IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS FOR INDICATING POWER, AND FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF PROPELLERS AND OTHER MACHINERY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Neer, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York,
United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS FOR
INDICATING POWER, AND FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF PROPELLERS AND
OTHER MACHINERY."
ed the 15th December 1876, and dated the 19th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Neer at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1876.
CHARLES NEER, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of
America. "IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS FOR INDICATING POWER, AND FOR REGU-
LATING THE SPEED OF PROPELLERS AND OTHER MACHINERY."
Two discs are made use of, standing face to face, with radial flanges occupying
positions contiguous to each other, and between these radial flanges there are
springs, preferably spiral, and either single or one within the other, and these
springs are more or less numerous, according to the pressure that is to be resisted,
and the springs are held in position by lugs upon the respective flanges entering
the ends of the spiral or helical springs. The force of the engine or other motor
is applied to rotate one of these discs, and the other disc is rotated by the power
from the first disc acting against the springs, and the springs revolving the second
disc, hence, according to the resistance offered by the second disc, so the springs
will be more or less compressed, and as the resistance varies so the springs will
either expand or be compressed, and the radial flanges will be moved nearer to or
farther from each other. These discs are placed one at the rear end of the engine
shaft and the other on the forward ond of the propeller shaft, the two shafts being
in line, and the discs contiguous, so that the difference in the resistance of the
propeller shaft when in the water or partially out of the water will compress the
springs, cause them to expand, and the movement thus obtained is used to operate
the cut-off or governor of the engine, or the same movement between any driving
and driven shaft is available in operating the cut-off or governor of any engine
or other motor. One of the discs may be fastened to the shaft and the other be
loose upon the shaft and attached to a loose pulley or gear wheel, through which
the power is transmitted to the article to be driven.
In all cases the compression of the springs will be in proportion to the power
required to revolve the shaft or article driven, and the two discs will revolve
Price 6dl

page_text: together by the radial flanges of one against the springs and by the pressure of
these springs against the radial flanges of the other.
An eye or hub upon the shaft has two or more arms, at the ends of which are
double inclines formed upon the L-shaped ends of these arms, and these inclines
pass through each a hole in one disc and stand between two inclined surfaces, one
of which is upon one disc and the other upon the other disc, hence the change of
position of one disc relatively to the other by the expansion or compression of
the springs gives motion to the inclines, arms, and hub endwise of the shaft.
A spring, or three or more helical springs, serve to give to the hub a return move-
ment in the opposite direction. Around the hub is a groove or rib, and a fork
in contact with such rib or groove serves to transmit the end movement of the
hub, resulting from the change of forces to the lever of the throttle valve of the
engine, or other device used for governing the motor, according to the resistance to
its power.
The present improvement serves as a dynamometer to indicate the amount of
power consumed in driving machinery. The springs will be compressed as in a
balance, according to the resistance, and in so doing the arms and hub will be
moved more or less endwise and serve to turn the pointer or hand upon a dial
that is graduated to represent the force in horse-power or otherwise upon the
known principles availed of in such cases. By this means it can be determined
what amount of power is being consumed to drive certain machinery.
The springs that are placed between the discs may vary in their proportionate
resistance when they are more or less compressed by the power exerted, and to
render the action uniform upon the governor a lever having a sliding fulcrum and
a cam are employed to vary the operative length of the lever and compensate
inequalities in the operation of the springs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Neer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th December
1876.
CHARLES NEER, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of
America. "IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS FOR INDICATING POWER, AND FOR REGU-
LATING THE SPEED OF PROPELLERS AND OTHER MACHINERY."
In the Drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section;
and Fig. 3 is a plan of my improved regulator and indicator. Fig. 4 is a detached
view showing a variatiou in the springs employed; Fig. 5 is a cross section at the
line x, x, of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of a compensating mechanism for equalizing the action on
the governor.
Two disks a, b, are made use of, standing face to face, with radial flanges,
occupying positions contiguous to each other, and between these radial flanges there
are springs c, preferably spiral, and either single or one within the other, and these
springs are more or less numerous, according to the pressure that is to be resisted,
and the springs are held in position by lugs upon the respective flanges entering
the ends of the spiral or helical springs. The force of the engine or other motor is
applied to rotate one of these disks (b) and the other disk a is rotated by the power
from the first disk (b) acting against the springs c, and the springs, revolving the
second disk (a), hence, according to the resistance offered by the second disk (a), so
the springs will be more or less compressed, and as the resistance varies so the
springs will either expand or be compressed, and the radial flanges will be moved
nearer to or farther from each other. These disks are placed, one b, at the rear end
of the engine shaft f and the other on the forward end of the propeller shaft e,
the two shafts e, f, being in line with each other and the disks contiguous, so that

page_text: the difference in the resistance of the propeller shaft when in the water or partially
out of the water will compress the springs or cause them to expand; and the move-
ment thus obtained is used to operate the cut-off or governor of the engine, or the
same movement between any driving and driven shaft is available in operating the
cut-off or governor of any engine or other motor. One of the disks may be fastened
to the shaft and the other be loose upon the shaft and attached to a loose pulley or
gear wheel, through which the power is transmitted to the article to be driven.
In all cases the compression of the springs will be in proportion to the power
required to revolve the shaft or article driven, and the two disks will revolve
together by the radial flanges of one against the springs and by the pressure of
those springs against the radial flanges of the other.
An eye or hub h upon the shaft has two or more arms h¹, at the ends of which
are inclines i formed upon the L-shaped ends of these arms, and these inclines each
pass through a hole in one disk b and stand 'contiguous to inclined surfaces l¹ upon
the disk a, hence the change of position of one disk relatively to the other by
the expansion or compression of the springs gives motion to the inclines i, arms h¹,
and hub h endwise of the shaft. A spring 1, Figs. 1, 2 & 3, or three or more
helical springs 1, Figs. 4 & 5, serve to give to the hub ha return movement in the
opposite direction. If the inclines are made, as shown in the detached view, Fig. 7,
there will be less friction than with the inclines, Fig. 1, because the V-shaped
inclines & upon the ends of the arms are between the inclines ¹ upon the disk a,
and the inclines 12 upon the disk b, and the pressure acts equally to give a move-
ment to the hub longitudinally of the shaft. In the hub h is a groove or rib, and
a fork m in contact with such rib or groove serves to transmit the end movement
of the hub h, resulting from the change of forces, to the lever n of the throttle valve
of the engine or other device used for governing the motor, according to the resistance
to its power.
The present improvement serves as a dynamometer to indicate the amount of
power consumed in driving machinery. The springs c will be compressed as in a
balance, according to the resistance, and in so doing the arms h¹ and hub h will be
moved more or less end wise and serve to turn the pointer or hand p upon a dial t
that is graduated to represent the force in horse-power or otherwise upon the known
principles availed of in such cases. By this means it can be determined what
amount of power is being consumed to drive certain machinery.
The springs c that are placed between the disks a and b may vary in their pro-
portionate resistance when they are more or less compressed by the power exerted,
and to render the action more uniform upon the governor a lever having a sliding
fulcrum x and a cam o are employed to vary the operative length of the lever v
and compensate inequalities in the operation of the springs by giving to the
governor connection na greater proportionate movement as the springs afford
greater resistance and -less motion; this results from the pin upon the lever v
running in the inclined slot o and moving the lever vendwise and increasing the
distance between the bar m and the rod connection n.
To give facility for replacing any of the parts, if worn, the hub h and the plate f¹
against which the springs 7 bear may be made in two pieces bolted together.
In place of the disk b being connected to the shaft it may be part of or
attached to a pulley or wheel, from which the power is communicated.
I claim as iny Invention-
First. In a governor or regulator, two disks a, b, with the springs c between the
lugs of the respective disks, in combination with the revolving shaft f, and means
for connecting the disk b with the article to be revolved, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a governor or regulator, the combination of the disks a, b, springs c,
inclines l, i, arms h¹, and hub h, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination of the spring or springs 1, hub h, and fork m, with the
regulating mechanism, consisting of the inclines, disks, and springs, substantially as
set forth.
Fourth. In a governor or regulator the combination with the resisting springs c,

page_text: and disks a, b, or their equivalents, of the inclines l, i, and connections m, n, to the
governor or regulator, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The lever v, variable fulcrum x, and incline o, in combination with the
connection n to the governor or regulator, and the connection m to the actuating
mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. The combination in the governor or regulator of the hub h, plate f¹,
springs l, arms h², inclines l, i, springs c, and disks a, b, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Neer, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 29th day of November, A.D. 1876.
Witnesses,
T. C. THEAKER, of New York. N.Y.
S. K. BENTUNK,,,
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CHARLES NEER. (LS)