Improvements in Motor Governors.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motor Governors.
EDWARD HAROLD ATKINSON Electrician Marshfield Road Goole, Yorks., do,
ereby 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
tatement :-
My invention has reference to improvements in such motor governors as are
designed to control engines situated on an unstable platform.
The principles underlying & explaining the action of my governor are known to
engineers as the laws of motion & the methods whereby I utilize some inherent
properties of matter in motion are briefly as follows.
A plane or planes of rotation are established by any suitable mechanical means.
For purpose of description I shall speak as though such plane or planes of rotation
are established by revolving disc wheel or wheels & these rotating bodies by
means of which such plane or planes of rotation are established are henceforth in
this description named "flywheels."
My invention provides that the "flywheels" be mounted on a spindle or spindles
or pivot or on other system of mechanical support to the same purpose to run in
bearing or bearings constituting a cradle. This cradle is mounted or balanced in
or on or over any unstable platform in such manner that the "flywheels" being set
in motion any rocking, pitching or tumbling of the said unstable platform shall be
ineffectual to cause the plane or planes of rotation of the "flywheels" to deviate
from their self-established angular position with regard to the terrestrial axis.
but
To further describe the nature of my invention I will speak with reference to the
" A. are caused to
annexed drawings. Reference to Fig. 1. The "flywheels
revolve by being geared to a revolving shaft M. either of the engine to be
governed or of an auxiliary & independent engine. In the drawing a pulley N.
is shown fixed to M. that the necessary speed may be transmitted to the "flywheels."
Rope, belt or cog gearing may be used to impart motion to the "flywheels
the annexed sketch shows a pulley K. over which a belt may be run from the
larger pulley N. Or the flywheels may be driven by any method for the
function of the "flywheels" is to go round. The "flywheels" may be so constructed
that they form the armature of an electro-motor in which case it will be only
necessary to supply electric current & the "flywheels " will revolve.
"
Since the bearing or bearings which support the "flywheels" are so contrived
that they form a cradle C. & since this cradle is so balanced or pivotted or jointed
by any means E. to any supporting hanger or pedestal that it is free to move or
rock in any or every direction it will be understood that as soon as motion is
imparted to the "flywheels" the "flywheels" will seek to occupy planes with
regard to & under influence of the earth. And it will be seen that no tumbling
pitching or tossing of the unstable platform by which the pivotted cradle is
supported can disturb the naturally imposed plane or planes of rotation of the
"Airwheels." Thus if the planes of the "flywheels" remain at a constant &
fixed angle to the terrestrial axis or to any terrestrial axis the object of my
application to the purpose will be attained. For any mechanical connection L
between my governor & the engine H whose speed is to be governed will
5 transmit the relative motion of my governor to the engine H which is relatively
still.

page_text: Fig. 2 represents an arrangement whereby "flywheels are provided for the
establishment of more than two planes of rotation & such an arrangement will
be of use when an angular position with regard to the terrestrial axis has to be
maintained in respect to any of more planes of motion than will have to be provided
for in the government of marine engines. In either Fig. 1 or 2. similar letters have
reference to like parts.
Since my invention is likely to be of immediate advantage as a marine engine
governor shall refer to it as controlling this class of engine. Because the
steam pipe, as far as the question of control is concerned is part of the ship
& because apart from consideration of centre of suspension & centre of gravity
of my governor, the position assumed by the "flywheels" has nothing to do with
the ship, it follows that either the changeful angular motion of the ship (angular
in regard to the true horizontal) may be transmitted to the " flywheels" or the
naturally imposed stability of the "flywheels" may be transmitted to the throttle
valve. Assuming that manipulation of the throttle valve is required in order best
to put the engine under control, by suitable mechanism any desired modification or
alteration of the relative motion of the planes of rotation of the "flywheels
(relative as regards the steam pipe) can be transmitted to the throttle valve. As
means of such transmission I may use some intermediate motor under control of my
governor which motor influences the main engines as indicated by my governor.
Or my governor may be so built and mounted that it may have direct control over
the main engines. Or I may use any or several intermediate motors for purpose
of enabling my governor to have control over the engines to be governed. I may
use whatsoever mechanical arrangements I consider advisable to my purpose always
provided that the enunciated principle whereby my governor works is not departed
from.
"
The government of marine engines may only necessitate that the relative angular
motion of the ship & any plane or planes of rotation of any "flywheels" is in
reference to the ship considered lengthwise, but under other possible conditions the
constitution of my governor may include & necessitate as many planes of rotation,
each or several differently disposed angularly to others as are necessary to enable
my governor to attain to & to maintain with regard to the terrestrial axis angular
or parallel position in whichever direction considered. In other words: my
governor may be so constructed & mounted that a centre of suspension or balance
being provided my governor is free to move angularly with regard to a right line
drawn in any direction through such centre of suspension or balance.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:
1. The construction of any mechanical device whereby plane or planes of rotation
are established the axis or axes of such plane or planes of rotation to attain to
& to maintain any desired angular position with regard to the earth's axis by virtue
only of the manifestation of the natural principles called into evidence because of
the establishment of rotary motion. In manner as before substantially described.
2. The establish of any plane of rotation about any axis: the obliquity or
angularity of such axis being the effect only of the naturally imposed position of
such plane of rotation; substantially as before described.
3. The establishment of as many distinct planes of rotation or of as many sets of,
& multiple combinations of mechanically actuated yet naturally resultant planes
of rotation as are necessary to enable one or any axis or axes of one or any such or
several planes of rotation to move over one plane angle or to severally move over
any several angles in as many different planes as conditions necessitate.
4. The use of any mechanical gearing by whose means the naturally imposed
stability of any plane or planes of rotation may be powerful to influence the motor
to be governed by the governor substantially as before described.

page_text: 5. Any method whereby momentum can be used to hold an arm or finger attached
to that which has the momentum stationary as regards the terrestrial axis ;
substantially as before described.
Dated this 27th day of April 1893
EDWARD HAROLD ATKINSON.