IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE POWER ENGINES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Samuel Francis Robinson, of Ipswich, in the
County of Suffolk, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR
STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE POWER ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Samuel Francis
Robinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th September
1880.
ARTHUR SAMUEL FRANCIS ROBINSON, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
GOVERNORS FOR STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE POWER
ENGINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in governors for steam and other
motive power engines.
The governor consists of a disc with a boss on one side of it, and this disc is
keyed upon the crank shaft of the engine. The disc has two studs upon its face
diametrically opposite the one to the other, and these serve as axes about which a
pair of weights are able to move. When at rest the weights lie close in against the
boss of the disc, and a spring (applied us hereinafter described) retains them in this
position; but under centrifugal action when the engine is in motion the weights
move outwards from the centre in nearly radial directions. One of the weights has
an eccentric formed around its boss, through which the stud axis passes.
The weights are coupled together by a link passing from a pin upon the eccentric
of the one weight to a corresponding pin inserted into the other weight near to the
stud axis, and on the inner side of the weight or that next to the disc.
Thus the effect of gravitation is neutralised, as its tendency in all positions of the
governor is to make the two weights move in opposite directions about their axes.
The eccentric which is on one of the weights is embraced by a strap or link,
and the strap or link has two limbs, between which the boss of the disc lies. The
two limbs of the strap or link unite in one after passing the boss, and there receive
a pin. The pin passes through a slotted hole in the disc to the other side, where it
is fixed into the back of a slide, upon which the eccentric for moving the slide valve

page_text: of the engine is carried, so that the movement of the governor weights is trans-
mitted to the eccentric of the engine, and varies its throw and lead.
The same weight which has an eccentric upon its boss has also a rod jointed to
it near its centre of motion; the rod passes through a coiled spring, and has at its
further end an adjustable head upon which the spring abuts, so as to draw the
'weight in towards the central boss of the disc. The foot of the spring is sup-
ported upon a small platform having a hole in the centre through which the rod
passes, and this platform is carried by the stud axis of the weight and by a small
ledge provided upon the periphery of the boss.
The eccentric of the engine is not fixed permanently upon the slide of the 1
governor, but is made moveable thereon, so that its position may be altered when
it is desired to run the engine in the reverse direction; and this shifting the
eccentric upon the slide is the only alteration in the governor mechanism which
has to be made in order to change the direction in which the engine runs. The
slide of the governor has a projection upon it, which is cylindrical externally, and
has a hole through it by which the crank shaft passes freely, and so that the slide
in its motions never comes into contact with the shaft. When the governor weights
are in their mean position this cylindrical projection is concentric with the shaft.
The eccentric is recessed to fit on to this cylindrical projection, and it is locked upon
it by a clamping screw or like contrivance, which can be slackened when it is
-wished to reverse the engine. The eccentric is then turned about three quarters
round, and is roclamped in the new position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Samuel Francis Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th March 1881.
ARTHUR SAMUEL FRANCIS ROBINSON, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE POWER
ENGINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in governors for steam and other
motive power engines.
The governor consists of a disc with a hoss on one side of it, and this disc is
keyed or fastened upon the crank shaft of the engine. The disc has two studs
upon its face diametrically opposite the one to the other, and these serve as axes
about which a pair of weights are able to move. When at rest, the weights lie
close in against the boss of the disc, and a spring (applied as herein after described)
retains them in this position; but under centrifugal action when the engine is in
motion the weights move outwards from the centre in nearly radial directions.
One of the weights has an eccentric formed around its boss, through which the stud
axis passes.
The weights are coupled together by a link passing from a pin upon the eccentric
of the one weight to a corresponding pin inserted into the other weight near to the
stud axis, and on the inner side of the weight or that next to the disc; thus the
effect of gravitation is noutralized, as its tendency in all positions of the governor
is to make the two weights move in opposite directions about their axes.
The eccentric which is on one of the weights is embraced by a strap or link, and
the strap or link has two limbs, between which the boss of the disc lies. The two
limbs of the strap or link unite in one after passing the boss, and there receive a
pin. The pin passes through a slotted hole in the disc to the other side, where it is
fixed into the back of a slide, upon which the eccentric for moving the slide valve
of the engine is carried, so that the movement of the governor weights is trans-
mitted to the eccentric of the engine, and varies its throw and lead or angular
position in relation to the crank.
The same weight which has an eccentric upon its boss has also a rod jointed to it
near its centre of motion; the rod passes through a coiled spring, and has at its
further end an adjustable head upon which the spring abutts, so as to draw the
weight in towards the central boss of the disc. The foot of the spring is sup-
ported upon a small platform having a hole in the centre through which the rod
passes, and this platform' is carried by the stud axis of the weight and by a small
ledge provided upon the periphery of the boss.
The eccentric of the engine is not fixed permanently upon the slide of the
governor, but is made moveable thereon, so that its position may be altered when
it is desired to run the engine in the reverse direction. The slide of the
governor has a projection upon it, which is cylindrical externally, and has a hole
through it by which the crank shaft passes freely, and so that the slide in its
motions never comes into contact with the shaft. When the governor weights are
in their mean position this cylindrical projection is concentric with the shaft. The
eccentric is bored or recessed to fit on to this cylindrical projection, and it is locked
upon it.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proced to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a governor constructed according to my Invention;
Figure 2 shows the opposite side; and Figure 3, a plan with the disc and casing
partly in section.
a is the crank shaft of the engine. b is a disc; it has a boss b' by which it is
fixed upon the shaft a, and a flange 63, which serves partially to encase the
mechanism. c, c, are studs having T heads; they are inserted through the disc b,
and securely fixed by a pair of bolts. d, d, are weights mounted upon the studs c,
and free to turn around them. e is an eccentric which is formed of a piece with
the weight d. f is a link by which the weights & and d' are coupled, so that they
move together to or from the centre. g is a spring tending to draw the weights
inwards, and which controls the centrifugal action of the weights. The weight d
bas not a separate spring, but is controlled by the spring g acting through the
coupling link f; consequently when the engine is running the coupling link must
always be in tension, and for this reason the mechanism will run more smoothly
than if the arrangement were such as to expose the coupling link to strains in two
directions. his the strap of the eccentric; it is so formed as also to encircle the
boss b¹, and at its further end it receives a pin i. A considerable advantage arising
out of the use of the eccentrice and strap h is the ready means it affords for fitting
and adjustment, a nut and screw serving to tighten the eccentric strap to the
proper degree. It is important in these parts that there should be both freedom
and accuracy of fit. The pin i enters the boss of a slide k mounted upon the outer
side of the disc b. A transverse section of the slide k is shown at Figure 2ª, and
an end view of the same (together with the eccentric of the engine) at Figure 2B.
The slide k is carried in guides l, l, one of which is cast upon the disc b, and the
other is fixed to it in such a manner as to be adjustable to facilitate fitting and to
compensate for wear. kis a cylindrical boss upon the slide k; it has an elongated
hole through it by which the crank shaft a passes. m is the engine eccentric; it
fits onto the boss k', and is beld in place by the cover plate 2, which is fixed
by screws to the end of the boss. Bolts ³, ³, are passed through the cover
plate into the eccentric to prevent it from turning upon the boss when the
engine is at work.
The weight d is cast with lugs upon it, to which the rod n is pin jointed, and this
rod passes through the coiled spring g. The spring g stands upon a platform p,
which is supported at one end by the stud on which the weight & turns, and at the
other by a ledge b* provided for the purpose upon the boss b'.
Upon the top of the rod na cap o is screwed, and by it the spring is compressed
so that it may offer a suitable amount of resistance to the divergence of the weights,
according to the speed at which it is desired that, the engine should run.
A lock nut is provided beneath the cap o.
In this as in other governors of the same class the divergence of the weights has
the effect of reducing the distance between the centre of the shaft and that of the
eccentric; the travel of the valve is consequently reduced, and the valve then
admits steam to the cylinder during a smaller proportion of the stroke.
The reversal of the engine whilst running is not intended, but during a short
stoppage it can very readily be set to run in a reversed direction.
For this purpose the eccentric has to be turned upon the boss k' after removing
the bolts To regulate this operation I fix light fingers a², a², upon the shaft,
and a pin m¹ upon the eccentric m. In order to place the governor suitably to
control the reverse eccentric I at the same time turn it half round upon the shaft a,
and that this may be readily done I employ a set screw 6º to secure the boss b' upon
the shaft. When this screw is slackened the whole of the governor apparatus is
free to turn; it should be shifted half round, and again secured. So that to set

page_text: the engine to run in the reversed direction there are two operations; the turning
of the governor on the shaft, and the turning of the occentric upon the boss of the
slide.
The eccentric is fastened again to the boss of the slide by reinserting the bolts
after it has been turned, so as to cause the pin m' to pass from one finger a³ to the
other.
Figure 4 is a side elevation with part of the case removed of another governor
constructed according to my Invention; Figure 5 is an elevation, and Figure 6 is a
plan with the casing in section; this governor differs only in some details from that
shewn by the Figures 1, 2, and 3. I case the mechanism completely by having a
second flanged disc b, b, put on to the shaft in two parts, and bolted to the disc b
around the periphory; this admits of the boss b¹ being upon the outside, and the
weights & and dare able to come close in to the shaft. A support is also obtained
for the outer ends of the studs c. I have shown also weights of unequal sizes in these
Figures. The internal boss b' being dispensed with, tho platform p is supported by
a lug upon the interior of the casing. The platform is also placed upon the stud c
somewhat differently, so that it serves to prevent the weight d moving end wise
upon the stud. There is a collar upon the other stud to serve the same end in
respect to the weight d. Figure 7 is a side elevation with part of the case removed
of another governor constructed according to my Invention; Figure 8 is an elevation,
and Figure 9 is a plan with a part of the casing in section. The principle point in
which this governor differs froin those shown by the preceding Figures is that the
eccentric m of the engine is carried upon a part h, k, swinging about a centre in
place of sliding in guides. A longitudinal section of the part h, k, is shown
separately at Figure 8^; it is hung as is seen on the exterior of the disc b at a point
near its periphery. The eccentric is mounted upon the swinging piece k, k, in the
same way as upon the slide of the other governors, and has similar movements
imparted to it. k, k, k, is a stud of large diameter fixed upon k, k; its neck passes
through the disc b by a slot provided for it, and on the inner side it is embraced by
the end of the eccentric strap h; for this the eccentric strap is altered in form,
and it does not embrace the shaft a. As in the previous Figures, the inner end of
the spring platform is represented as being hung from a lug on the face of the
disc b.
Figure 10 is an elevation with a part of the case removed of a governor intended
to work an expansion valve upon the back of the main slide; Figure 11 is an
elevation, and Figure 12 is a plan of this governor. In this case the entire governor
is turned upon the shaft when the engine is to be reversed, and so the position of
the eccentric is altered, it being unnecessary in this case to alter the connection
between the governor and the eccentric.
Each of the weights d, d', carries an eccentric, and the same strap h, h, embraces
both. The method of coupling the weights is slightly varied, the eccentric of the
weight being provided with an arm from which the coupling link passes to the
other weight d.
The eccentric m, m, for working the expansion valve of the engine is fixed
directly to the strap h, h, by bolts passing through slotted holes in the disc b. The
bolts where they pass through the slots are surrounded by rings which are free to
turn upon them.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. My improved governors, substantially as described and illustrated by the
annexed Drawings.
Second. The means by which the movement of the governor weights is trans-
mitted to the eccentric of the engine, viz., by an eccentric on one of the weights and
a strap embracing it, such strap being also connected with the part on which the
eccentric of the engine is carried, substantially as described..
Third. The means by which the eccentric of the engine is rendered reversible,
viz., by providing upon the slide or part of the governor controlled by the governor

page_text: weights a boss through which the shaft of the engine passes, and on which the
eccentric of the engine is able to be turned and clamped in different positions.
Fourth. The method of combining the governor weights, the spring, and the
coupling link, the spring influencing one of the weights only through the coupling
link, from which it results that the link is always in tension when the engine is at
work.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Samuel Francis Robinson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.