An Improved Means or Method of Governing or Controlling Steam Engines and other Motors.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means or Method of Governing or Controlling Steam
Engines and other Motors.
I, EDWARD HOYLE, Pleasant View, Todmorden, Violin Maker, 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:-
My governor consists of a heavy pendulum, A, Figure 1, the length of which
can be regulated to suit the speed at which the engine is desired to run, made to
oscillate by means of a crank, B, fixed at the end of a shaft, on which shaft is a
fly wheel, C, Figures 1 and 2, so that all may work smoothly together. The
connexion with the engine is by means of two spur wheels, D D, Figure 2, one
broader than the other, as may be required. These wheels may be transposed,
or otherwise altered, to suit circumstances. One of these wheels travels within
desired limits on a screw cut on the shaft, thus giving the required thrust or pull.
The boss of this wheel, at each end, and the shoulders or collars, E E, with which
it comes in contact, are cut to the pitch of the thread used, so that the stop cach
way is at right angles to the thread; thus leaving the wheel free to travel, one
way or the other, in all its positions. By this arrangement the engine and governor
may to a slight extent outrun each other; the wheel on the screw by this means
varying its position in accordance with the power required.
If it be desired to make the governor quicker in its action it may take another
form. The crank which drives the pendulum may be on a counter-shaft. and thus
the fly wheel and the wheel on the screw may be caused to make several revolutions
for one oscillation of the pendulum. Figures 3 and 4 represent this arrangement, A,
Figures 3, is a hollow ratchet wheel, which turns loosely on the shaft. It contains a
coiled spring, one end of which is fastened to the inside of the wheel, and the other
is fastened to the shaft. The ratchet wheel is driven by a click, B, which is a
spring, either serpentine or spiral, and which is only capable of giving a certain
thrust, either through being made just strong enough when using the desired
proportion of its force, or through being made adjustable, so as to give the thrust
required. The click, on driving the ratchet wheel, compresses the coiled spring to
the degree at which it is required to drive the governor. At this point of com-
pression it carries with it the spur wheel C, which is fastened to the same shaft as
the coiled spring. The click is driven directly by the engine by means of a rock-
shaft or some of its reciprocating motions, and partakes of all its variations of
speed; but when the coiled spring is sufficiently compressed the click can do no
more than to keep up the compression, no matter what the speed of the engine may
be for the moment; it cannot exceed or increase the compression, as it has not the
power to push the ratchet wheel far enough for the detent to catch another tooth.
The two springs will thus be in equilibrium as regards tension or stress. The wheel C
drives the wheel D. On the same shaft as the wheel D the crank is fixed which
drives the pendulum E. The spur wheel F drives the wheel G, Figures 3 and 4,
which is fixed on the same shaft as the fly wheel of the governor, H, Figures 3
and 4. On this shaft also is the screw, with the loose wheel I on it. J is a wheel
rigidly driven by the motor, and varies in speed with the motor; this variation
accelerates or retards the wheel on the screw, thus causing it to take up a position
on the screw that will give the power required. A groove in the loose wheel, I,
carries a clip, K, which turns freely in the groove. To this clip is fastened the
fork L. The rod or spindle, M, which is the spindle of the throttle-valve, is
fastened to the fork at N. Any variation of the speed of the motor will cause a
simultaneous movement of the wheel I towards one of the collars; the wheel I

page_text: takes with it the fork L, and the spindle of the throttle-valve M, and thus adds to
or diminishes the power, so as to bring the motor to the speed at which the governor
is arranged for it to run.
On starting the engine the loose wheel will run up to one of the collars, and the
governor will have a rigid drive from the engine till it acquires its own natural
speed, that is, the speed determined by the vibrations of the pendulum.
The ratchet wheel may be fine in the teeth so as to ensure a more continuous
drive;
but in this case the click will have on it a pivoted foot, with as many teeth
on it as may be desired, the exact counterpart, so far as it goes, of the outer
diameter of the ratchet wheel.
Where great precision is not required a belt may be used for driving the
governor.
The rigid wheel, J, may be the narrow one, and may be any number of times
the diameter of the wheel on the screw; so that any variation of the engine will
quickly make itself felt by the wheel on the screw. The diameters of these wheels
will in all cases be such as to suit circumstances.
In this governor, to ensure perfect action, the pendulum should regulate the
governor only, even by means of an escapement whenever great precision is
required; the fly wheel of the governor should have all the inertia necessary to
resist all shocks from the variations of the motor, and thus be able to do all the
work that is necessary to regulate the motor.
The pendulum may be suspended. by means of a round pin or pivot; but if great
nicety is desired it may rest on an edge more or less sharp; the top of the pivot and
the cavity in which it works forming part of a circle the centre of which coincides,
nearly, with the edge of the pivot. As the pendulum swings the top of the cavity
will thus bear on the pivot, thus keeping it steady.
As a marine governor the pendulum will be dispensed with, and the fly-wheel
will be run at a high speed. If it be desired that the governor should maintain a
uniform speed, a wheel about the same weight as the pendulum that would otherwise
be used may take the place of the pendulum, and be made to oscillate by the same
means as the pendulum, that is, by a crank, adjustable or otherwise; in both cases,
as may be desired. The oscillations may vary from twenty degrees to "three
hundred and twenty, more or less as required. If the wheel be made to oscillate
through a great part of its circumference it will require a spring, serpentine for
spiral, somewhat similar to the click, instead of a rigid connecting-rod, as the wheel
will move very unequally at different parts of its oscillation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The novel combination, for the purpose of governing or controlling steam engines
and other motors' or machines, of
1. Heavy pendulum and fly wheel, in connection or otherwise, as an inertia
governor.
2. Wheel on the screw, actuated so as to regulate, by the accelerating or retarding
influence of a wheel rigidly driven by the engine, which wheel" partakes of all the
fluctuations of the engine.
3. Mode of suspension of the pendulum.
4. Oscillating wheel driven. by a crank, as a regulator.
5. Spring connexion'in place of a rigid connecting-rod.
6. Ratchet wheel containing a coiled spring.
7. Spring click, adjustable or otherwise, which with the ratchet wheel -will
produce a uniform motion from one that is irregular. And,
8. Pivoted foot on the click.
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