IMPROVEMENTS IN SPEED GOVERNORS, INDICATORS, AND RECORDERS.”
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Westinghouse, junior, of Pittsburgh, in the State
of Pennsylvania, United States of America, but at present residing at No. 4,
Clayton Square, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN SPEED GOVERNORS, INDICATORS, AND RECORDERS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Westinghouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th April 1877.
GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, junior, of Pittsburgh, in the State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America, at present residing at No. 4, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPEED GOVERNORS, INDICATORS,
AND RECORDERS."
This Invention has for its object to provide apparatus or appliances which
shall (a) be capable of governing the speed of motive-power engines, and (6) serve
to indicate and record such speed, and consists,-
First. In controlling the position of the throttle or other valve which regulates
the quantity or volume of steam or fluid, necessary to give the desired speed of
motion to the engine by means of one or more pistons or plungers acted upon on
one side by a variable pressure of steam or fluid.
In carrying my Invention into practice, under one modification, I connect a
throttle or regulating valve at or to one end of a stem or rod, and at the other a
piston working in a cylinder. Boiler pressure is allowed to act on one side of the
piston, whilst the pressure acting on the other side is regulated by a small valve
operated from a so-called centrifugal governor or like appliance.
Second. As means for indicating and recording the speed of a motive-power
engine, in employing a chamber fed with fluid from a reservoir in which a constant
or nearly constant pressure is maintained, and in providing an indicator or recorder
to make visible the fluctuations of pressure in such chamber; such fluctuations
being caused by the motion of an escape valve operated by the governor mentioned
under the above first head. As sometimes arranged the said chamber is fed from
the boiler below the water level.

page_text: The indicator may be of the nature of a pressure gauge, or any other recorder
adapted to work by the pressure of fluid may be employed.
Third. As means for indicating or recording the motion of a ship through water
or the speed of flow of a stream of water, I employ the fluid pressure chamber and
indicator or recorder above mentioned, and operate the escape valve directly or
through mechanism by the force of the flow of the stream. It will be obvious that
the greater the speed of the ship or of the flow of the stream the greater will be the
action on the escape valve, thus causing a fluctuation of pressure in the fluid
chamber, which fluctuation will be shown by or on the indicator or recorder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Westinghouse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
October 1877.
GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, junior, of Pittsburgh, in the State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America, at present. residing at 4, Clayton Square, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPEED GOVERNORS, INDICATORS, AND
RECORDERS."
This Invention has for its object to provide apparatus or appliances which
shall (a) be capable of governing the speed of motive-power engines, and (b) serve
to indicate and record such speed, and consists,―
First. As means for governing the speed of a motive-power engine in employing
a variable pressure of steam or fluid, acting on one side of one or more pistons or
plungers, to control by means of the motion of the said piston or pistons, plunger or
plungers, the position of the throttle or other valve which regulates the quantity or
volume of steam or fluid necessary to give the desired speed of motion to the said
engine.
In practice the variable action of the steam or fluid on one side of the piston or
pistons, plunger or plungers above mentioned, is obtained by opening and closing
a small valve by means of a so-called centrifugal governor. The centrifugal
governor operating a small valve instead of giving motion directly to a throttle
valve, or like apparatus, may be very greatly diminished in size and weight.
In cases where the shutting off of the steam supply does not prevent an increase
of speed in the engine, as in a locomotive descending an incline, I arrange the above-
mentioned piston or pistons, plunger or plungers, either to partly reverse the said
engine or to apply brake power to arrest the motion thereof.
Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional views of one modification of my improved governor;
1 is a box or case through which steam or fluid passes in the direction of the arrows
from the boiler or container to the cylinder or cylinders of the engine; 2 is a piston
which receives a constant pressure on its under side from the steam or fluid in the
chamber, the said steam or fluid also obtains access through the opening or way 4 to
the chamber 5, and acts on the upper side of the said piston; a way 6, leads from
the chamber 5 to an annular groove 7, opening to the chamber 8; 9 is a passage
opening from 8 to the way 10, leading to the cylinder or cylinders of the engine;
11 is a piston valve attached to a rod 12 working in the chamber 8; 13 is a valve
attached to the piston 2 by the stem 14 for opening and closing the way 15 between
the chambers 3 and 10; 16 is a stop valve for shutting off or allowing the passage of
steam through 1 when it is desired to stop or start the engine; 17 is a cock for
opening and closing communication between the chambers 8 and 10; 18 is a centri-
fugal governor for operating the valve 11 through the rod 12.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The engine being at rest and the top
valve 16 open, and cock 17 closed, steam or fluid presses on the under and upper side
of the piston 2, and also on the upper side of the valve 13, thus causing the said
piston and valve to move in a downward direction, and allow the passage of steam

page_text: or fluid through the way 15 to the cylinder or cylinders of the engine. When
the engine has nearly attained the desired speed, the cock 17 is opened, and the
revolution of the governor 18 causes the valve 11 to take up the position shown in
Fig. 1. The communication between the chamber 8 and the way 9 are then partly
open, so that steam or fluid is free to pass from the chamber 5 above the piston 2 by
the ways 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, to the cylinder or cylinders of the engine. The pressure
on the upper surface of 2 is therefore less than on the under surface, and the
valve 13 is more or less closed, according to the amount of steam or fluid allowed to
pass from the chamber 5. In case the engine should race, the centrifugal governor
would cause the valve 11 to so far open the way 8 that the steam or fluid pressure
in the chamber 5 would be reduced until the pressure on the under side of the
piston 2 would cause the valve 13 to be closed, and cut off all supply of steam or
Huid to the cylinder or cylinders of the engine, except the very small quantity
which could pass through the opening 4, and ways 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. If the motion
of the governor were arrested through any cause the spring 19 would cause the
valve 11 to open the way 8, and the same action would take place as above
described.
Fig. 3 shows a second modification of my improved governor. Here the piston 2 is
made much smaller than in Figs. 1 and 2, and steam or fluid is admitted to
the chamber 5 through the way 4 in the case or box 1. The size of the way 4 is
regulated by the screw 20. The stop valve 16 is provided with a cylinder 21, in
which a trunk or piston formed on the under side of the valve 13 works. Steam or
fluid enters the cylinder 21 through the way 22. The way 8 is here shown leading
to the atmosphere instead of to the cylinder or cylinders. The action is similar to
that described under Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 is a further modification of my improved governor suitable where there is
great resistance to overcome, such as in applying brake power or in partly reversing
the engine, or in moving heavy valves; 2, 21, are pistons connected to the rod 14,
which operates the throttle valve or other desired appliance. Steam or fluid is
admitted between the pistons through the port or way 3, and to the chamber 5 by
the way 4; 20, regulating screw; the way 23ª leads to the atmosphere or to the
condenser; the way 8 leads to the condenser or to the atmosphere, as desired. The
action is similar to that described in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Motion is communicated to
valve gear, brake gear, or other desired appliances through the rod 14.
In all the above views the same letters denote like parts.
It will be evident that various arrangements of centrifugal governors may be
used to give motion to the valve 11, although I prefer the modification shown, and
that the centrifugal governor may be placed at some distance from the piston or
plunger, and that the piston or plunger may operate more than one valve or
other apparatus: 23 are screws or nuts for adjusting the resistance opposed to the
motion of the centrifugal governor.
Fig. 5 shows a further modification of apparatus, whereby the said resistance
may be regulated and the speed of the engine varied without arresting the motion
of the centrifugal governor; 22, spring; 23, adjusting nut; 24, lever.
In a compound engine where a steam chamber is interposed between the high
and low pressure cylinders, it is sometimes necessary to control the action of the
steam in each cylinder separately; when this is the case, I employ two pistons and
stop valves, one for each cylinder, so arranged that steam is first cut off from the
high-pressure cylinder and afterwards from the low-pressure cylinder, or one
governor may be made to operate the controlling valves for both cylinders.
If desired the valve 11 instead of controlling the emission of steam or fluid from
the chamber 5 may be made to control the admission of steam or fluid to the said
chamber, in which case the direction of motion of the said steam or fluid through
the box or case 1 would be reversed.
Under the second part of my Invention. As means for indicating and recording
the speed of a motive-power engine, in employing a chamber fed with fluid from a
reservoir, in which a constant or nearly constant pressure is maintained, and in

page_text: providing an indicator or recorder to make visible the fluctuations of pressure in
such chambers, such fluctuations being caused by the motion of an escape valve
operated by the governors mentioned under the above first head. As sometimes
arranged the said chamber is fed from the boiler below the water level. The
indicator, which may be of the nature of a pressure gauge, also opens to the said
chamber; or any other recorder adapted to work by the pressure of fluid may be
connected thereto.
Figs. 6 and 7 are views illustrative of one modification of my improved
apparatus for indicating and recording the speed of motive-power engines. 30 is a
pipe connected to a source capable of supplying a stream of fluid at constant
pressure, such as the boiler of a steam engine, either above or below the water
space or a series of pumps. The fluid passes along the passages 31 past the pin 32
underneath the diaphragm 33 of the regulating plunger 34. The fluid then passes
through the ways or passages 35 to the chambers 36 and 37, from the chamber 37
it passes through the opening 38 in the plunger valve 39 into the chamber 40, and
thence passes away by the waste water pipe 40. If however the plunger valve 39
is held in the position shown in the Drawings, the water cannot escape into the
chamber 40, and it therefore acts on a gauge or indicator connected to the
chamber 36. The amount of pressure indicated or recorded on the gauge will vary
according to the amount of resistance opposed to the unseating of the plunger
valve 39, and the amount of resistance opposed to the plunger valve 39 will vary
with the speed at which the weighted levers or governor balls 41 are caused to
revolve. The weighted levers or governor balls 41 are caused to revolve by a strap or
its equivalent acting on the pulley 42, and receiving motion from the engine, the
speed of which it is desired to indicate or record. A diaphragm 43 is connected to
the plunger valve 39 to ensure that no fluid shall pass into the chamber 40 except
through the opening 38. 44 is a diaphragm to prevent fluid reaching the
apparatus 41. The weighted levers 41 may be of any desired or ordinary con-
struction, as also may the indicator or recorder attached to 36.
If the maximum number of revolutions of the engine per minute is 500, and the
weighted levers are so adjusted that when the engine is at that speed, the pressure
on the indicator is 80 lbs.; then when the engine is only making 250 revolutions
the indicator will show 20 lbs. It will be obvious that the constant supply of fluid
must have a pressure greater than the maximum pressure to be registered on the
gauge.
When the indicator is applied to locomotive engines, the pressure acting against
the plunger 34 may be arranged to operate a valve or piston similar, and having
like functions, to that described under No. 11, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and thus the
apparatus may serve both as an indicator and a governor.
The gauges used may be graduated to show numbers of revolutions or miles per
hour, according as they are applied to stationary or locomotive engines.
Under the third part of my Invention, as means for indicating or recording the
motion of a ship through water, or the speed of flow of a stream of water, I employ
the fluid pressure chamber and indicator or recorder above mentioned, and operate
the escape valve directly or through mechanism by the force of the flow of the
stream. It will be obvious that the greater the speed of the ship, or of the flow
of the stream, the greater will be the action on the escape valve, thus causing a
fluctuation of pressure in the fluid chamber, which fluctuation will be shown by or
on the indicator or recorder.
Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, are views illustrative of the third part of my Invention
as described under the above second head. 30 is the entrance for, the fluid under
constant pressure; 36, the chamber to which the indicator or recorder is attached;
and 39, the escape valve. The said escape valve, instead of being held to its seat
by the action of revolving weights, is here operated in the following manner :-
A lever 50 centred at 41 rests on the stem 42 of the valve 39, and motion is given to
the said lever through the rod 51 from the resistance opposed to the motion of vane
or disc 52 through the water. The said vane or disc turns on one or other of

page_text: its centres 53, 54, according to the direction in which it is moving through the
water, and gives motion to the rod 51, which works in a tube 55, free to slide
in and out of the tube or sleeve 56 attached to the side 57 of the ship. It will
be obvious that if the tube 55 and vane or disc 52 are immersed or placed in
running water, the speed or flow of such water may be ascertained. If the gauge
for indicating the pressure in the chamber 36 is some distance above the level of
the said chamber, a spring 58 must be employed having a resistance equal to the
weight of a column of water acting on the valve 39, and of the height that
the gauge is above the said valve. Several indicators may be used in different
parts of the ship if desired; or a recorder having a strip of paper moved by clock-
work may be employed to receive impressions from a pencil actuated by the
pressure in the chamber 36.
Having now described and illustrated my said Invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,-
Under the first head,-
First. Apparatus or appliances in which a variable pressure is caused to act on one
side of one or more pistons or plungers, whilst the opposite side or sides are acted
upon by a constant or nearly constant pressure, for the purposes set forth.
Second. The valve 11 arranged and operating substantially in the manner and
for the purposes set forth.
Third. The combination of the piston 2 and valve 13 constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially in the manner for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the piston 2 and valve 13, arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Under the second head,-
The apparatus or appliances constructed and operating substantially as described
and illustrated for the purposes set forth.
Under the third head,-
First. The apparatus or appliances substantially as described and illustrated for
the purposes set forth.
Second. The combination of the vane or disc 52, rod 51, and lever 50, arranged
and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Westinghouse, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Clayton Sq.,
Lpool
GEO. WESTINGHOUSE, JR. (L.S.)