loose sleeve or
muff on the governor spindle by means of one or more chains or steel tapes or straps
passing over two or more pulleys; or in transmitting the centrifugal or centripetal
movements of the governor balls to the sleeve or inuff by means of chains or steel
tapes passing over pulleys; the centrifugal balls being adapted to slide upon horizontal
arms or spindles extending out wards at right angles to the governor spindle or other-
wise connected to arms parallel with the governor spindle and moveable about the
axes of the carrying pulleys or independent centres. The second part of my invention
comprises the application, either in conjunction with or without a central weight, of
a resistance spring and means for adjusting the tensiou or movement and degree of
resistance relatively to the travel of the governor balls to suit any conditions in
the running of the engine. In the accompanying drawings illustrating my
invention :-
Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical elevations at right angles to each other, of my improved
centrifugal governor ;
Fig. 3 is plan view taken on line 12 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical
elevations similar to Figs. 1 and 2 shewing another arrangement of my improved
governor; and
Fig. 6 shews a further modification.
Referring firstly to Figs. 1 2 and 3 letter a represents the governor spindle; 6 the
loose sleeve or muff preferably provided with the central weight b6 and having at its
lower end the collar or annular groove b² into which enter small bowls secured in the
forked end of lever c which is connected as ordinarily to the throttle valve for admit-
ting or shutting off the supply of steam to the engine.

page_text: Secured to the governor spindle a at a suitable height thereon is a boss or cross-
head d from two opposite sides of which project outwardly at right angles to said
spindle, horizontal arms or spindles c c¹ whereon the governor balls f f are placed
loosely so as to be free to slide endwise thereon under centrifugal or centripetal
action, said governor balls being preferably connected at top and bottom by studs,
screws or like means to light frames or other suitable devices g₁ by which
connection may be made between the balls and the sleeve or muff b.
Projecting from the remaining two sides of the boss or cross-head are studs iion
each of which are loosely mounted side by side grooved pulleys h h¹. Partly around
these grooved pulleys are passed chains or steel tapes or like flexible metal straps j j¹
which are suitably connected at one end to the extremities or sides of the frames g g¹
respectively and at the opposite ends to a plate or arms secured to or forming a
part of the sleeve or muff b.
The governor halls and parts are shewn in the positions occupied when the running
of the engine is normal.
The governor spindle a is driven from the engine in the usual manner and
when the speed increases above or decreases below the normal, the governor
balls under centrifugal or centripetal force are caused to slide in sympathy
along the arms e el. either outwardly and apart or inwardly towards each other,
the least endwise movement of said balls in either direction, through the medium of
the connecting straps working over the pulleys h¹, correspondingly elevating or
lowering the sleeve 6 on the spindle a, said sleeve actuating the lever cand
closing or opening the throttle valve as required to regulate the supply of steam
so that the running of the engine may be maintained at the same velocity. The
method of transmitting the movement of the governor balls to the sleeve or muff ↳
through flexible tape or strap connections working over intermediate carrying pulleys
renders the governor very sensitive and accurate, reduces the load upon the balls, and
in dispensing with the levers or arms and connections previously employed reduces the
load upon the balls avoids excessive wear and tear and other disadvantages resulting
from the action of the pressure or load on the joints of the connections.
In employing four carrying pulleys h h h¹h' as above with a central weight 61
equal say to 100 lbs. to lift and assuming that little friction will arise from the balls
sliding upon the horizontal arms e e¹, the total load upon the pulleys and pins or studs
on which they are mounted, will be say little over 200 lbs., whereas in the ordinary
high speed central weighted governor, in which six bearings or joints are used, with
a central weight equal to the above, the total load upon the bearings or joints cannot
be less than say 300 lbs. but more in proportion to the angle at which the governor
arms are set to work.
At Figs. 4 and 5 I shew one arrangement for connecting the governor balls to the
sleeve or muff by two straps or tapes only, and two.carrying pulleys,
:
In this example the balls ff are placed loosely on hollow arms e el set a little to
each side of the centre of the governor spindle and carried by the boss or head d forming
an integral part of the governor spindle. In the lower portion of said boss or head d
is an opening adapted to hold two grooved carrying pulleys h¹ each lineable with
the centre of its respective governor ball for f¹. To the governor balls are secured
sleeves or caps f2 centrally of which are attached one end of the steel tapes j j¹ which
are passed through the hollow arm's e e¹ then over their respective pulleys h h¹, and
secured at their opposite ends to the plate or arms attached to or formed on the
central weight 6' on the sleeve or muff b.
The action of the governor is the same as described with reference to Figs. 12
and 3, the load being borne in this case by two carrying pulleys instead of by four
such pulleys.
The centrifugal balls could be secured direct to the steel tapes jj¹, if preferred, by
cotters or pins and the sleeves or caps f2 removed; slots being formed in the arms e e¹
to receive and allow for the full movement of the cotters or pins with the balls ƒ ƒ¹.
In the modification shewn at Fig. 6 our method is illustrated of employing the
tape connections and carrying pulleys in conjunction with fixed pendulous or

page_text: non-slideable governor balls. In this example the governor balls are secured on
arms e, el parallel with the governor spindle and attached to or integral with carrying
pulleys h. The steel tapes or straps j j¹ are secured at one end to the peripheries
of their respective pulleys h h¹ and passing partly round same are attached at their
opposite ends to the plate or arms k on the upper end of the loose sleeve or muff b.
The governor balls ff¹ are, by centrifugal force, caused to fly outwardly turning upon
the centres ii and therefore partially rotating the pulleys h h¹ to a proportionate
extent, whereby through the straps or tapes j j¹ connected to said pulleys the sleeve
or muff b is raised as required to regulate the supply of steam. The balls ƒ ƒ¹ can be
adjusted vertically on the arm e e¹, to alter the speed or for like purposes.
Instead of the arms e e¹ being secured to the carrying pulleys h¹, as shewn, they
may be suspended from independent centres, the metal straps or tapes being
connected to the centrifugal balls secured on said arms, then passed over the carrying
pulleys and attached at their opposite ends to the plate k, one arrangement being
the equivalent of the other, although I prefer the one shewn at Fig. 6 when a
cheap and simple governor is required. Quadrants may be employed, if desired,
in place of the pulleys h h¹. The second part of my invention relates to the
application, either in conjunction with or without a central weight, of a spring
and means combined therewith for altering or adjusting the extent of movement
or tension of said spring relatively to the travel of the centrifugal balls. Referring
to Figs. 1 and 2, 7 represents a cross-head secured to the governor spindle a.
Centred at m m to said cross-head are two arins or levers n n whose outer ends
are connected by rods oo to the cross-piece p above and clear of the governor
spindle a which in this case is made hollow to receive a spindle secured at its
lower end to the muff or sleeve b by cotter or pin 8 and at its upper end to the
cross-piece p. The spindler is carried around by and with the governor spindle a but
is free to move vertically therein with the sleeve or muff b, a slot 8 being
Above the
formed in the governor spindle to allow for such vertical movement.
cross head and mounted loosely on the governor spindle is a sliding boss t
provided with arms t¹¹ projecting over and lineable with the levers nn and
carrying adjustable roller pulleys which rest on and are adapted to be adjusted
laterally backward and forward on the levers n´n. v is a strong spiral spring
surrounding the governor spindle and resting on the sliding boss t between which and
a flange or collar won the spindle a the said spring is confined, tension or pressure being
put upon the spring v, as required, by lock nuts a screwed on the end of the governor
spindle and against the collar or flange w. The tension or pressure of the spring v
acts against the sliding boss t and therefore against the levers nn and connections,
spindle and muff or sleeve b, and tends to resist the upward movement of said sleeve
and spindle when the governor balls are thrown apart by centrifugal force, such
resistance being regulated as required to suit the governor and conditions of running
of the engine. If the central weight b¹ is employed, the resistance to the governor is
divided between it and the spring v, but if no central weight is used a longer spring
is used or greater pressure put on the spring.
Resistance is or can be diminished or increased by moving and securing the roller
pulleys uu nearer to or further away from the fulcra m m of levers n n, the tension
of the spring v being at the same time increased or diminished by adjusting the lock
nuts x.
By said means a full movement of the centrifugal balls can be made with very
little movement or increased tension upon the spring and these conditions can be
varied at will to suit the running of the engine.
The arms t¹ can be coupled by links to the levers n, n and the adjustable roller
pulleys dispensed with, provision being made in this case for the lateral adjustment
of the rods oo to or from said links for diminishing or increasing resistance to the
governor.
The action of the spring is simplified in Figs. 4 and 5, acting direct on a cross-
head or boss t connected to the loose sleeve or muff b, the tension of the spring being

page_text: adjusted by the lock nuts x but not giving the range of alteration obtainable by the
arrangement shewn at Figs. 1 and 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
(1) In a centrifugal governor, the application to and combination therewith of
governor balls adapted under centrifugal or centripetal force to slide endwise on
horizontal arms carried by the governor spindle, chains or steel or like flexible metal
tapes or straps connecting said centrifugal balls direct to the loose sleeve or muff b on
the governor spindle and grooved pulleys or their equivalents carried by the governor
spindle and over or partly around which the connecting straps or tapes are passed
and supported between the governor balls and loose sleeve or muff, substantially as
herein set forth and for purposes specified.
(2) The combination with sliding or pendulous governor balls, of chains or steel or
like flexible tapes or straps and grooved carrying pulleys or their equivalents over or
partly around which the straps are passed and work, said straps forming direct and
unjointed connections between the governor balls or parts connected to and moveable
therewith and the loose sleeve or muff on the governor spindle, substantially as set
forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings and for purposes specified.
(3) In a centrifugal governor the combination, with sliding or pendulous governor
balls connected direct to the loose sleeve or inuff b by steel or like flexible tapes, or
straps, or chains passing over grooved carrying pulleys, of a resistance spring such
as v and means for adjusting or altering the tension or movement and resistance of
same relatively to the travel of the governor balls substantially as, and for purposes,
specified.
(4) In a centrifugal governor, the combination, with governor balls fƒ³, chains or
steel tapes or straps, and carrying pulleys h, of an adjustable resistance
spring acting against a sliding boss on the governor spindle, levers n n ful-
crummed to a crosshead fast on the governor spindle, a spindle or equivalent means.
passing down within the governor spindle or outside of same and secured to the loose
sleeve or muff, connections between said spindle and the levers n and the means for
diminishing or increasing resistance to the action of the governor and adjusting the
tension or pressure on the spring, substantially as herein set forth aud for purposes
specified.
Dated this on day of Diaren 1990.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Huddersfield, Agents for Applicant.