Improvements in Speed Regulators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Speed Regulators.
I, HENRY AUGUSTUS CLARK, residing on Walnut Street, in Brookline, in the
County of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman,
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:-
This invention relates to improvements in speed regulators particularly that class
operated by centrifugal action upon revolving weights. It is a well known fact
that in regulators of this class there is a tendency to continued changes due to
various agencies, as the amount of work, steam pressure, or other incidental causes.
As these changes require more or less motive power in the form of steam, water or
gases, the valve, which admits such and is controlled by the speed regulator, is
being incessantly shifted. In consequence of these changes very frequently
continual variations in speed occur due to the excessive diminution or increase of
the fluid agency. That is, if a change in the main valve is made, the period during
which the valve is opened or closed is too long; as a result in the event of the
speed falling below the normal the regulator causes the valve to open and this latter
in lieu of being opened a certain amount and then stopped continues to open. The
result is that the speed increases until the normal is not only reached, but very
often exceeded, when the weights again operate to partially close the valve, and
perhaps reduce the speed too much. However this may be, the general effects of
the present and most approved speed regulators are to keep the apparatus fluctuating
constantly. This tends to maintain the speed not at a steady normal rate, but
either too fast or too slow.
The purpose and object of my invention is to endeavor to preserve the speed at
a normal, and when the main valve which admits the actuating medium is shifted,
by the action of the weights, to produce a change, certain mechanism is put into
activity to operate a secondary valve, which checks the movement of the main
valve before the full effects of the change in the said main valve upon the motion
is fully felt. Hence excessive variations cannot take place. If as before instanced
the speed is below the normal the weights open the main valve which is very soon
stopped; the full amount of gate demanded by the balls not being used. If this
is not sufficient the weights again operate and these acts are repeated, the main
valve which admits the power, as steam or water, being successively changed until
the desired degree of opening or closing is attained.
My present improvements relate to that class of speed regulators in which the
main gate or valve supplying the medium, as steam, water or gas, is held in position,
or changed as circumstances may require by means of a piston adapted to reciprocate
within a fluid-filled cylinder. The Huid in the latter being allowed to circulate
from end to end and by such circulation to permit movements of the piston. This
circulation is regulated by means of a secondary valve under the control of the
speed regulator weights, and normally said valve is closed over both inlet and outlet
ports by which means the main gate is held locked fast and prevented from
moving.
.
My invention is embodied as before premised in mechanism which operates to
bring the secondary valve, or that which regulates the circulation of liquid within
the closed cylinder to a fixed predetermined position and so maintains it. This
secondary valve however is free to be shifted by the action of the regulator weights,

page_text: and such shifts or changes cause the piston to move within the cylinder. But the
mechanism which I consider as novel is intended to return the secondary valve at
once or very sbortly thereafter to its normal or closed position after it has been
shifted or opened by the regulator weights, and also to allow return of the weights
to their proper place and which departure necessitated more or less movement of
the main valve without disturbing the position of the secondary valve. In brief
this mechanism comprises a group of parts which serve to counteract the functions
of the balls in the act of resuming their normal position to prevent the valve being
operated, and includes a stationary art adapted to rock and to which is attached
two oppositely disposed rods, one equipped with a piston contained within a brake
cylinder for air or fluid. The other terminates in a rack which engages a pinion
fast about the secondary valve rod. Thus this valve is adapted to be opened by
the regulator weights, while the travel of the piston in the main cylinder serves to
reciprocate a tapered bar, which rocks a bell-crank lever and tilts the post to close
the secondary valve. The time during which the post is inclined from the vertical
is intended to allow the weights to shift their position commensurate with the
change in the speed due to the movement of the secondary valve without
changing the said valve from its normal closed position. The other peculiar
features and the method of operating the various parts which cooperate to produce
the object to be attained under my invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and
explained.
The drawings represent in Fig. 1, a longitudinal sectional elevation of a speed
regulator equipped with mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional elevation in part of the regalator proper and
secondary valve stem and transversely of the main cylinder. Fig. 4 is an enlarged
view of the rocking post and the secondary cylinder which serves as the resistance
to the movement of said post.
In said drawings I have shown a closed cylinder 2, liquid-filled and adapted to
contain a piston 3 which is capable of movement therein only as the liquid circulates
from one side of said piston to the other. This is effected by means of two pipes 44'
which connect with a valve 5 termed the secondary valve. This valve is located
within a casing 6 and contains the feed parts 7, 71, respectively for the pipes +, +1
as likewise a common discharge 8. The supply pipe is at 9, while a rod 10
interconnects the piston with the main gate or valve, not shown, which admits the
active medium, as steam, water or gas to the prime motor.
A belt 12 to the pulley 13 serves to rotate a pair of centrifugal weights or
balls 14. These latter are supported on levers 15, 15, which are mounted upon a
fixed upright 16. Rotation of the balls is created by means of the toothed
wheel 17 which meshes with another 18 affixed to the lower end of a sleeve 19
secured to the upright. A flanged tube 20 is placed within the upright standard
and is constructed to reciprocate but not to rotate by aid of a spline and groove
connection. The flange 21 bears against the inner ends of the ball levers, while a
spring 23 maintains these parts in contact.
Centrally of the standard is located the rod, or stem 24 of the secondary valve.
The upper end of this valve stem or rod 24 is screw-threaded and engages the
bore of the tube 20. Hence it will be understood that the flanged tube 20 is
adapted to move up and down according to the changes in the position of the
balls due to varying speed in the rotation of the sleeve 19. Such reciprocations
likewise carry the valve 5 and valve rod 24 and serves to open the valve wholly
or in part according to the amount of change in the speed; but when circulation
takes place in the cylinder 2, the piston 3 is advanced and such movement is
accompanied by rotation of the valve stem. This latter act serves to close the
secondary valve without further change in the position of the balls. Immediately
after such closing of this valve the balls begin to move again in order to resume
the position they held prior to this change in the gate. which has just been
effected. This movement of the balls being occasioned by the prime motor now
influenced by this change of gate. To prevent the secondary valve being actuated

page_text: by such movement of the balls and to retain the valve closed at times, and again
to allow it to be opened at other times is one of the important features of my
invention which I shall now proceed to describe.
To effect rotation of the valve stem 24 at proper times and to cause the operating
mechanism to quickly close the valve I have employed the following group of
instrumentalities. Upon the top of the pipe for compactness of form is secured
a hollow block or pedestal 25, which is capped to receive the base of a rocking
post 26. The manner of uniting these two pieces is very simple and consists in the
present instance of the transverse pins 27 which enter corresponding grooves 28 in
the base of the post, while centrally is a pivotal rod 29, which is perdant from the
base but within the pedestal and is spring-actuated. The tension of this spring is
such that the post always tends to assume the vertical, whichever way it is inclined
from a normal. At the free or top end of this rocking post is positioned a bar 30,
which interconnects said post with a toothed rack 31 suitably supported in a
horizontal guide block 32, while a pinion 34 is affixed about the valve-stem 24.
This pinion is of considerable length, see Fig. 3, in order that the valve and valve
rod may be raised cr lowered when the valve is given longitudinal movement
without causing the rack and pinion to disengage. A hand lever 35 may be
attached in order that manual operation of the secondary valve may be effected, if
circumstances require.
Furthermore to cause the rotation of the valve stem which results in sliding of
the secondary valve to close, and to render this act directly dependent upon the
travel of the piston 3, the following elements are provided. In parallelism with
the piston rod 10 and attached thereto and moving with it is a tapered bar 36
which serves to oscillate a bell lever 37 fastened to the cylinder 2. One arm of
this is equipped with an anti-friction roller which co-operates with a similar roller
on the cylinder, while the tapered bar 36 slides therebetween, a spring 48
maintains constant contact between the bell-lever and the bar in order to render
the latter active should it move in either direction. The upper end of the
opposite bell-lever arm is pivotally fastened to a cylinder 38, which serves as a
brake or retarder and prevents the too quick return of the rocking post to the
vertical, this return being varied by means of a liquid or of air confined within
the cylinder 38. From the rocking post extends a rod 40 which passes through
the cylinder, while a piston 4 affixed upon said rod is permitted movement
within the cylinder according as the position of a valve 42 operated externally
allows more or less free circulation of the contents between opposite ends of the
cylinder. It will be observed that the rod 40 is oppositely attached to the post.
from that of the bar 30.
Hence as
The operation and correlation of the various groups of elements hereinbefore
described are as follows; it being understood that the secondary valve is to stand
normally closed irrespective of the variable positions of the balls.
before stated the secondary valve is to be opened by the balls to advance the
piston 3 one way or the other but this shifting of the valve is but temporary
for the reason that the very act of moving said piston 3 serves to operate to
close the valve quickly, but likewise cause said valve to remain closed during
subsequent movement and return of the balls to their proper position, and which
return has been produced by the change in the main gate just effected.
With these premises it will be seen that the piston 3 is now held stationary and
the main gate (not shown) at the end of the rod 10 positively locked because the
valve 5 is shut and no circulation occurs in the cylinder 2. Upon this assumption
and that the various parts are now operating normally, when an extra burden is
assumed by the prime motor this calls for more main gate, at this moment the
balls drop slightly and raise the flanged sleeve 19, see Fig. 3 carrying up the valve
stem and valve 5, which now allows fluid to enter the pipe 4 and advance the
piston 3 in direction of arrow 1 to open the main gate. But to prevent excessive
results from this opening of the main gate, the tapered har 36 is withdrawn from
beneath the bell lever 37, when the spring 48 rocks said lever to the right and

page_text: simultaneously tilts the post 26 likewise to the right, since the rapid action of the
spring causes the contents in the brake cylinder to serve as a solid body. This
tilting of the post to the right also causes the rack to revolve its pinion and the
valve 5 is immediately closed by the rotation of its valve stem, the flanged tube
being a stationary or fixed point. It is evident that with a change in the gate,
as instanced, the speed of the prime motor will be accelerated and the balls now
below their normal position will tend to rise and resume their proper place.
This act would again rotate the valve rod and actuate the valve. Hence to keep
said valve closed during the return of the balls, the post is retarded more or less
as it assumes the vertical, since it is this latter act which serves to prevent
movement of the valve from its seat. The valve being rotated slowly to maintain
a constant position and to counteract the effect which would otherwise be produced
by the movement of the balls. This spring-mounted post 26 now moves back
slowly as the liquid or air in the brake cylinder flows through the valve 42;
when said post has again assumed the vertical, reverse rotation of the valve
stem 24 has taken place to compensate for the movement of the balls to their
proper position and the valve 5 is maintained closed during such act.
From the above description it will be understood that the return of the tilting
post to the vertical is intended to counteract the return of the weights to their
proper position, the deviation of said weights from such position necessitating a
change in the main gate. Hence this movement of the post is intended to be slow
as the balls ordinarily are not suddenly influenced by the main gate. It will be
further understood, that when the post is at the vertical, then movement of the
balls in either direction will open the secondary valve. On the other hand the
departure of the rocking post from the vertical caused by the movement of
the weights will serve to close the valve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The combination with a centrifugal regulator, a fluid-filled cylinder, and a
piston therein which controls a main valve for some prime motor, of a regulator
valve adapted to control the travel of the piston, mechanism operated by movement
of the piston to close the valve, and means to counteract the functions of the
balls in the act of resuming their normal position to prevent the valve being
operated, substantially as specified.
2nd. The combination with a centrifugal regulator, a main valve, a fluid-filled
cylinder, and a piston operating the said valve, of a regulator valve for the piston,
and mechanism interconnecting said regulator valve and piston and adapted to
neutralize at certain times the functions of the regulator weights to move said
valve, substantially as and for purposes explained.
3rd. In combination with a centrifugal regulator, a fluid-filled cylinder, and a
piston therefor, a secondary valve to control circulation in said cylinder and a
rocking post operated by the piston to regulate the movements of the valve,
substantially as set forth.
4th. A centrifugal regulator, a fluid filled cylinder, its piston, and a valve
operated by the regulator, combined with a rocking post, mechanism from the post
to the valve, as likewise means to actuate the post by travel of the piston,
substantially as stated.
a
5th. In speed regulators having centrifugal weights, a liquid-tight cylinder,
piston therein, a valve to regulate travel of the piston, combined with mechanism
operated by the regulator to shift the valve in right line movement without
rotation, as likewise means by which to unite the piston with the valve, and
impart rotation and slide said valve end wise, substantially as specified.
6th. In combination with a centrifugal speed regulator, a fluid-filled cylinder,
its piston, and a valve to control circulation, ot a valve rod united with said
regulator for right line sliding travel, a rocking post, a rack and pinion to rotate

page_text: at times said valve rod to slide the valve, and mechanism to interconnect the post
with the piston, substantially as set forth.
7th. In regulators, a rotary sleeve, centrifugal weights thereupon, a flanged
tube reciprocated by said weights, combined with a valve, a valve rol longitudinally
of the flanged tube, connections between the valve rod and tube to permit
independent rotation of the rod, means for producing rotation of said rod, and a
piston controlled within a cylinder by the movements of the valve, substantially as
described.
8th. In combination with a cylinder, its piston, a valve to control the travel of
said piston, a rocking post, and mechanism to operate the valve upon tilting of the
post, a bar affixed to the piston, a lever to tilt the post, and brake mechanisın to
regulate the return of the post to a normal, substantially as specified.
9th. The combination with a fluid-filled cylinder, a piston, its piston rod, an
actuating bar, and a bell-lever operated by the bar, of a rocking post adapted to
stand upright, a regulator valve operated thereby means to incline the post from
the vertical and brake mechanism to regulate the return of the post to an upright
position, as stated.
10th. The combination with a fluid-filled cylinder, its piston, a brake cylinder,
and a regulator valve adapted to slide endwise upon movement of the piston, of a
tilting post, a rack and pinion united with said post to rotate the regulator valve,
and a bell-lever likewise connected with said post and actuated by the travel of
the piston, substantially as explained.
11th. In regulators, a cylinder, its piston, a regulator valve, and a reciprocating
rod attached to said valve, combined with a fixed standard, a tilting post adapted
to stand upright thereupon, a bell-lever, and a bar affixed to the piston rod for
actuating the said lever, a piston-equipped rod 41 pivotally secured to the post,
a brake cylinder secured to the bell-lever, and means to regulate the travel of the
brake piston by which to control the return of the post to a normal, substantially
for purposes specified.
Dated at Boston, Mass., United States of America, January 23rd 1895.