IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE SPEED OF ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINERY, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RECORDING OR REGULATING SAID SPEED
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith and Richard Wall, both of Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE SPEED OF ENGINES AND
OTHER MACHINERY, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RECORDING OR REGULATING SAID
SPEED."
Sealed the 25th March 1879, and dated the 27th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith and Richard
Wall at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September
1878.
WILLIAM SMITH and RICHARD WALL, both of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE
SPEED OF ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINERY, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RECORDING OR
REGULATING SAID SPEED."
This Invention consists of a pump to circulate water driven from the shaft of the
engine or machine, and an indicator showing the quantity of fluid passing at any
given moment, to which may be added if desired a pencil on the indicator, and a
travelling ribbon worked by clockwork to keep a continuous diagram record of
the indicated speed.
Pump. Almost any form of pump giving accurate results would do, but with
most kinds a reversing gear would be required on shipboard or on locomotive or
winding engines to show whether the engine is going forward or reversed. The
plan we prefer consists of a circular metallic box in which a drum revolves, this
drum fits closely the two flat sides of the box, but is of less diameter than the
interior of the box, thereby leaving an anular space at its circumference. This
space is the interior or waterway of the pump. Fixed to the drum so as to revolve
with it is a vane or arm which partitions the annular space. This vane is intended
to force the liquid through one of two connecting tubes in a direction according to
the way
in which the pump or drum should be revolving. One tube being the
inlet, the other the outlet, changing their names as the pump is reversed.

page_text: S
An abutment is worked through a
valent, which is itself kept in motion by a radial bar fixed to
This abutment is thrown back at every revolution of the drum, leaving the annular
space clear for the vane to pass by. The abutment does not begin to move back
until the vane has approached to within 45°, when it moves back rapidly so as to
allow the vane to pass, and then returns again to its seat at the same rate, that is,
it will have returned to its seat when the vane has receeded 45 degrees. Others of
the various forms of rotary pumps and arrangement of abutment will do, the main
point being to give a constant flow of water exactly proportionate to the speed of
the engine. This is done better by rotary or centrifugal than by reciprocating
A wheel is fixed to drum spindle; this wheel is geared to the main shaft
by an endless hide, rope, or other suitable connection. By this means the pump is
made to work so as to force the liquid through either one or the other of the tubes,
according as the engine is going "ahead" or "astern."
pumps.
Indicator. This is a circular metallic box having within a vane which is fixed to
the spindle passing through the box at some distance from its centre. From the
vane's spindle across the centre of the box to its circumference is a fixed partition,
which with the vane when they are both in the same line divide the box into two
equal parts. The vane's spindle is extended a little beyond each side of the box,
one end having a pointer fixed to it in a line with the vane, the other having fixed
to it a grooved wheel, to which wheel at points diametrically opposite are attached
the ends of two flexible cords, the other end being fastened to a spiral spring at
one or more points. The circular part of the box is extended so as to allow of a
plate glass being put over the pointer. Behind the pointer is placed a dial
graduated from zero each way. "Pointer stands at zero when there is no force
ahead," the other "astern."
acting it by the water," by one side marked
Two tubes enter the indicator; these tubes are continuations of those entering the
pump. When the pump is in operation, the liquid is forced through one of these
tubes and enters one side of the indicator. As there is no free outlet for this liquid
from this space it exerts a force against the vane, and carries it over a distance
proportionate to the rate at which the liquid is being forced. As the pointer is
fixed to the same spindle as the vane, it will always indicate the degree to which
the vane has been carried; the wheel and spring at back of indicator is covered
with a box. By this arrangement no packing is required for the spindle, the liquid
being allowed to fill this space, also the space between the glass and dial.
66
If more than one indicator is used, the same stream is made to flow through the
whole of them, returning from the last instrument to the pump, as it is in fact an
endless stream of water or other liquid that is kept in motion by the pump.
The rolling or pitching of a vessel in no way effects it, every part being counter-
balanced.
To compensate for leakage and expansion a tank is placed in any convenient
place, and a pipe leading from it is connected with any part of the pipe communi-
cating with the pump.
The tank can be simply a cylinder with a piston weighted or otherwise working
loosely within.
The packing of piston is preferably a flexible cylinder such as india-rubber, one
edge of which is attached to the cylinder, the other to the piston after the manner
of a diaphragm; upon the piston a spring is placed.
The pump is preferably double; this gives a more regular flow to the liquid
being forced, the cams of each pump working alternately.
By connecting the indicator with the throttle valve directly or indirectly, this
indicator and passing a ribbon of paper across by clockwork, a diagram
the
can be
taken and the performance registered. As the pipes from the pump can be long or
on board ship or other like place, or several indicators can be used
cabin

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Smith and Richard Wall in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th March 1879.
WILLIAM SMITH and RICHARD WALL, both of Liverpool, in the County of
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE
5 Lancaster.
SPEED OF ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINERY, APPLICABLE ALSO TO RECORDING OR
REGULATING SAID SPEED."
Fig. 1 being a sectional elevation of the pump; Fig. 2, a sectional plan of same;
Fig. 3, section of port H; Fig. 4, section of indicator; Fig. 5, front view of same;
Fig. 6, back view of same with end cover removed; Fig. 7, section of box N.
This Invention consists of a pump to circulate water driven from the shaft of the
engine or machine, and an indicator showing the quantity of fluid passing it at any
given moment, to which may be added if desired a pencil on the indicator, and a
travelling ribbon worked by clockwork to keep a continuous diagram record of the
indicated speed.
Pump. Almost any form of pump giving accurate results would do, but with
most kinds a reversing gear would be required on shipboard or on locomotive or
winding engines, to show whether the engine is going forward or reversed. The
plan we prefer consists of a circular metallic box A, A¹, divided into two compart-
ments transversely by a diaphragm M. In each half of this box a drum D, D',
revolves, armed with pistons F, F¹, accurately fitting the cylinder. Each cylindrical
compartment of the box is cut away at L, so as to open out into two other similar
but smaller cylinders B, B¹, in which work abutments I, I¹. The abutments I, I¹,
and drums D, D', are keyed to axles J' and J respectively geared together by spur
wheels K, K¹, so as to work synchronously. The drums D, D¹, fit closely the two
flat sides of the casings, but the drums D, D', are of less diameter than the casing,
and between them and the casing are the interiors or waterways of the pump.
The two pistons F, F¹, are attached to the drums D, D', on opposite sides of the
spindle J, so as to cover each other's dead point, and enable the pressure caused by
the revolution to be more uniform. Two ports H, G, in the casings A are con-
nected by piping with opposite sides of the indicating apparatus hereafter described.
They are in all respects similar to each other, and each in turn become the inlet or
outlet port as the pistons revolve in one direction or the reverse.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The works being in the position shown in the Drawings and the piston F
travelling in the direction indicated by the arrows, H will be the inlet valve,
and G the outlet. The piston F travelling on closes the inlet valve H and forces
the water forward through outlet valve G, by the time F has passed H and
uncovered it, the abutment I has moved round till it has come in contact with D,
and so prevents the inflowing water from flowing direct to G. When the piston
closes G, the outflow of the water is temporarily arrested, but the lower pump is
ejecting and supplies the flow. In order to prevent small irregularities caused by
this occasional stoppage of a portion of the flow, we place an air chamber like those
sometimes used in locomotive pumps in the circuit of the pipe between each port
and the indicator, so as to take up the momentary increase or diminution of
pressure. Others of the various forms of rotary pumps and arrangement of abut-
ment will do, the main point being to give a constant flow of water exactly
proportionate to the speed of the engine. This is done better by rotary or
centrifugal than by reciprocating pumps. A wheel is fixed to the drum spindle J;
this wheel is geared to the main shaft by an endless hide, rope, or other suitable
connection. By this means the pump is made to work so as to force the liquid
through either one or the other of the tubes, according as the engine is going ahead
or astern. Indicator. This is a circular metallic box N having within it a vane O
which is fixed to the spindle P, passing through the box at the centre or some
distance from it, as shown in the Drawing. From the spindle of the vane across

page_text: the centre of the box, if the vane bo n
110
wheel at 5
ference is a fixed partition Q, which with the vane O when
same line divide the box into two equal parts. The vane's spindle P is extended
little beyond each side of the box, one end having a pointer R fixed to it in a line
points diametrically opposite are attached the ends of two flexible cords or pre-
ferably chains T, T¹. The other ends of the chains are fastened to a spiral spring U
at one or more points. The circular part of the box is extended, so as to allow of a
plate of glass V being put over the pointer. Behind the pointer is placed a dial
graduated from zero each way. The pointer stands at zero when there is no force I
acting on it by the water. One side is marked ahead, and the other astern. Two
tubes enter the indicator at W, W¹, these tubes are continuations of those entering
the pump; when the pump is in operation, the liquid is forced through one of these
tubes and enters one side of the indicator. As there is no free outlet for this liquid
from this space it exerts a force against the vane, and carries it over a distance
proportionate to the rate at which the liquid is being forced. As the pointer is
fixed to the same spindle as the vane, it will always indicate the degree to which
the vane has been carried. The wheel and spring at the back of the indicator are
covered with a box. By this arrangement no packing is required for the spindle,
the liquid being allowed to fill this space, also the space between the glass and dial.
If the vane be placed in the centre it must be made loose so as to allow water to
pass. If more than one indicator is used, the same stream is made to flow through
the whole of them, returning from the last instrument to the pump, it being in fact
an endless stream of water or other liquid kept in motion by the pump. The
rolling or pitching of a vessel in no way affects it, every part being counter-
balanced.
To compensate for leakage and expansion, a tank is placed in any convenient
place, and a pipe leading from it is connected with any part of the pipe communi-
cating with the pump. The tank can be simply a cylinder with a piston weighted
or otherwise working loosely within; a stop-cock should be placed between the
tank and the pipe. The packing of the piston is preferably a flexible cylinder, such
as india-rubber, one edge of which is attached to the cylinder, the other to the
piston after the manner of a diaphragm; upon the piston a spring is placed. The
pump is preferably double, as it gives a more regular flow to the liquid being forced,
the piston of each pump working alternately. By connecting the indicator with
the throttle valve directly or indirectly, this apparatus can be made to do duty as a
governor. By putting a pencil in the indicator and passing a ribhon of paper
across by clockwork, a diagram can be taken and the performance registered. As
the pipes from the pump can be long or short, the indicator can be placed anywhere
on the bridge or in the captain's cabin on board ship or other liko place, or several
indicators can be used. Sometimes instead of the glass we may place a solid brass
or other plate on the indicator, and make the interior pointer of magnetized iron
protected by magnetic oxide or other covering. Outside we suspend a magnet on
a pivot opposite the spindle of the indicator. This being attracted by the magnet
will move round with the pointer. For ordinary purposes however the glass plate
will do very well, and this magnetic arrangement is not a necessary part of our
Invention.
Having now described our Invention and the best mode known to us of
carrying it into effect, we wish it to be understood that we make no claim for
the use of a rotary pump broadly as an hydraulic governor, but only of our special
arrangement of pump, and that what we believe to be new and desire to protect
under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
machinery by means of a rotary or other pump, geared to said engine or machinery,
1st. The mode described of indicating the speed of a steam engine or other
indicating proportionately the amount of water or other fluid or force of the
of

page_text: engine.
mery.
stream passing through, and hence approximately or accurately the speed of the
2nd. The combination of a revolving piston such as F, revolving abutment such
as I, two ports on opposite sides of the aperture for the revolving abutment, and
pipes to take the water to indicator or governor, substantially as described.
3rd. The hydraulic indicator herein described consisting of a vane kept in
position by a weight, spring, or mechanical equivalent thereof, but capable of
Oscillating to and fro according to the direction and amount of said current, in
combination with a pointer for indicating the direction and amount of flow or
amount only, and thus the number of revolutions of machinery driving same.
4th. The general arrangement and construction of rotary pump, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Smith and Richard Wall, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.