Method and Apparatus for Governing or Regulating the Speed of Motors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1892
COMEDILE STMUITIGATION.
Method and Apparatus for Governing or Regulating the Speed
of Motors.
I, PAUL LA COUR of Askov Denmark Electrician do hereby declare the nature
of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This method for causing a motor to follow automatically a mechanism which
is moved independently thereof consists in that a machine element is on the one
hand connected with the motor and on the other hand with the mechanism. The
speed of the latter is as stated supposed to be independent of the motor but it
may if desired and as shall be presently shewn receive its power of motion from
the motor. The connections are so arranged that the aforesaid machine element
tends to be moved in one direction by the motor and in the opposite direction
by the aforesaid mechanism, if the latter or the motor were allowed to actuate
the machine element alone. The machine element will therefore remain at rest
when the motor has a wholly definite speed relatively to the mechanism, but as
soon as this relation is varied either the motor or the mechanism will according
to circumstances get in advance and move the machine element in the corre-
sponding direction. The machine element is however so connected with the
apparatus or devices which determine the supply of power to the motor as to
cause the supply to be diminished or increased according as the motor or the
mechanism gets in advance and therefore moves the machine element. The
speed of the motor will thus be automatically diminished or increased when it is
respectively too great or too small relatively to that of the mechanism wherefore
it will always accommodate itself to the speed of motion of the mechanism
irrespective of how great or how little this speed may be of course within
reasonable bounds, and neither the motor nor the mechanism will ever advance
materially in motion beyond the other.
This method may be carried out in many ways. Some examples will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In Figure 1 the wheel A is driven by the motor in the direction of its arrow and
the wheel B is turned by the independent mechanism in the direction of its arrow.
kkkk, is an endless chain or cord which passes over the wheels A and B but so
as not to slide thereon. E and D are sheave pulleys suspended on the chain and
these with their weights M and L are of the same weight. The pulley D is by
means of the lever n and rod R connected to the apparatus or devices which
determine the supply of power in such manner that this supply is diminished when
the lever n is raised and increased when it is lowered. The independent
mechanism Bunwinds the chain in the direction of k, whereby the weight Lis
lowered, and the notor winds the chain up from k, whereby the weight L is raised.
When the unwinding and the winding up are alike the weight L will remain
stationary in its place. If the winding up becomes quicker or slower than the
unwinding by reason of respectively an increase or decrease of the speed of the
motor or by reason of respectively a decrease or increase of the speed of the inde-
pendent mechanism B the weight L will on the other hand he respectively raised
or lowered and thereby cause a slowing or quickening of the motion of the motor so
that the motor is compelled automatically to accommodate its motion to the
independent mechanism and the circumferential speed of the wheel A. becomes the
same as that of the wheel B, in so far of course as the construction of the motor
permits as great variations in speed as the independent mechanism might demand.
It is to be noted that the motions of the motor will so far correspond absolutely to
those of the independent mechanism as that in course of time no sensible deviation

page_text: can accumulate. Only small or immaterial deviations will arise in opposite
directions so that they cannot accumulate by increments in course of time.
In Figure 2 the worm wheel A is driven by the motor in the direction of the
arrow, and the worm B is turned by the independent mechanism for instance by
the crank r. The collar bearing o and step bearing p of the worm are fixed to or
formed in the frame n which can turn round the spindle a of the worm wheel A
and which by the rod R is so connected with the apparatus or devices which
determine the supply of power to the motor that this supply is decreased when the
rod is raised by the frame n and increased when the rod R is lowered. While the
motion of the worm wheel A in the direction of the arrow would carry the worm B
down with it, if the latter did not turn and hence raise the rod R the turning of
the worm caused by the independent mechanism would lift the worm round the
wheel whereby the rod R would be lowered. The motor is thus compelled to
move the wheel A by as many teeth (or multiples of teeth if the worm has more
than one thread) as the worm spindle makes revolutions, a greater movement
raising the rod R and thus causing a decrease in the supply of power while a
smaller movement will lower the rod R and hence cause an increase of power
supply.
The independent mechanism may now as above stated obtain its power of motion
from the motor itself without that the latter in any way influences the speed of
motion of the mechanism.
4
For if in Figure 1 the weight L be made heavier than the weight M the pull on
the part of the chain will become greater than that on the part k, and thus a
driving power for the wheel B is obtained, which is constant in amount and hence
independent of the motor. If upon the wheel B is also imposed such a suitable
amount of work to do that the constant pull will give the wheel B a constant speed
the motor will also move at the corresponding constant speed or at any rate so that
the deviations from this constant speed can only be momentary and of immaterial
amount and in opposite directions (plus or minus) so that they cannot accumulate
by increments. Work of this kind is for instance the turning of a wind brake or
fly, a dynamo machine, a centrifugal pump, a fan, and the like. It is of course
immaterial whether the fly or other machine is moved directly or indirectly, viz.:-
through suitable intermediate mechanisms, from the wheel Bor whether the chain
or cord is arranged otherwise than shewn in Figure 1. An increase in the weight
of L will cause an increase of the speed.
9
Figures 3. 4 and 5 shew as an example a form of practical execution of the
invention in the just described manner, Figures 3 and 4 being side view and end
view and Figure 5 plan. The same letters apply to corresponding parts of
Figure 1. The spindles a and b of the wheels A and B have their bearings one
below the other in the same framing F in which are also fixed guide rods for the
blocks m and n containing the bearings or gudgeons for the loose pulleys 1) and E.
The guide rods admit of the required vertical motion of the pulleys D and E.
The weight L is hung from the block n which as stated is connected to the rod R
whereby the power supply to the motor is varied. No weight is shewn attached
to the block m as its own weight can be so adjusted as to need no attached weight.
The chain connects the wheels A and B and the loose pulleys D and E.
g
In the apparatus shewn in Fig. 2, the independent mechanism may also without
detriment to its independent character be moved from the motor itself. The
frame n is then made subject to the action of a weight or of a spring, which tends
with a constant force to turn the worm spindle B upward around the wheel A., and
the worm spindle will then as stated be provided with a machine such as a fly.
The constant pressure exerted by the weight or spring between the worm threads
and the wheel teeth will drive the worm spindle with the fly at a constant speed,
which the motor then is compelled to follow in the manner described.
Figs. 6 to 8 shew as an example a form of practical carrying out of the
invention in this manner, Figs. 6 and 7 being side view and end view and Fig. 8
a plan.

page_text: The brackets F F have bearings for the spindle a on which the wormwheel A is
fixed and which is driven by the motor, directly or indirectly in the direction of the
arrow. The frame n can turn on bosses on the spindle bearings, that is to say
concentric with the spindle a, but independent thereof. This framing consists of
two arms which at one end are fixed to a piece continued into the rod with
sliding weight while the arms at the other end are fixed to the piece ³ which
carries the neck bearing o and the step bearing p for the worm spindle B. This
latter is at the top provided with a fly V which for reasons presently to be named
must be a propeller. The motions of the framing a 3 are limited by the set screws
or stops a andy; the rod R connects this framing with the apparatus or devices
which determine the power supply, so that'a turning of the framing in the direction
of the arrow will decrease, and a turning of same in the opposite direction will
increase, the power supply. It must here be noted that, in order that the weight L
should furnish a constant force for turning the framing n n³, it would certainly be
required in theory that the weight L should not as described and shown be applied
to the rod, but be suspended by a cord passing over a sector concentric with the
spindle a and applied to the framing n n but this difference is without practical
importance.
The fly must as stated be shaped as a propeller which drives the air upward.
Its rotation will thus cause an increase of the worm spindle's pressure against the
step bearing p so that the weight L can be made larger without the pressure
between the teeth of the wheel A and the worm threads being also increased, and
also without the motor having to furnish more power; a larger weight L will
consequently more easily overcome the resistances which the motion of the rod R
might encounter. But the propeller shape of the fly is also suitable for diminishing
the small deviations from the normal working of the motor inasmuch as every
tendency of the motor to run quicker will produce an increase of the aforesaid
downward going force wherefore it will be immediately accompanied by a depression
on the step bearing and consequently a decrease of power supply; the working of
the apparatus in the opposite direction will similarly be furthered. If on the other
hand the fly were to suck air downward a sudden tendency of the motor to run
quicker would produce a decrease of the worm spindle's pressure against the step
bearing so that the rod R would go down and the power supply be increased for
another moment.
In engines not stationary such for instance as marine engines the sliding weight L
may be replaced by a spring.
It should finally be noted that where somewhat considerable force is required to
vary the power supply to the motor it may be necessary to let the motor itself
provide that force so that the aforesaid rod R has only to break or close a con-
nection, whereby the motor itself moves the apparatus or devices which determine
the power supply in one direction or the other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1. declare that what I
claim is-
1. The method of causing a motor to follow a mechanism moved independently
thereof (which may however obtain the power required for its motion from the
motor itself) consisting in that a machine element (which by the motor per se and
by the independent mechanism per se would be moved in opposite directions,
wherefore it remains in the position of rest when the motor has a certain speed
relatively to that of the independent mechanism but moves in the one direction
when the moter gets in advance and in the opposite direction when the motion of
the motor is retarded relatively to the independent mechanism) is so put in con-
nection with the apparatus which determine the power supply to the motor that
such supply is decreased when the motor gets in advance and increased when the
motor is retarded whereby the motor is thus made to effect notions automatically
which are like or proportional to those of the independent mechanism and the said

page_text: motor is prevented from, in course of time, getting sensibly in advance of or behind
the mechanism as described.
2. For the method described an apparatus consisting of an endless chain or cord
with loose pulleys with weights suspended therefrom which cause a motor to move
at a constant speed (corresponding to that wherewith the chain by reason of the
difference in the pulls of the weights moves a fly, an inductor or other power
consumer) thereby that an advance of the motor beyond the mechanism which
moves the power consumer so moves a machine element that the power supply is
decreased and a retardation of the motor so moves the said element that the power
supply is increased wherefore the motor cannot in course of time get sensibly in
advance of or behind the mechanism' which moves the power consumer (the
independent mechanism).
3. For the method described an apparatus consisting of a worm wheel moved by
the motor and a worm with propeller shaped fly which is moved by a constant
pressure exerted by a weight between the wheel teeth and the worm threads,
which apparatus causes the motor to move at a certain speed relatively to the
constant speed of the worm spindle, so that a quicker speed of the motor will
cause a lifting of the said weight and thus a decrease of the power supply to the
motor, while a slower motion will cause a lowering of the weight and thus an
increase of the power supply, so that the motor cannot in course of time get
sensibly in advance of or behind the position determined by the motion of the
worm spindle.
Dated this 11th day of March 1902
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.