IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS WHEREBY TO REGULATE THE PASSAGE OR FLOW OF GAS, WATER, & OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Denny Lane, of the County of the City of Cork,
Secretary of the Cork Gas Consumers' Company, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS WHEREBY TO REGULATE THE PASSAGE OR
FLOW OF GAS, WATER, & OTHER FLUIDS,"
Scaled the 21st March 1862, and dated the 28th September 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Denny Lane at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th September 1861.
I, DENNY LANE, of the County of the City of Cork, Secretary of the
Cork Gas Consumers' Company, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS WHEREBY TO REGULATE THE
PASSAGE OR FLOW OF GAS, WATER, & OTHER FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in apparatus for transmitting power
for the regulation of fluids, consists of apparatus in which a very small
initial force is rendered capable of controlling great actual results (as
in the case of the steam engine governor), by operating on the passage
of steam, gas, water, or other fluid, such apparatus being very sensitive
& applicable to purposes wherein great delicacy of movement is

page_text: required, as in pumping gas during its manufacture from the retort to
the gasholder. It is also equally applicable to purposes wherein extreme
sensitiveness is unnecessary, it consists of, & I term it a brake and tappet
motion represented in the Drawing annexed. G is an ordinary toothed!
wheel keyed on the shaft or axle A, which is embraced by a friction
brake F connected with a lever C, which receives a reciprocating motion
from any convenient part of the steam engine or other machine to which
it is connected. The reciprocating motion of the brake F merely rocks
the shaft in its bearings. At either side of the toothed wheel there are
mounted in pillars or other suitable bearings the tappets or pawls L &
R, each disposed at such an angle as to allow the wheel G to rotate in
one direction, but to prevent its motion in another. Thus, if the one
marked L be allowed to come in contact with the wheel G, the latter
can move in the same direction as the hands of a clock, but will be pre-
vented from moving in the reverse direction. Again, if R be in contact
with G, it will be moved in the reverse direction to the hands of a clock,
but not in the same direction with them. These tappets or pawls are
suspended from a beam B, movable round a horizontal axis at such a
height that both of them are clear of the wheel G when the beam B is in
a horizontal position, but if either end of the beam is depressed, the
tappet connected with it at that end descends & comes in contact with
the wheel G, and allows its motion in one direction only. The amount
of pressure or frictional power which the brake F exerts on the shaft
or axle is regulated by the screw S, which may be tightened when the
power is not sufficient to work it, or it may be effected by the brake being
made in such a manner as to exert by its own spring sufficient tighten-
ing power, so that it can move the axle in the direction in which the
tappet in contact with the wheel & permits, but when it tends to turn
it in the opposite direction, the resistance of the tappet is sufficient to
hold the wheel & axle, & the brake slips on the latter. Supposing the
tappet marked L to be in contact with the wheel G, the operation of
this arrangement is as follows:-When the lever C moves to the right
it carries with it the axle & wheel G, one or more of the teeth passing
under the tappet L, but when the lever C moves to the left the tappet
or pawl L comes into action to prevent the axle & wheel returning with
it & the brake slips round on the axle. At the next movement of the
lever C to the right the same operation is repeated, and another tooth
or teeth will pass under the tappet L, so that by continuing-the-process,-
the wheel G & its axis may be made to revolve any number of times.
The motion of the lever may be adjusted so as to pass any required
number of teeth of the wheel G under the pallet or tappet at each stroke

page_text: or oscillation. The peculiar advantage of this arrangement, which I
call the "brake & tappet motion," consists in this, that a very small
amount of mechanical force is enough to determine the position of the
beam B in either of the three positions which it may assume, & that as
a consequence, the axle A, and all apparatus connected with it remain
at rest or receive motion either forwards or backwards with an amount
of force which can be increased to any extent by increasing the friction
of the brake on the axie. The combination of these principles confers on
this arrangement the two advantages of extreme sensitiveness and great
power.
The simple brake & tappet herein-after described, will move the
axle A at only one uniform velocity until the stroke of the brake arm
is altered by hand, I propose to make this variation of the stroke self-
acting by the following arrangement, which I call the double brake &
tappet motion. The brake arm is not connected directly with the motive
power, but a portion of the socket embracing the axle A is turned
circular, & is caught by an external brake, which has an arm giving the
maximum motion required, & having a greater frictional hold on the
inner brake than the latter has upon the axis. The inner brake arm
carries a segment of a circle concentric with the axle A, & this segment
is divided on its external surface into any equal number of parts by
parallel circles. For example, if the circumferential surface of the seg-
ment was one inch broad, it may be divided by four parallel planes into
four, each one quarter of an inch. Each one of these spaces has a single
ratchet-shaped tooth, which teeth are not placed in one line, but are
stepped at different distances. Opposite each of the teeth is placed a
tappet which allows motion in one direction, but prevents it in the other.
The tappets are so adjusted that if all are down, the arm of the inner
brake would be held tight by them against the forward action of the
outer brake, & a permanent stop behind the inner brake arm holds it
firm against the backward action of the same. The inner brake having
no motion, communicates no motion to the axle A, & the whole
apparatus remains at rest. But the action of the governor, or gasholder
thermometer, or other apparatus is made as hereinafter described to
lift successively the tappets which hold the inner brake arm, & as these
tappets are lifted the inner brake arm becomes free to move this a greater
angle for each stroke of the outer brake arm until the time that all the
tappets are lifted, & then it moves the same angle as the external brake
arm; I also make the motion of the broke arm vary by the following
arrangement: The brake arm is not connected directly with the engine
or other moving power, but is placed near & moves in the same plane

page_text: with an oscillating piece of equal length moved by the engine. This
oscillating piece has its centre in the opposite direction from the brake
arm, between the two arms there is placed a sliding piece which is free
to move in the direction of the length of the arms. If placed in the
middle part, the two arms will move through the same angle, but the
angle through which the brake arm is driven becomes greater or less
in a rapid ratio as the sliding piece is moved nearer to or further from
the centre of motion of the brake.
Application to govern ordinary steam engines.-I employ the fore-
going to regulate the supply of steam to the engine in the following
manner: The axle A of the arrangement of apparatus herein-before
described is connected by any suitable gearing with a slide, throttle,
or other valve on the pipe supplying steam to the engine, & in such a
manner that the revolution of the axle & the wheel G in one direction
will gradually open & in the other gradually close the valve. The
beam is connected with an ordinary centrifugal or other governor of
very small dimensions in such a way that when the engine moves at its
proper speed the beam B shall be horizontal or in its neutral position,
but if the speed be increased or diminished, the governor acting on the
beam B moves in and out of the horizontal position, and by so doing
brings one or other of the tappets in contact with the wheel G. Then
the axle A and the valve connected with it are moved so as to diminish
or increase the supply of steam, as the case may be, such motion being
continued until the engine arrives at its mean rate of speed, when the
beam will again assume its horizontal position. The lever C is con-
nected by linkwork with any convenient reciprocating part of the
engine or with a crank or eccentric fixed on the shaft. The advantage
of the arrangement in this case being that it enables a very small &
delicate centrifugal or other governor to regulate the speed of an engine
of any size.
Application to the gas exhauster engine.-In many cases where motive
power has to be employed it is necessary that the speed should be varied
with the amount of work to be done. For example, the exhauster
employed in gasworks must increase its velocity in proportion to the
quantity of gas being generated at the time. As the exhauster is almost
universally connected directly to the engine it is necessary therefore
that the speed of the engine should vary in the same ratio. In this
case the other connections being the same, the beam B from which the
pallets are suspended, is in connection with a small gasholder (which
receives its supply from the inlet side of the exhauster) and in such a
way that when the exhauster is proceeding at the proper rate the beam

page_text: B is horizontal, if however the exhaustion be too rapid for the quantity
of gas being made, a partial vacuum is produced, the small gasholder
is drawn down, and one end of the beam B depressed, thereby bringing
into action the tappet or pallet at the end, which will cause a revolution
of the axle A and wheel G in that direction, which gradually shuts off
the steam. On the other hand, if the exhaustion be not sufficiently
rapid to draw off the gas as quickly as it is generated a pressure will
be caused in the main which will raise the gasholder and depressing the
other end of the beam B will bring into action the pallet which allows
the axle and wheel to rotate in that direction, which will open the valve
with which it is connected, and thereby increase the supply of steam
until the proper amount of exhaustion is attained, when the beam B
will return to the horizontal or neutral position. The gasholder used
to act on the beam B can be counterpoised and adjusted so as to bring
into action any pallet to any desired point either of pressure or vacuum.
It is sometimes desirable to prevent too great a vacuum at the inlet of
the exhauster by opening a valve on the pipe connecting the outlet and
inlet of the exhauster, the effect of this being to allow a portion of gas
at a high pressure to pass from the inlet to the outlet, and thus diminish
the vacuum.
I only claim the arrangement for effecting this herein-
after described. An apparatus of the "brake & tappet" kind, in all
respects similar to that employed for regulating the supply of steam
to the gas exhauster engine is connected with a throttle or other valve
on the pipe which connects the outlet and inlet of the exhauster. I
find it desirable to employ these two modes of regulation in conjunction
in the following manner:-The motion of the throttle or other valve on
the gas pipe is made more rapid than that on the steam pipe, the latter
being made exceedingly slow. If the motion of the steam valve be too
rapid, the speed of the engine has a tendency to oscillate from one side
to the other of the appropriate speed. On the other hand too slow a
motion of the steam valve may not check or increase the speed of the
engine sufficiently fast when any great change takes place in the amount
of work which it has to do, in such a case the regulator of the gas valve
comes into action, & the small gas holder is so connected with the beam
B as not to deflect it from the horizontal position until some considerable
amount of vacuum (say 1 of a column is produced). The beam in con-
nection with the steam valve, however, is so adjusted as to come slowly
into action when the pressure varies to the smallest extent either above
or below the normal point.
Application to regulate the pressure of steam in boilers or other genc-
rating apparatus by its action on the damper.-In this case the axle on

page_text: which the toothed wheel G is carried is connected by suitable means
to the damper, and the beam B is connected with a mercurial or other
pressure guage in such manner as to keep the beam horizontal when the
steam is at the desired pressure. In the case of the steam gauge con-
sisting of an inverted syphon, of which one end is in connection with the
boiler, and the other open to the atmospheric pressure, the action would
be as follows: As long as the steam in the boiler remains at its proper
pressure the beam B would be retained in the horizontal position by a
float in the open leg of the syphon, but if the pressure change, the action
of the steam on the mercury will cause it and the float to change like-
wise. If the pressure rises, the steam acting on the mercury in the inner
leg of the syphon depresses it, thereby elevating it in the outer one. The
float rising with the mercury alters the position of the beam B, thereby
bringing the pallet into action which allows the wheel G and axle A
to receive motion in the proper direction, viz., that which would close
the damper until the pressure arrived at its proper point, when, of
course, the beam B would again receive its neutral position from the
float. If, on the other hand, the pressure falls below its proper point,
the steam in the boiler becomes unable to support the column of
mercury, consequently its level falls in the outer leg of the syphon, and
carrying with it the float, throws into action that tappet which causes
the wheel and axle to receive motion in the direction which would open
the damper. Any steam guage having sufficient motion and force to
put the beam end out of level may be substituted for the inverted syphon
arrangement.
Feed water. This arrangement may also be employed to govern the
supply of feed water to the engine, the beam being actuated by a float
in the boiler so as to open or close the cocks of feed pumps or to put
them in or out of action, the beam being adjusted to the horizontal posi-
tion when the water is at the proper height in the boiler.
Application to regulate the injection water of condensing engines.-
I employ the brake & tappet motion to regulate the supply of injection
water to condensing engines in the following manner:-The lever C
being connected with any reciprocating part of the engine, and the axle
A being properly geared with the injection cock, the beam B is con-
nected with a thermometer (placed in the hot well) in such a way that
when the water of the well is at the proper temperature the beam B
will be kept horizontal, but if the temperature rises or falls, the beam B
will be inclined to one side or other, thereby bringing-into-action
the tappet, which produces such rotary motion in the axle A as shall
open or close the injection cock. The thermometer to be used for this

page_text: purpose must be one capable of producing a mechanical effect sufficient
to alter the position of the beam B and the tappets connected there-
with. The brake and tappet can be applied in every other case where
a constant temperature can be maintained by regulating the flow of
hot, cold, inflammable, or other fluids.
Application to water wheels.-In every case where the supply of fluid
is to be regulated, as steam to a steam engine, water to a water wheel,
turbine or motive power of any kind, it is only necessary to give
reciprocating motion to the lever C, to connect the axle A with a
regulating valve or sluice, and to connect the beam B in such a manner
that it may be horizontal when the proper supply is afforded, but may
be inclined to one side or other by some motion the result of too great
or too small a supply, thus bringing into action the tappet which deter-
mines the motion of the axle A in one direction or the other, so as to
open or close the valve or sluice supplying the fluid. I also employ to
govern the supply of steam and other fluids to machines a paddle driven
by the machine & rotating in a vessel containing water or other liquid.
The paddle communicates a motion of rotation to the water contained
in the vessel, and the friction of the particles of water against the sides
of the vessel and suitable partitions give the vessel a tendency to rotate.
The vessel is mounted on an axis, and would be carried round con-
tinually were it not that its motion is limited by the action of a spring
acted on by a cord wound up on a pulley fixed to the vessel. This
spring yields until its tension balances the force communicated to the
vessel by the fluid friction of the particles of water. This force of rota-
tion increases with the velocity communicated to the fluid particles by
the paddle, & as this depends on the velocity of the engine the vessel
containing the water will be made to perform a greater or less extent
of revolution. This pulley is also connected with a valve, or with the
beam of the brake and tappet motion, or belt of the pitch wheel,
differential motion hereafter described, or other method by which the
passage of the steam or other fluid may be increased or diminished.
In place of the above arrangement the vessel may be driven by the
engine and the paddle connected with the regulating valve. Instead of
a pulley the vessel in the first case, and the paddle in the second case,
may carry a curve on which a cord is wound, and the curve need not be
circular, but may be spiral, of which the evolute would represent the
actual tension of the spring in pounds, or may follow any other law.
The cord rolled & unrolled from the spiral may be connected with the
regulating valve. If a pencil moved by the cord or arm over the surface
of a sheet of paper carried on by a clockwork apparatus, the line traced
by the pencil will trace the velocity at each interval of time.

page_text: Pitch cham. I also employ an endless pitch chain wound round to
stake wheels so as to form two hanging loops, each carrying a sheave
pulley, from one of which a weight is suspended; one of the staked
wheels is driven by any independent motion, such as clockwork on a
small turbine, or other motive power; the second is so geared with the
steam engine or other engine to be governed, that it has the same cir-
cumferential velocity as the other stake wheels whenever the engine is
going with its proper velocity. Each of the pullies then winds up a
portion of the chain as rapidly as the other unwinds, and consequently
the suspended weight remains at the same height. If, however, the
engine goes faster or slower than its proper speed, the weight is raised or
lowered, and the rise and fall of the weight is made to actuate a valve
controlling the supply of steam or other fluid. Or, I employ two equal
& opposite cone pullies connected by a band, and carrying on their ends
two equal stake wheels fitted with an endless chain and weight, as above
described. If the belt is at the central position, the two pullies & stake
wheels move with equal velocities, and the weight neither rises nor falls.
But if the belt be shifted from the central position, one of the stake
wheels travels faster than the other, and the weight is raised or lowered.
The belt may be shifted by a claw moved by a small governor.
In order to give to consumers a sufficient supply of gas without being
excessive, it is necessary to vary the initial pressure with which it is
delivered from the works at different hours. This is effected by taking
off or putting on weights on the governor and its counterpoise by hand.
This I propose to do by an automatic apparatus, as herein-after
described A strip of pasteboard or other laminated material is moved
by a clock at an equal rate, and divided by lines perpendicular to its linc
of motion into equal parts representing the twenty-four hours, and any
convenient submultiples of them. One edge of this card is straight, and
the other is cut into a curve of which the co-ordinates are proportional
to the different purposes required of the different hours represented by
the several divisions. Close by this curve or strips stands a small gas-
holder similar to those used in the ordinary pressure register, & which
rises in proportion to the pressure of the gas within it, the scale being
equal to the scale upon which the ordinates of the curve are drawn.
The gasholder is surmounted by a rod, which carries at its upper
extremity a beam, one end of which carries a small roller pressing on the
curve; the whole being so adjusted that the beam remains horizontal if
the actual pressure of the gas is equal to that indicated by the curve-
as being required for the particular hour. If, however, the actual
pressure of the gas be greater or less than that required at any given

page_text: time, the beam is thrown out of level to one side or the other, & this
deflection of the beain I employ to change the pressure so as to make it
coincide with that indicated by the curve.
The
In one of the methods herein-after described, 1st, the deflection of
the beam, may bring into circuit one or two electro-magnets, one of
which opens a clock, which allows water from a reservoir to flow into
a vessel placed in the top of the gasholder of the ordinary governor, and
the other of which brings into circuit another electro-magnet, which
opens a cock allowing water to escape from the same vessel.
weight of the water increases or diminishes the pressure of the
governor;
2nd, the beam may have a pointer at right angles like the index of an
ordinary balance, the motion of which may be conveyed by suitable bell
cranks to the beam of the brake and tappet motion already described,
and the brake and tappet may be made to open cocks in a similar way.
The curve may be spiral, of which the ordinates are measured in the
radii of a circle. The strip already mentioned instead of being cut to
a curved line, may have cut on its edge or edges a series of successive
elevations or depressions which may resemble the teeth of a ratchet
wheel. When a change of pressure is required at any particular hour,
the surface of the card has cut upon it as many successive elevations or.
depressions as there are tenths of pressure required to be added or taken
off. Each elevation may be made to increase the pressure, and each
depression made to diminish the pressure by permitting a definite
quantity of water to flow into or out of the vessel already mentioned.
This quantity of water may by its weight be able to produce a change
of pressure of one-tenth. To obtain this definite quantity of water I
employ what I call an "unit vessel," which is provided with an inlet
and an outlet valve, so connected that when one valve is open the other
must be shut. If the unit vessel be supplied from any source higher
than its upper open extremity by the inlet valve, it will receive and
deliver a constant quantity for each time that the positions of the valves
are changed. The change I propose to produce by the action of a beam
provided with a roller which is deflected to one side or other by the
elevations or depressions already mentioned. Instead of elevations or
depressions cut upon a card, pins may be attached at the proper places
on a wheel revolving once in twenty-four hours, and the forms or posi-
tions of those pins be made to actuate valves, so as to increase or
diminish the weight of water on the governor or its counterpoise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Denny Lane in the Great. Seal Patent Office on the 28th
March 1862.
ΤΟ ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. 1, DENNY
LANE, of the County of the City of Cork, Secretary of the Cork Gas Con-
sumers' Company, send greeting.
: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Denny Lane, Her Special licence that I, the
said Denny Lane, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Denny Lane, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS WHEREBY TO REGULATE THE PASSAGE
OR FLOW OF GAS, WATER, AND OTHER FLUIDS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Denny Lane, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Denny Lane do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):-
My Invention of improvements in apparatus for transmitting power
for the regulation of fluids, and for other purposes, relates to apparatus
in which a very small initial force is rendered capable of controlling
great actual results, as in the case of the steam engine governor, by
operating on the passage of steam, gas, water, or other fluid, such
apparatus being therefore very sensitive, -and-applicable_to_purposes
where great delicacy of movement is required, as in the pumping of gas
during its manufacture from the retort to the gas holder. It is also

page_text: equally applicable to purposes wherein extreme sensitiveness is unneces-
sary, and consists, first, in apparatus which I term "brake and tappet
motion," and which is represented at Fig. 1 of the Drawings annexed.
G is a toothed wheel keyed on a spindle A, which is carried in suit-
able bearings; the friction brake is made of boxwood or other material,
fitted on the axle A, and connected by the lever C, which receives motion
from the machine to which it is connected. R, L, are two pawls or
tappets hinged on pins fixed in the standards at either side of the wheel
G, and suspended from the beam B, which is free to move on its centre
like the beam of a balance. S is a regulating screw to increase the
pressure of the brake on the axle A, or diminish it at pleasure. An
ordinary toothed wheel G is keyed on a shaft or axle A, which axle is.
embraced by a friction brake F, connected with a lever C, which
receives a reciprocating motion from any convenient part of the steam
engine or other machine with which it is connected. The reciprocating
motion of the brake F merely rocks the shaft. At either side of the
toothed wheel G there are fixed in pillars or other suitable bearings
the pawls or tappets R and L, each fixed at such an angle as to allow
the wheel G to rotate in one direction, but to prevent its motion in the
other. Thus, if the one marked L be allowed to come in contact with
the wheel G, the latter can move in the same direction as the hands of
a clock, but will be prevented from moving in the reverse direction.
Again, if R be in contact with the wheel G, it will be moved in a direc-
tion the reverse to that of the hands of a clock, but will be prevented
from moving in the same direction with them. These pawls or tappets
R and L are suspended from a beam B, which is movable round a hori-
zontal axis, and they are suspended at such a height that when the beam
is horizontal they are both clear of the wheel G. But if either end of
the beam is depressed, the tappet connected with it at that end descends
and comes in contact with the wheel G, allowing it to move in one
direction only. The amount of pressure or frictional power which the
brake F exerts on the shaft or axle A is regulated by the screw S,
which may be tightened when the power is not sufficient to work it, or
it may be effected by the brake being made in such a manner as to exert
by its own spring sufficient tightening power, so that it can move the
axle in the direction in which the tappet in contact with the wheel G
permits; but when it tends to turn it in the opposite direction, the resis-
tance of the tappet is sufficient to hold the wheel and axle, and the brake
slips on the latter. Supposing the tappet marked L to be in contact
with the wheel G, the operation of this arrangement will be as follows:-
When the lever C moves to the right, it carries with it the axle and wheel

page_text: G, one or more of the teeth of the wheel passing under the tappet or
pawl L;
but when the lever moves to the left, the tappet or pawl L comes
into action to prevent the axle and wheel returning with it, and the
brake slips round the axle. At the next movement of the iever C to the
right, the same operation is repeated, and another tooth or number of
teeth will pass under L, so that by continuing the process, the wheel G
and its axis may be made to revolve any number of times. The motion
of the lever C may be adjusted so as to pass any required number of
the teeth of the wheel G under the pawl or tappet at each oscillation.
The peculiar advantages of this arrangement, which I call "brake and
tappet motion," consists in this, that a very small amount of mechanical
force is sufficient to determine the position of the beam B in either of
the three positions which it may assume, and that as a consequence the
axle A and all apparatus connected with it remains at rest or receives
motion either forwards or backwards with an amount of force which
can be increased to any required extent by increasing the friction of the
brake on the axles. The combination of these principles confers on
this arrangement the two advantages of extreme sensitiveness and great
power.
2nd double brake and tappet motion.-The simple "brake and tappet
motion" as herein-before described will move the axle A only at a
uniform velocity until the stroke of the brake arm is altered by hand.
I propose to make this variation of the stroke automatic by the follow-
ing arrangement, which I call the "double brake and tappet motion,"
represented at Fig. 2. The brake arm is not connected directly with
the motive power, but a portion of the socket embracing the axle A is
turned circular, and is caught by a second external brake, which has
an arm giving the maximum motion required and having a greater
frictional hold on the inner brake than the latter has on the axis. The
inner brake arm carries a segment of a circle concentric with the axle A,
and this segment is divided on its external surface into any equal num-
ber of parts by parallel circles. For example, if the circumferential
surface of the segment was one inch broad, it may be divided into four
equal parts by parallel lines, each part one quarter of an inch. These
spaces have each a single ratchet-shaped tooth; these teeth are not
placed in one line, but are stepped at different distances; opposite each
of these teeth is placed a tappet or pawl, which allows motion in one
direction, but prevents it in the other. The tappets are so adjusted, that
if all are down the arm of the inner brake would be held tight by them
against the forward action of the outer brake, and a permanent stop
behind the inner brake arm holds firm against the backward action-of

page_text: the same. The inner brake having no motion, communicates no motion
to the axle A, and the whole apparatus remains at rest; but if the
action of the governor, gasholder, thermometer, or other suitable
apparatus is made as herein-after described to lift successively the
tappets which hold the inner brake arm as these tappets are lifted, the
inner brake arm becomes free to move through a greater angle for each
stroke of the outer brake arm until the time that all the tappets are lifted,
aud then it moves through the same angle as the external brake arm.
I also make the motion of the brake arm vary by the following arrange-
ment: The brake arm is not connected directly with the engine or other
moving power, but is placed near and in the same plane with an oscil-
lating piece of equal length, moved by the engine. This oscillating
piece has its centre in the opposite direction from the brake arm, so
that between the two arms there is placed a sliding piece which is free
to move with the two arms, and communicate the motion from the one
to the other. This sliding piece is also free to move in the direction of
the length of the arms. If placed in the middle part the two arms will
move through the same angle, but the angle through which the brake
arm is driven becomes greater or less in a rapid ratio as the sliding piece
is moved nearer to or further from the centre of motion of the brake
arm.
In Fig. 2, S represents the segment carrying the ratchet teeth r, t,
and fastened on the inner brake f'; A, the axle or spindle embraced by
the inner brake f¹; f, an outer brake embracing the inner one, and
which is itself embraced by the lever C; s¹, s2, s³, s, are stops which
are represented as all down in the Drawing; p, s, a permanent stop
behind S to prevent its movement when the other brake makes its back-
ward motion; now, if s be lifted, the motion of the outer brake will
carry S, and consequently the axle A and machinery connected with it
through the angle 1, t, and if s³ be raised, it is carried on until stopped
by s; if be lifted, it will be carried on to s', which is equivalent to
increasing the angle moved through at s three times; if s¹ be lifted, the
motion of s is only limited by the motion of the outer brake f, and it
will consequently move through the same angle.
3rdly, application of the "brake and tappet motion") to govern
ordinary steam engines. I employ the foregoing to regulate the supply
of steam to a steam engine in the following manner;-The axle A is
connected by any suitable gearing to a slide, throttle, or other valve
upon the pipe supplying steam to the engine, and in such a manner that
the revolution of the axle and wheel G in one direction will gradually
open, and the other gradually close the valve. The beam B is connected

page_text: with an ordinary centrifugal or other governor of very small dimensions,
in such a way that when the engine moves at its proper.or mean speed
the beam will be in its horizontal or neutral position; but if the speed be
increased or diminished, the governor acting on the beam B moves it
out of the horizontal position, and by so doing brings one or other of the
tappets into contact with the wheel G. Then the axle A and the valve
connected with it are moved so as to diminish or increase the supply of
steam as the case may be. Such motion being continued until the
engine arrives at its mean rate of speed, when the beam again assumes
the horizontal position. The lever C is connected by linkwork with the
eccentric, or any convenient reciprocating part of the engine. The
advantages of the "brake and tappet motion" in this case is, that it
enables a very small and delicate centrifugal or other governor to regu-
late the speed of an engine of any size.
4thly, application of the brake and tappet motion to the gas exhauster
engine. In many cases where motive power has to be employed, it is
necessary that the speed should be varied with the amount of work to be
done. For example, the exhauster employed in gasworks must increase
its velocity in proportion to the quantity of gas generated at the time.
As the exhauster is almost universally connected directly with the
engine, it is necessary therefore that the speed of the engine should
vary in the same ratio. In this case the other connection being the same,
the beam B from which the pallets are suspended is in connection with
a small gasholder (which receives its supply from the inlet side of the
exhauster), and in such a way that when the exhaustion is produced at
the proper rate the beam B is horizontal. If, however, the exhaustion
be too rapid for the quantity of gas being made, a partial vacuum will
be produced, the small gasholder drawn down, and one end of the beam
depressed, thereby bringing into action the tappet or pallet at that end,
which will cause a revolution of the axle A and wheel G in the direction
which will gradually shut off the steam. On the other hand, if the
exhaustion be not sufficiently rapid to draw off the gas as quickly as it
is generated, a pressure will be caused in the main, which will raise the
gasholder, and depressing the other end of the beam B will bring into
action the pawl or tappet, which allows the axle and wheel to rotate in
that direction, which will gradually open the valve with which it is con-
nected, and thereby increase the supply of steam until the proper amount
of exhaustion is attained, when the beam B will return to its horizontal
or neutral position. The-gasholder-used-to-act-on-the-beam_B_may_be
counterpoised and adjusted so as to bring the pallets into action at any
desired point, either of pressure or vacuum. It is sometimes desirable

page_text: to prevent too great a vacuum at the inlet of the exhauster by opening
a valve on a pipe connecting the inlet & outlet of the exhauster, the
effect of this being to allow a portion of gas at a high pressure to pass
from the outlet to the inlet, and thus diminish the vacuum.
I only
claim the arrangement for effecting this which is herein-after described.
An apparatus of the brake and tappet kind, in all respects similar to
that employed for regulating the supply of steam to the exhauster
engine is connected with a throttle or other valve on that pipe which
connects the outlet and inlet of the exhauster. I find it desirable to
employ these two modes of regulation in conjunction in the following
manner: The motion of the throttle or other valve on the gas pipe is
made more rapid than that on the steam pipe, the latter being made
exceedingly slow. If the motion of the steam valve be too rapid, the
speed of the engine has a tendency to oscillate to one side or other of
the appropriate speed. On the other hand, too slow a motion of the
steam valve may not check or increase the speed of the engine suffi-
ciently fast when great changes take place in the amount of work which
it has to do. In such a case the regulator of the gas valve comes into
action, and the small gasholder is so connected with the beam B as not
to deflect it from the horizontal position until some considerable amount
of vacuum (say, one half an inch of a column of water is produced).
The beam in connection with the tappets actuating the steam valve,
however, is so adjusted as to come slowly into action when the pressure
varies to the smallest extent either above or below its normal point.
5thly, application to regulate the pressure of steam in boilers or other
generating apparatus by acting on the damper.-In this case the axle
on which the toothed wheel G is carried is connected by suitable gear-
ing to the damper, and the beam B is connected with a mercurial or
other pressure guage, in such a manner as to keep the beam B horizon-
tal when the steam is at the desired pressure. In the case of A steam
guage consisting of an inverted syphon, of which one end is in com-
munication with the boiler, and the other open to the atmospheric
pressure, the action would be as follows:-As long as the steam in the
boiler remained at its right pressure, the beam B would be retained in
its horizontal position by a float in the opening of the syphon; but if
the pressure change, the action of the steam on the mercury will cause
it and the float to change likewise. If the pressure rises the steam
acting on the mercury in the inner leg of the syphon depresses it,
thereby elevating it in the outer one, the float rising with the mercury
alters the position of the beam B, thereby bringing that pallet into

page_text: action, which allows the wheel G and the axis A to receive motion in
the proper direction, viz., that which would close the damper, until the
pressure arrived at its proper point, when the beam B would again
receive its neutral position from the float. If, on the other hand, the
pressure falls below its proper point, the steam in the boiler becomes
unable to support the column of mercury, consequently it falls in the
outer leg of the syphon, and carrying with it the float, throws into action
the tappet, which causes the axle to receive motion in the direction
which would open the damper. Any steam guage having sufficient
motion and force to put the beam B out of level may be substituted for
the inverted syphon arrangement.
6thly, application to regulate the admission of the feed water to steam
and other boilers.-The arrangement herein-before described as the
brake and tappet motion, may also be employed to govern the suppply of
water to the boiler of the engine; the beam B in this case being actuated
by a float in the boiler, so as to open or close the cocks of the feed pumps,
injectors, or other feeding apparatus, or to throw them into or out of
action, the beam B (being as in the other cases before mentioned)
adjusted to the neutral position when the water had attained its proper
level in the boiler.
7thly, application to regulate the supply of injection water to the con-
densers of steam or other engines. I employ the brake and tappet
motion to regulate the supply of injection water to condensing engines
in the following manner:-The lever C being connected with any recipro-
cating part of the engine, and the axle A being properly geared with
the injection cock, the beam B is connected with a thermometer (placed
in the hot well) in such a way that when the water of the well is at the
proper temperature the beam B will be kept horizontal; but if the
temperature rises or falls the beam will be inclined to one side or the
other, thereby bringing into action that tappet which will produce such
rotary motion in the axle A as shall open or close the injection cock."
The thermometer to be used for this purpose must be one capable of
producing a mechanical effect sufficient to alter the position of the beam
B, and the tappets connected with it. The brake and tappet motion
can be applied in every other case where a constant temperature can be
maintained by regulating the flow of hot, cold, inflammable, or other
fluids.
8thly, application of the "brake and tappet motion to govern water
wheels or other fluid motors. In every case-where-the-supply of any
fluid is to be regulated as steam to a steam engine, water to a water
wheel, turbine or motive power engine of any kind, it is only necessary

page_text: to give a reciprocating motion to the lever C of the brake arm, and to
connect the beam B in such a manner that it may be horizontal when
the proper supply is afforded, but may be inclined to one side or other
by same motion, the result of too great or too small a supply, thus bring-
ing into action the tappet which determines the motion of the axle A
in one direction or the other, so as to close or open the sluice or valve
as occasion may require.
9thly, hydraulic governor-I also employ to govern the supply of
steam and other fluids to machines a paddle (driven by the machine to
be governed) rotating in a vessel of water or any other suitable liquid.
The paddle communicates a motion of rotation to the water or other
liquid, which the vessel contains, and the friction of the particles of
the water against the sides of the vessel, and suitable partitions con-
The vessel is
tained therein gives the vessel a tendency to rotate.
mounted on an axis, and would be carried round continually were it not
that its motion is limited by the action of a spring connected to a cord
or strap wound up on a pulley fixed on the same axis as the vessel. This
spring yields until its tension balances the force communicated to the
vessel. This spring yields until its tension balances the force com-
municated to the vessel by the friction of the particles of water. This
force of rotation increases with the velocity imparted to the fluid
particles by the paddle, and as this depends on the velocity of the
engine, the vessel containing the water will be made to perform a greater
or less extent of revolution, according as the engine goes quicker or
slower. The pulley is connected with a valve on the pipe supplying the
steam or other fluid, or with the beam B of the "brake and tappet
Differential motion;
motion," or with the belt of the pitch wheel.
herein-after described, or any other method by which the passage of
the steam or fluid may be increased or diminished. In place of the above
arrangement the vessel may be driven by the engine, and the paddle
connected with the regulating valve. Instead of a pulley, the vessel
in the first case, or the paddle in the second case, may carry a curve on
which a cord is wound, and the curve need not be circular, but may be
spiral, and of such a form that the evolute would represent the actual
tension of the spring in pounds, or may follow any other law. The cord
rolled on and unrolled from the spiral may be connected, so as to act
upon the regulating valve. If a pencil be moved by the cord or arm on
the surface of a sheet of paper carried by a clockwork apparatus, the
line traced by the pencil will register the velocity at each interval of
time.
Fig. 9 represents in vertical section an hydraulic governor, according

page_text: to my Invention. C is a cylinder, having partitions p', p², p³, and a
cover D; it is mounted on the axis A; into this cylinder a spindle S pro-
jects, carrying paddle arms L, L, L, which revolve freely in vessel C.
The spindle S carries a drum B, which is driven by the machine to be
governed, and the axis A of the cylinder C carries a drum V. Now, if
the cylinder C be filled with water or any suitable liquid, and motion be
transmitted to the drum B, the friction of the fluid particles against the
partitions of the cylinder C and its sides will cause it to rotate; this,
however, is prevented by attaching a spring to a cord or strap wound
on the drum V; the tension of this spring changes with a change in the
velocity, and of the cord or strap be attached to the regulating valve
it will govern it; or if to a pencil and clockwork apparatus carrying
paper under it will register the changes or variations in the motion of
the engine or other apparatus to which it is connected.
10thly, I also employ to effect the same purposes an endless chain
wound round two or more stake wheels, so as to form two or more hang-
ing loops, each of which carries a sheave or pulley, from one of which a
weight is suspended. One of the stake wheels is driven by any inde-
pendent motion, such as clockwork, or a small turbine, or any other
motive power, and in such manner as to ensure an uniform velocity.
The second stake wheel is so geared with the engine or other machine
to be governed that it has the same circumferential velocity as the
first stake wheel when the engine is going at the proper speed.
Each of the stake wheels then winds up a portion of the pitch
chain as fast as the other unwinds it, and consequently the sus-
pended weight remains at the same height. If, however, the
engine goes faster than or slower than its proper speed the
weight is lowered or raised, and the rise and fall of the weight is
made to actuate a valve controlling the supply of steam or other fluid.
Fig. 10 represents an elevation of the endless pitch chain governor
according to my Invention. S, W, S, W, are two stake or pitch wheels
fastened on suitable spindles and mounted in journals, on these wheels
a pitch chain C works in the manner shown so as to form the two loops
in which the pulleys P1, P2 work. One of the pulleys P', is attached
in any suitable manner to the regulating valve, or sluice of the apparatus
to be governed, and the other carries a weight W; to keep the chain
tant, S, W, is then to be connected to a turbine fly or other apparatus
moving at an uniform rate; S, W, is connected to an engine, water
wheel, or other machine to be governed in such a way that when
it is moving at its proper speed, S, W³, may revolve at the same speed

page_text: as S, W, which is connected with its independent motion. Now as
long as S, W, and S, W, revolve at the same speed, the pulleys P¹
and P will merely revolve on their axes & the chain will merely work
over the wheels, as much chain being rolled on one pulley as is rolled
off the other; it will be seen that they P1, P2, neither rise or fall, but
suppose that the engine or other machine goes at a quicker rate than
is proper, then S, W, rolling up more chain than S, W', unrolls, will
cause the pulley P' to rise, and this rising motion is applied to close
the valve regulating the supply to the engine. On the other hand if
S, W³, or the engine goes slower than S, W, the contrary takes place,
viz. S, W¹, will roll off the chain quicker than S, W, rolls it on, conse-
quently the pulley P will fall, and the valve connected with it being
opened will increase the supply of steam, &c., to the engine.
I sometimes employ two equal and opposite cone pullies connected
by a band, and carrying on their ends two equal stake wheels fitted
with an endless chain, and a weight as above described. If the belt
is at the central position the two pullies and stake wheels move with
equal velocities and the weight neither rises nor falls. But if from
any irregularity in the speed the band be shifted from the central
position, one of the stake wheels travels faster or slower than the
other, and the weight is raised or lowered. The belts may be shifted
by a small centrifugal or other governor.
Fig. 10 represents in front and side elevation the double cone pulley
governor according to my Invention, C, P', C, P2, are two equal cone
pullies fastened on spindles and mounted in the journals j, j, with the
cones in opposite directions, one of these pulleys C, P' receives motion
from the engine or other machine to be governed through the drum D,
and communicates it to the other by the strap S which is crossed in
the manner shown so as to cause the pulleys C, P', C, P2, to revolve
in opposite directions; when the belt or strap is in the centre of the
pulleys they revolve at the same speed, but when by a governor or other
arrangement the belt is shifted to one end or other, the speed of the
driven pulley either increases or diminishes as the end towards which
it is drawn is smaller or larger than the driver. On the same axes as
the cone pulleys C, P¹, C, P2, are carried to stake or pitch wheels S, W',
S, W2, over which a pitch chain works; this chain is hung in such way
as to form two loops in which the pulleys P1, P2, are placed, one of which
is in connection with the valve or sluice regulating the supply of fluid
to the machine, and the other carries a weight to keep the chain taut
and to counterbalance the valve lever. Now, when the strap S is at
the centre both pullies will revolve at the same speed, consequently

page_text: the chain will be rolled off S, W', as fast as S, W, rolls it on, the
pullies P1, P2, will receive no motion in a vertical direction, but will
simply revolve upon their axes, suppose, however, that the strap is
moved towards the large end (which it will be if the machinery goes too
slow), then the driven pulley C, P, will move round more rapidly
than C, P', consequently the chain will be wound up on the stake
wheel S, W, quicker than S, W', unwinds it, and the pulley P¹ will
be raised, this raising of P' is applied to open the valve, and if the
belt be shifted to the other end the contrary will take place, and the
sluice or valve will be closed..
11thly, gas supply govenor.-In order to give to consumers a suffi-
cient supply of gas without being excessive it is necessary that the
initial force with which it is delivered from the works should vary at
different hours. This is effected in the ordinary governor by taking
off or putting weights on the governor and its counterpoise by hand.
This I propose to do by an automatic apparatus, as herein-before
described, and which is represented in the Diagrams marked Fig. 11.
A strip of pasteboard or other laminated material is moved by clock-
work at an equal rate, and divided by lines perpendicular to its line
of motion into equal parts representing the-twenty-four hours, and any
convenient sub-multiples of them. One edge of this card P is straight,
and the other is cut to a curve, of which the co-ordinates are proportional
to the different pressures required at the different hours represented
by the several divisions. Close by this curve or strip stands a small
gasholder G, similar to those used in the ordinary pressure register,
and which rises in proportion to the pressure of the gas within it, the
scale being equal to the scale upon which the ordinates of the curve
are drawn. The gas holder is surmounted by a rod x, which carries at
its upper extremity a beam b, b, one end of which carries a roller
resting on the curved part of the card, the whole being so adjusted
that the beam remains horizontal, if the actual pressure of the gas is
equal to that indicated by the curve, as being required for that parti-
cular hour. If however, the actual pressure of the gas be greater or
Jess than that required at any given time, the beam B will be thrown
out of level the one side or the other, and this deflection of the beam,
I employ to change the pressure so as make it coincide with that
indicated by the curve in one of the methods herein-after described:-
First, the deflection of the beam may bring into contact one of two
-electro-magnets, one-of-which-opens_a_cock_which allows water from a
reservoir to flow into a vessel placed on the top of the gasholder of the
ordinary main governor, and the other of which brings into contact the

page_text: other electro-magnet, which opens a cock allowing water to escape from
the same vessel.. The weight of the water increases or diminishes the
pressure of the governor.
Second, the beam B may have a pointer L at right angles, like the
index of the ordinary balance, the motion of which may be conveyed
by a suitable bell crank to the beam B of the "brake and tappet
motion" herein-before described, and the brake and tappet motion may
be made to open cocks in a similar way. The curve may be a spiral,
of which the ordinates are measured in the radii of a circle. The strip
of pasteboard or card already mentioned, instead of being cut to "a
curved line, may have cut on its edge or edges, a series of successive
elevations or depressions, which may resemble the teeth of a ratchet
wheel. When a change of pressure is required at any particular hour,
the surface of the card has cut upon it as many successive elevations or
depressions as there are tenths (of an inch of a column of water) pressure
to be added or taken off. Each such elevation may be made to increase
the pressure, and each depression to diminish the pressure of the
governor, by permitting a definite quantity of water to flow into and out
of the vessel already mentioned. This quantity of water may by its
weight be able to produce a change of pressure of one tooth. To obtain
this definite quantity of water I employ what I call a unit vessel,'
which is provided with an inlet & outlet valve, so connected that when
one valve is open, the other must be shut. If the unit vessel be supplied
from any source higher than its upper open extremity by the inlet valve,
it will receive and deliver a constant quantity for each time that the
position of valve is changed. This change I propose to produce by the
action of a beam provided with a roller, which is deflected to one sidė
or other by the elevations or depressions already mentioned. Instead
of elevations or depressions cut upon a card, pins may be attached in
the proper places on a wheel revolving once in 24 hours, and the forms
or positions of those pins may be made to actuate valves, so as to
increase or diminish the weight of water on the governor or its counter-
poise at the several times indicated by their position in the wheel.
"
Fig. 11, gas supply governor.-P, strip or card divided into equal
spaces by lines h, h; the space between each of those lines is equal to the
rise produced in G, the gasholder, by an increase of 10 inch of pressure.
This strip is secured to a wheel W carried on the vertical spindle S,
which revolves once in 24 hours. The gasholder G carries on its crown
a standard x, supporting beam b, provided with a roller, which runs on
the edge of P. The beam is horizontal when the number of tenths
supply is the same as that on the card at that particular hour. When

page_text: the raised part of card P comes under the roller it is raised, and beam b
is thrown out of level, thereby bringing the appts. connected with the
point L into action; if it is connected with the brake & tappet motion it
will incline the beam B (see Fig. 1) to that side which will give the
axle A motion in the direction to open the cock, allowing water to run
on to the governor until when the pressure arrives at the point indicated
on the curve (the gasholder being raised by the action of the gas to
the same height as the axle) the roller will again be horizontal. When
the pressure has to be lowered this action is reversed, or the brake and
tappet motion may be connected with the spindle of the valve in the
main used to govern the supply. U, V, is the unit vessel; having a
valve adjusted to allow, when opened, a quantity of water equivalent
to that req to increase the pressure 10 of an inch to flow into the vessel
on the governor. It is connected with the reservoir Q by pipe y, having
a valve so arranged as to be open when the valve in U, V, is shut.
Both valves are connected to a lever on top of Q, so that when one
is open the other must be shut. U, V2, is another unit vessel on the
principle of the intermittent fountain; it contains a syphon x. When
the valve is open which allows water to run into this vessel, it continues
rising until the air is expelled from the bend of the syphon; it then
runs over (owing to the large bore of the syphon) very quickly, & by
its weight on the governor, increases the pressure 1/10 in. To reduce
the pressure, a contrary action takes place, viz., the water is run off
the governor by a unit vessel placed so as to receive its supply from
the tank on the governor.
In order to govern the passage of gas through a main, I employ an
hydraulic valve of the ordinary construction. The inlet and outlet pipes
communicate with an air-tight box placed immediately below the level
of the main; the inlet and outlet are separated by a partition of circular
or other form which descends into the box for some portion of its
depth. Below the partition the space remains open between its lower
extremity and the bottom of the box, through which the gas is free to
pass. A small pipe from any source supplying water or other suitable
fluid communicates with the box, and if water is admitted, the area
of the opening beneath the partition is gradually diminished, until,
finally, the gas is altogether shut off. A small gasholder, diaphragm,
or other pressure indicator moved by the gas, is so connected with the
pipe communicating with the box, that it opens or closes one of two
cocks or valves,-by-one-of-which_water is admitted, and by the other
of which water is allowed to escape from the air-tight box, in the
former case diminishing, and in the latter increasing the area of the

page_text: passage between the bottom of the partition and the surface of the
water, and thus regulating the supply of gas.
Fig. 11 represents a gas supply governor. B is an air-tight box of
rectangular, circular, or other convenient form, having two pipes G, S,
G, D, communicating with it in the manner shown; the dotted lines
show the water level, and it is by the raising and lowering of this level
that the supply is diminished or increased. W, S, is the pipe by which the
water is supplied, and W, d, the pipe by which it is discharged. The
valves or cocks on those pipes are opened and closed by a gasholder
similar to G, Fig. 11, or by the brake and tappet motion, or by the
electro-magnets already mentioned. The end of the pipe G, S, is shaped
in the form shown by the letters 7, 7, 7, or in any convenient manner
so as to cause the supply pipe to be opened or closed more gradually by
the fall or rise of the water in B than it would be if the end were
plain.
In witness whereof, I, the said Denny Lane, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness to the signature of
Denny Lane,
J. W. BOURKE, Solicitor,
Cork.
DENNY LANE. (L.S.)