Improved Self-regulating Apparatus for Converting Variable into Uniform Speed.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1898-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Self-regulating Apparatus for Converting Variable into
Uniform Speed.
We, GEORGES EVERARD, Engineer, and FLORENT EVERARD, Advocate, both of
No. 32, Square Marie Louise, Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, 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:-
Our invention relates to an apparatus for the self-regulating transmission of
irregular movements which admits amongst other applications of the electric
lighting of railway trains by their own motion, without special motor, and also of
the direct utilisation of wind-mills, or motors, water-falls, and other forces of
variable intensity for the production of electricity. This result is obtained by
means of a self-regulating apparatus, which as soon as the motion to which it is
attached accelerates, transmits this motion so much less quickly, and when the
motion tends on the other hand to decrease in speed, transmits it with augmented
rapidity.
The accompanying drawing illustrates by way of example, one form of con-
struction of this self-regulating apparatus.
Fig. 1 shows a vertical section through the apparatus.
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are transverse sections on the lines C C¹ and C respectively of
Fig. 1.
The
The apparatus is composed of two rigid arms B B¹ (Fig. 1) hinged to the top of a
vertical rotary shaft D, and supporting at their free ends hollow metal spheres A A¹
provided with openings which are closed by screw plugs, and serve for the intro-
duction of shot or the like material to the interior of the said spheres.
arms B B are articulated to the bars M M which are articulated at their lower
ends to a sleeve E bearing a transmission cone F which together with the sleeve E
is carried round by means of a feather or key fixed to the shaft D, whilst being
capable of vertical motion upon the said shaft. Upon the cone F is placed a
horizontal belt H which is maintained at a constant height by means of the
guiding rollers K K¹, and which serves to transmit the motion to a pulley of
constant diameter placed upon the receiving machine. The shaft D and the
rollers K K turn in ball-bearings, as shown in the drawings (Fig. 1 for the shaft D
and Fig. 2 for the rollers K K¹), so as to reduce the friction as much as possible
and aid in the efficient working of the apparatus. During the motion of ascen
or of descent of the cone F, the tension of the belt H is maintained constant either
by means of ordinary tension rollers, or by subjecting the receiving machine to the
action of springs or of counter-weights, in such a manner as to cause it to exercise a
constant tension upon the belt. The shaft D of the centrifugal regulator is
driven by a conical pinion N fixed at its lower part or by any other convenient
mechanical means.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The regulator being adjusted by the introduction of lead shot in the hollow

page_text: spheres A A¹, these latter under the influence of the centrifugal force resulting
from the rotation of the apparatus, separate the more from the shaft D in propor-
tion as the rotation becomes more rapid, and take for instance, a position such as
that shown in dotted lines on Fig. 1. It results from this, that the cone F is raised
by means of the bars M, and that the belt which was in contact with the upper
part of the cone at the point C¹ (Figs. 1 and 3) becomes in contact with the lower
part C of less diameter than C₁ (Figs. 1 and 4). Its speed will consequently be
reduced in proportion to the diameters of the upper and lower parts of the cone F.
When the speed of rotation of the shaft D diminishes, the spheres A and conse-
quently the cone F sink down, and the belt H is in contact with the portion of
the periphery of the cone F which is of increased diameter, consequently, the speed
of the belt will be proportionately augmented to the diminution of speed of the
shaft D. This self regulating apparatus permits of the electric lighting of trains
by their own force, in causing a dynamo to be actuated from a waggon axle, and
regulating the motion transferred from this axle by means of the self-regulating
mechanism in such a manner that between given limits the dynamo will always
revolve at the same speed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The improved self-regulating mechanism characterised by the combination
of a regulator actuated by centrifugal force, of a transmission cone connected rigidly
with the lower movable sleeve of the regulator, so that it rises or falls at the same
time as these latter, and a belt or the like capable of transmitting to the receiving
mechanism the motion of the cone, said belt controlled by guiding rollers which
maintain it at a constant height, independently of the variations of the transmission"
cone, the tension of the belt being kept constant by tension rollers or other
suitable device, the whole substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated the 1st day of June 1898.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.