IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Murray Rogers Consulting Engineer & Patent
Agent 21 Finsbury Pavement London EC for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN GOVERNORS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES
communicated to him from abroad by John Marshall Gorham Engineer of
Bucarest Roumania
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Murray Rogers at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1883.
FRANCIS MURRAY ROGERS Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent 21 Finsbury
Pavt London EC. IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED
OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES [communicated to him from abroad by John
Marshall Gorham Engineer of Bucarest Roumania]
In this Invention the boiler pressure is used by means of a cylinder, piston and
piston rod to operate any convenient part of the ordinary centrifugal governor of
the engine, with the object of counteracting or assisting the centrifugal force of the
same according as the boiler pressure rises or falls. When the ordinary governor
is used alone the area of the aperture for the passage of the steam is a constant
with a given load at a given speed, Now as the velocity of steam increases with
the pressure it is necessary to maintain a constant boiler pressure in order to
maintain a given speed unless the area of the aperture for the passage of the steam
can be automatically adjusted as the boiler pressure varies. In practice the rule of
maintaining a constant boiler pressure is rigidly adhered to where a very regular
speed is required. When this apparatus is applied to the governor it automatically
presses on the governor exactly in proportion as the boiler pressure varies and
adjusts the area of the aperture to the velocity of the steam that is to say: I use
increased pressure to counteract the effects of increased pressure and to restore
equilibrium and so effective is the action of the steam that if for the sake of
experiment I use a cylinder of too large a diameter I get the engine automatically
Dies 37

page_text: to run slower as the boiler pressure increases, but when I use a cylinder proportioned
to the governor I get exactly the same speed whether the boiler pressure be 50 lbs
or 100 lbs the action being perfectly automatic
With the ordinary Engine Governor operating a throttle valve, any increase
in speed, due to increased pressure in the boiler, will cause the balls to expand
by means of centrifugal force, alone: The fork attached to the governor
slide is thereby raised, and the area through which steam enters to the engine
cylinder, is reduced by the closing of the throttle valve; this however requires
an appreciable time, since as the throttle valve closes greater resistance has
to be overcome involving a slight increase of speed in the engine I so mount
my cylinder, piston, and rod, which cylinder is in free communication with
the boiler as that any increase or decrease in the boiler pressure shall by
means of such piston and rod be conveyed directly to the governor fork lever, in
such a manner as that increase in pressure will assist the centrifugal force,
separating the governor balls, and by means of the slide, fork lever, and throttle
valve; lessen the area by which steam is admitted to the engine cylinder, resulting
in an instantaneous decrease in speed., A. decrease in Boiler pressure having an
opposite effect. When my improvement is applied to an equilibrium valve in
which the governor balls act directly upon the spindle of such valve, I apply a
lever to this spindle and cause my piston and rod to so act upon it as to assist the
governor balls in closing the valve admitting steam to the cylinder; should
the boiler pressure exceed the desired limit, or open such valve; should it fall
below it.
In this manner I get a very steady running engine and render governors of
the centrifugal class very sensitive to slight changes in boiler pressure or load
What I claim therefore as my invention is.
The application of the boiler pressure to a centrifugal governor in order to adjust
the area of the steam passage to suit the velocity of steam at different pressures
with a view to obtaining greater regularity of speed

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis Murray Rogers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th July 1883.
FRANCIS MURRAY ROGERS Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 21 Finsbury
Pavement, London E.C. IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR REGULATING THE
SPEED OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES. A communication to him from abroad
by John Marshall Gorham, Engineer of Bucarest Roumania
In this invention, the boiler pressure is used, by means of a cylinder, piston and
piston rod, to operate any convenient part of the ordinary Centrifugal Governor of
the engine, with the object of counteracting or assisting, the centrifugal force of the
same according as the boiler pressure rises or falls.
When the ordinary governor is used alone, the area of the aperture for the
passage of the steam is a constant, with a given load, at a given speed, now as the
velocity of steam increases with the pressure it is necessary to maintain a constant
boiler pressure, in order to maintain a given speed; unless the area of the aperture
for the passage of the steam, can be automatically adjusted as the boiler pressure
varies.
In practice the rule of maintaining a constant boiler pressure, is rigidly adhered
to, where a very regular speed is required.
When this apparatus is applied to the governor it automatically presses on. the
governor, exactly in proportion as the boiler pressure varies, and adjusts the area
of the aperture, to the velocity of the steam, that is to say, I use increased pressure
to counteract the effects of increased pressure, and to restore equilibrium, and so
effective is the action of the steam, that if for the sake of experiment I use a
cylinder of too large a diameter, I get the engine automatically to run slower as the
boiler pressure increases, but when I use a cylinder proportioned to the governor, I
get exactly the same speed whether the boiler pressure is 50, or 100 lbs, the action
being perfectly automatic.
With the ordinary engine governor operating a throttle valve, any increase in
speed due to increased pressure in the boiler, will cause the balls to expand by
means of centrifugal force alone, the fork attached to the governor slide is thereby
raised, and the area through which steam enters to the Engine Cylinder is reduced,
by the closing of the throttle valve, this however requires an appreciable time
since as the throttle valve closes, greater resistance has to be overcome, involving a
slight increase of speed in the engine.
I so mount my cylinder, piston, and piston rod, which cylinder is in free com-
munication with the boiler, as that any increase, or decrease, in the boiler pressure,
shall by means of such piston, and rod, be conveyed directly to the governor fork
lever, in such a manner, as that increase in pressure, will assist the centrifugal force,
separating the governor balls, and by means of the slide, fork lever, and throttle
valve, lessen the area by which steam is admitted to the engine cylinder, resulting
in an instantaneous decrease in speed, a decrease in boiler pressure having an
opposite effect.
When my improvement is applied to an equilibrium valve, in which the governor
balls act directly upon spindle of such valve, I apply a lever to this spindle, and
cause my piston, and rod, to so act upon it, as to assist the governor balls in closing
the valve, admitting steam to the cylinder, should the boiler pressure exceed the
desired limit, or open such valves should it fall below it.
The exact method of applying my invention will of course vary according to the
class of governor employed, if for instance the boiler pressure be used to regulate a

page_text: governor of ordinary type, the arrangement may be as shewn in Fig. 2. wherein
the cylinder A and piston B which is in free communication with the boiler,
operate the rod C and governor fork lever D any increase of pressure above that
required to obtain the desired speed, tending to force the piston B into the
cylinder A, thereby lifting the rod C, fork lever D, and closing the throttle valve,
the cylinder could of course be placed under the lever, or at the other end as at F',
or again it might be mounted upon the frame at G, acting directly upon the slide
at H, and so forcing apart the balls I. I. raising fork lever D, and closing the valve,
or if I apply my method of regulation to an equilibrium valve, the arrangement
shewn at Fig. 1. may be employed where the piston B forces down the valve
spindle J, or again the cylinder and piston are so mounted as to act directly upon
the valve spindle. It must however be obvious that the application of my
invention will vary in every case, special devices being employed to suit the
Governor in use
Having now described my invention I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the exact method of application, described, and shewn, since they
can be modified in a number of ways without departing from the invention claimed
herein.
·
What I consider as original and therefore desire to have secured to me by Letters
Patent is,
The Application of the Boiler Pressure, by means of a cylinder, piston, and rod,
or rods, to a centrifugal governor, in such a manner as that the area of the passage
admitting steam to the Cylinder, or Cylinders, shall be adjusted to suit the velocity
of steam, at different pressures, in order that-greater regularity of speed in the
engine, may be obtained, substantially as described herein.
In witness whereof I the said Francis Murray Rogers, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twelvth day of July in the year of our Lord 1883.
FRANCIS MURRAY ROGERS (L.S.)