IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS FOR STEAM ENGINES OR OTHER PRIME MOVERS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS FOR STEAM
ENGINES OR OTHER PRIME MOVERS."-A communication from Hippolyte
Edmond Branche, Mechanician, and Charles Coste, Merchant, both of
Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 6th July 1855, and dated the 14th February 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th February 1855.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS
FOR STEAM ENGINES OR OTHER PRIME MOVERS," a communication from Hippolyte
Edmond Brauche, Mechanician, and Charles Coste, Merchant, both of Paris,
in the Empire of France, to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the general construction
and arrangement of pneumatic governors for steam engines, water wheels, or
other prime movers; and consists,―
First, of a peculiar construction and arrangement of valves for the admission
of air either into the air pump or into the receiver of the regulator.

page_text: Second, of an improved form and arrangement of packing for the pistons of
the regulator.
Third, of a peculiar arrangement of the air passages, for the discharge of
the air and for the admission of air into the receiver.
Fourth, of a peculiar arrangement of apparatus whereby this pneumatic
regulator may be applied to water wheels.
This governor consists of two cylinders, cast in one piece and bolted to one
bed plate, each cylinder being fitted with a working piston, the packing of
which consists of two split metal rings, one inside the other, and in the interior
of the inner ring is placed a third ring or disc, which is slightly conical, and
which is pressed down by the upper plate of the piston in the cylinder, which
serves as an air pump, and by a counterweight in the other cylinder, which is
merely a receiver. Helical springs are interposed between the upper plates
and the disc for the purpose of regulating the pressure thereon. It will thus
be obvious that as the disc is pressed down, the packing rings will be forced
outwards, and so form a tight packing. The piston of the air pump is worked
by a crank on a shaft, driven by the pressure mover, and its rod is kept in a
vertical position by a fixed guide secured to one common lid or cover for the
two cylinders and placed between them. The piston rod of the receiver is
connected with the throttle valve of the steam engine, or with the regulating
sluice of a water wheel. A valve opening inwards is fitted to the top of the
air pump, and as the piston therein descends, a certain amount of air is drawn
into the upper part of the pump, while at the same time the air in the cylinder
below the piston is being forced through a passage and valve opening into the
interior of the lower portion of the receiver below its respective piston,
which is slightly elevated by the pressure produced. As the air piston ascends,
the air above it is also forced out by another passage beneath the piston of the
receiver, which again causes its piston to rise, and gradually close or actuate
the throttle valve or other regulator. This second piston and rod are weighted,
so as to regulate their movements, and an aperture is left in the upper part of
the receiver to prevent any air contained therein from being compressed by the
using of the piston of the receiving cylinder. It will thus be obvious that
the faster the engine works, the more air will be forced into the receiver, and
the higher its piston will rise, thereby acting upon the regulating valve; but
if the engine works slowly, then the piston of the receiver will fall gradually
and open the regulating valve, the air below its piston escaping by a suitable
passage and regulating cock, at the side of and between the two cylinders.
The same form of regulator may be applied for working the regulating sluices
of water wheels. The sluice is fitted onto to the end of a long lever, placed

page_text: horizontal or nearly so, and is connected by a chain with an over-head segment,
on the axis of which is fitted a pulley. Over this pulley and attached to it
is a second chain, in connection with the piston rod of the receiving cylinder
of the governor. A counterweight is hung by a chain to a second segment,
which is slightly spiral, to allow for the difference in the weight of the sluice
when its levers are horizontal or slightly inclined.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR
REGULATORS FOR STEAM ENGINES OR OTHER PRIME MOVERS," a communication
from Hippolyte Edmond Branche, Mechanician, and Charles Coste, Mer-
chant, both of Paris, in the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to certain improvements in the general con-
struction and arrangement of pneumatic governors for steam engines, water
wheels, or other prime movers; and consists,-
First, of a peculiar construction and arrangement of valves for the admis-
sion of air either into the air pumps or into the receiver of the regulator.
Second, of an improved form and arrangement of packing for the piston of
the regulator.
Third, of a peculiar arrangement of the air passages, for the discharge of the
air and for the admission of air into the receiver.
Fourth, of a peculiar arrangement of apparatus whereby this puenmatic
regulator may be applied to water wheels.
This governor consists of two cylinders, cast in one piece and bolted to one
bed plate, each cylinder being fitted with a working piston, the packing of
which consists of two split metal rings, one inside the other, and in the interior
of the inner ring is placed a third ring or disc, which is slightly conical, and
which is pressed down by the upper plate of the piston in the cylinder, which
serves as an air pump, and by a counterweight in the other cylinder, which is
merely a receiver. Helical springs are interposed between the upper plates
and the disc for the purpose of regulating the pressure thereon. It will thus
be obvious that as the disc is pressed down, the packing rings will be forced
outwards, and so form a tight packing. The piston of the air pump is worked
by a crank on a shaft, driven by the prime mover, and its rod is kept in a
vertical position by a fixed guide, secured to one common lid or cover for the
two cylinders, and placed between them. The piston rod of the receiver is
connected with the throttle valve of the steam engine, or with the regulating
sluice of a water wheel. A valve opening inwards is fitted to the top of the
air pump, and as the piston therein descends, a certain amount of air is drawn
into the upper part of the pump, while at the same time the air in the cylinder
below the piston is being forced through a passage and valve opening into the
interior of the lower portion of the receiver below its respective piston, which
is slightly elevated by the pressure thus produced. As the air piston ascends,
the air above it is also forced out by another passage beneath the piston of the
receiver, which again causes its piston to rise, and gradually close or actuate
the throttle valve or other regulator. This second piston and rod are weighted,
so as to regulate their movements, and an aperture is left in the upper part
of the receiver to prevent any air contained therein from being compressed by
the rising of the piston of the receiving cylinder.

page_text: It will thus be obvious that the faster the engine works, the more air will
be forced into the receiver, and the higher its piston will rise, thereby acting
upon the regulating valve; but if the engine works slowly, then the piston of
the receiver will fall gradually and open the regulating valve, the air below its
piston escaping by a suitable passage and regulating cock at the side of and
between the two cylinders. The same form of regulator may be applied for
working the regulating sluices of water wheels. The sluice is fitted on to the
end of a long lever, placed horizontal, or nearly so, and is connected by a
chain with an over-head segment, on the axis of which is fitted a pulley. Over
this pulley and attached to it is a second chain, in connection with the piston
rod of the receiving cylinder of the governor. A counterweight is hung by a
chain to a second segment, which is slightly spiral, to allow for the difference
in the weight of the sluice when its levers are horizontal or slightly
inclined.
And in order that the said Invention may be more readily understood,
I shall now proceed to describe and refer to the several Figures on the Sheet
of Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fig. 1 of the Drawings represents a vertical section of the improved pneu-
matic governor or regulator, taken through the line 1, 2, 3, and 4, in Fig. 3;
Fig. 2 is a corresponding side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional
plan of the apparatus, taken along the line 5, 6, in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan
of the under side of one of the air valves. Fig. 5 is a section, taken through
the centre line of the adjustable escape cock; and Fig. 6 shews the appli-
cation of this governor or regulator to a water wheel. The pump B is
of the same height as the regulating cylinder A; they are both cast in one press
and bolted down on to the cast-iron bed plate C, having the requisite valves
fitted thereto.
These cylinders are both closed by the same lid or cover D, upon which is
fixed the double guide bracket E, so that the rods A¹ and B', carrying the
pistons A and B³, may work vertically in their respective cylinders. These
pistons are composed of two cast-iron plates a and b, between which are
placed two steel segments c, open at their circumferences. A third plated,
made conical, and fitted with helical springs e, which press constantly against
the under side of the upper plate a, tends always to open the segments by its
conical portion pressing against their inner surfaces, and consequently causes
them to adjust or adapt themselves to the inner surfaces of the cylinders.
Motion is communicated to the piston 63 of the air pump by the connecting
rod F and crank G. This latter is keyed on to a shaft in communication with
the prime mover, in such a manner that it may rotate at a greater or less

page_text: speed, according to the speed of the engine or other prime mover, the same
motion being thus transmitted to the piston B2 of the air pump, the object of
which is to force air into the lower portion of the regulating cylinder A. Thus,
according to the greater or less amount of air forced into the cylinder, its
piston A³ will rise or fall accordingly, and with it the piston rod A¹ and
connecting rod H, which transmits the motion either to the throttle valve
of a steam engine, or to the regulating sluice of a water wheel, or regulating
apparatus of any other prime mover. When the piston B² actuated by the
crank G descends, it causes the valve I (Figs. 1 and 4) to open, and draws in
the air through the opening i in the cover D of the pump. This air fills the
whole of the upper portion of the pump, namely, that above the piston B³.
When this piston rises again it closes the valve I, and forces the air by the
passage j into the lower portion or underneath the piston A³ in the regulating
cylinder by opening the valve J (Fig. 3). The same effect is produced below.
the piston B³ of the pump, which in rising, not only forces air into the regu-
lating cylinder, as herein-before described, but it simultaneously draws in a
corresponding amount of air through the opening k in the bottom of the pump.
by raising the valve K (Fig. 3); this air is subsequently forced on the descent
of the piston B³ into the regulating cylinder A through the passage 1 by opening.
the valve L in the bottom of the cylinder A. All these valves are fitted with
springs m, which keep them closed on their seatings, and prevent them from
opening too much when the air is being forced through them. The relation
between the pump and regulating cylinder will thus be readily understood,
and also in what manner the working speed of the piston of the pump regulates
the height of the piston of the regulating cylinder; since, according as the
piston of the pump makes a greater or less number of strokes in a given time,
it will force a greater or less amount of air into the cylinder A, thereby acting
with greater or less force on the under side of the piston A*, the counter-
weights a¹ and a serving to equalize the pressure. As it is requisite that the
air which is constantly being forced into the cylinder A should be allowed to
escape, a vertical outlet passage M is made between the two cylinders, this
passage being in communication with the cock N (Figs. 2 and 5), which
opens into the atmosphere, so that by adjusting the plug the amount of air
allowed to escape will be shewn by the dial and indicator n, which latter is
moveable with the key which turns the plug. By this simple contrivance the
pressure below the piston A³ of the regulating cylinder A may be adjusted with
accuracy.
In order that the piston A³ may not compress any air that may be in the
upper part of the cylinder A. a small outlet o is made in the unner portion of

page_text: the cylinder, by which means the interior is placed in direct communication
with the atmosphere. Fig. 6 represents a sectional elevation of the mode of
applying the pneumatic governor or regulator to the regulating sluice of an
ordinary overshot water wheel.
It will be seen, on referring to this Figure, that the regulating sluice P is
fixed on to the end of the double lever p, working on a fixed centre at p²; a
chain or cord g connects this sluice with the sector Q fast on the horizontal
shaft r. On to the same shaft is keyed the pulley R, to the circumference of
which is attached the chain r¹, connected at its other end to the regulating
piston, so that this latter in ascending or descending may act upon the regu-'
lating sluice of the water wheel, which follows exactly the same movement,
being balanced by the counterweights s and q'. It is obvious that this sluice
must be heavier, or exert a greater downward pull of the sector q the farther
it is removed from a vertical position, that is to say, the arms of the lever p
will exert a greater lever power when they are horizontal, and therefore the
sluice, which is fixed to the end of them, will be heavier when they are in this
position than when they are inclined, or approach nearer a vertical position.
It will thus be obvious that the regulator will have a greater weight to raise
at one time than at another, which would interfere with the proper working of
the apparatus if not counteracted; this defect is overcome by so suspending
the sluice that whatever may be its position, its weight or downward pull will
always remain the same. To effect this, the sector or quadrant Q is made
slightly eccentric or scroll-shaped on that side to which is attached the counter-
weight q' of the sluice, so that if the lever p be horizontal, and the sluice
consequently heavier, the weight or action of the counterweight q¹ will be
correspondingly increased, as it will then be acting on the large radius of the
sector; should the sluice be lighter, by being elevated or depressed above or
below the horizontal line, the counterweight will act upon the shorter radius
3 of the sector, thus always effectually balancing the weight of the regulating
sluice in whatever position it may be.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of the said Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general construction and arrangement of pneumatic or air governors

page_text: or regulators, and apparatus connected therewith, for the purpose of regu-
lating the speed of steam engines, water wheels, and other prime movers, as
herein-before described.
Second, the construction and arrangement of valves and air passages of
pneumatic or air governors or regulators, as herein-before described.
Third, the peculiar construction and arrangement of packing for the pistons
of pneumatic or air governors or regulators, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the peculiar system or mode of equalizing the varying weight of the
regulating sluices of water wheels when such sluices are worked by a governor
or regulator, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.B.)