IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Henry George Wells, of the firm Wells and
Vasserot, of 45, Essex Street, Strand, London, Patent Agents, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS." -A communi-
cation from Eugène Rambaud, of Lyons, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Henry Georgo.
Wells, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th July 1856.
I, JOSEPH HENRY GEORGE WELLS, of the firm Wells and Vasserot, of:
45, Essex Street, Strand, London, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR REGULATORS,"
(a communication from Eugène Rambaud, of Lyons, France,) to be as
follows; and consists in a globe bearing two or more vanes, nearly similar to
the screws of vessels. The said globe is mounted on a rod of metal, that it.
touches only by two narrow collars, so as to diminish the friction. The lower.
collar of the globe has a small projection that enters into a screw cut on the
said rod; this rod turns freely in two oil cups fixed to the frame of the
machine, and receives its motion by means of a band or cord from the driving
shaft or by bevel wheels.
The vanes being inclined at an average of 45 degrees, receive from the air a
certain resistance (which may be, regulated by the inclination of the vanes),,
& cannot turn as quick as the rod. The difference in speed causes the pro-
jection to slide in the screw & raise the globe, & its own weight' causes it to

page_text: descend when the movement of the rod is diminished. The globe in ascending
and descending operates a lever, the extremity, of which is engaged in an
annular notch in the said globe. The sensitiveness of this apparatus may be
greatly increased by making the vanes move in water, and by reason of their
inclination would ascend in the liquid in a similar manner as the screws of
vessel advance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Henry George Wells in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
HENRY GEORGE WELLS, of the firm Wells and Vasserot, of 45, Essex Street,
Strand, London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Henry George Wells, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
Henry George Wells, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Joseph Henry George Wells, my executors, administrators, and
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," a communication
from Eugène Rambaud, of Lyons, France, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Joseph Henry George Wells, 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 per-
formed, 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 Joseph Henry George Wells, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The accompanying Drawing fully illustrates the Invention. A is a globe,

page_text: bearing 2 or more vanes B, nearly similar to the screws of vessels. The said
globe is mounted on a rod of metal C, that it touches only by two narrow
collars a, b, so as to diminish the friction. The said rod C has a screw cut
thereon, the thread of which is rather coarse, and which turns in a correspond-
ing thread cut in the collar b. D, D, two oil cups, fixed to the frame E,
supporting the rod, receiving a rotary motion by means of the pullies F, con-
nected to the driving shaft by a band or cord. If prefered, the rod may
receive its motion with bevel gearing.
The vanes being inclined at an angle of 45 degrees (more or less), receives
from the air a resistance (which may be regulated by the inclination of the
vanes), and cannot turn at the same speed as the rod. The difference in
speed causes the said globe to ascend, and its own weight causes it to descend
when the movement of the rod is diminished. The globe A in ascending and
descending operates a lever, the extremity of which is engaged in the annular
notch G; the said lever may be connected to the throttle valve of a steam
engine, or otherwise, in any convenient manner. The two stops c, d, being
fixed only by adjusting screws, may be placed higher or lower, and so regulate
the space reserved for the movement of the globe A. The sensibility of this
governor may be greatly increased by making the vanes move in water, and by
reason of their inclination would ascend in the liquid in a similar manner as
the screws of vessels advance.
Having thus described the particulars and nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, it must be
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact form of any part of the
apparatus or governor; but what I claim is, regulating or governing the speed
of prime movers, substantially, in the manner shewn and herein fully
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Henry George Wells, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven.
J. H. G. WELLS. (L.S.)