IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNING OR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE POWER ENGINES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THIS PURPOSE."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Grafton Jones, of Stoke Newington, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNING
OR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE POWER ENGINES,
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THIS PURPOSE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Grafton Jones at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th September 1880.
JAMES GRAFTON JONES, of Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNING OR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM
AND OTHER MOTIVE POWER ENGINES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR
THIS PURPOSE.
"
Heretofore the speed of motive power engines has been regulated by means of
governors, mechanism, or apparatus actuated by the engine itself, and the action of
such governing apparatus has depended upon the varying speed at which such
engines run, according to the resistance to which they are subjected. In the
case of marine engines the resistance in a rough sea is constantly varying, the
consequence being that the engines frequently "race," causing waste of steam and
injury to the machinery. The object of the governing apparatus heretofore
employed has been to cut off or regulate the supply of steam as quickly as possible
after the speed of the engine has unduly increased.
Now, according to my Invention, in place of driving the governing apparatus by
means of the engine itself I take advantage of the varying velocities of the steam
(or other motive power fluid) in its passage through the steam pipe or passage to
supply the engine, such velocity being caused to act upon suitable apparatus
applied to the steam pipe or passage to control the action of the ordinary throttle
valve, or a valve combined with the governing apparatus.
According to my Invention advantage is taken of the varying velocity of the
steam (or other motive power fluid) in its passage through the steam pipe to the
throttle valve and engine by means of apparatus arranged in the steam pipe or
passage, such apparatus acting to open or close the throttle valve in accordance
with the speed at which the engine is required to run.

page_text: The means or apparatus employed for acting upon the throttle valve in
accordance with my Invention may be considerably varied, but one method of
accomplishing this object is as follows:-
In the steam pipe or passage a box or chamber is inserted, within which a disc
is suspended upon an axis mounted at the top of the box or chamber. One end of
the axis passes through a stuffing box and carries a lever and rod connected with a
lever on the axis of the throttle valve.
The lever upon the axis of the suspended disc is connected with an adjustable
spring balance (or lever and adjustable weight). The diameter of the disc is less
than the steam passage, an annular space being left around it equal to the area of
the steam pipe so as not to intercept the free passage of the steam (or other fluid),
which in its passage exerts a greater pressure on the side of the disc presented to
the current than on its other side, thus causing the disc to be moved forward in
the direction of the flow of steam or other fluid.
The extent of the forward movement of the disc is controlled by the action of
the adjustable spring balance connected therewith, which thus regulates the
quantity of steam allowed to pass to the engine.
In place of employing a disc a small external steam cylinder and piston may be
arranged outside the box or chamber, steam passages leading from the steam pipe
being arranged in communication with each side of the piston, one passage being
opposite to the forward direction of the steam (or other fluid), and the other in the
-direction-of-the-flow. The pressure of the steam in its passage to the engine acts
on one side of the piston and upon un adjustable spring-balance-connected therewith
to close the throttle valve, the reaction-of-the-spring_tending to open the valve to
the extent to which it is adjusted.
The cylinder previously referred to may be arranged with a slide valve to actuate
the piston thereof, the slide valve being actuated by the disc before referred to, or
by the steam flowing through suitable steain passages arranged in opposite directions
so as to open or close the throttle valve as required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Grafton Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
March 1881.
JAMES GRAFTON JONES, of Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNING OR REGULATING THE SPEED OF STEAM
AND OTHER MOTIVE POWER ENGINES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR
THIS PURPOSE."
Heretofore the speed of motive power engines has been regulated by means of
governors, mechanism, or apparatus actuated by the engine itself, and the action of
Buch governing apparatus has depended upon the varying speed at which such
engines run, according to the resistance to which they are subjected. In the case
of marine engines the resistance in a rough sea is constantly varying, the
consequence being that the engines frequently "race," causing waste of steam and
injury to the machinery. The object of the governing apparatus heretofore
employed has been to cut off or regulate the supply of steain as quickly as possible
after the speed of the engine has unduly increased.
Now, according to my Invention, in place of driving the governing apparatus by
means of the engine itself I take advantage of the varying velocities of the steam
(or other motive power fluid) in its passage through the steam pipe or passage to
supply the engine, such velocity being caused to act upon suitable apparatus applied
to the steam pipe or passage to control the action of the ordinary throttle valve, or
the valve that regulates the working of the governing apparatus.
According to my Invention advantage is taken of the varying velocity of the
steam (or other motive power fluid) in its passage through the steam pipe to the
throttle valve and engine by means of apparatus arranged in the steam pipe or
passage, such apparatus acting to open or close the throttle valve, or other
regulating valve, in accordance with the speed at which the engine is required to run.
The means or apparatus employed for acting upon the valves in accordance with
my Invention may be considerably varied, but one method of accomplishing this
object, as applied to an ordinary throttle valve, is as follows:-
In the steam pipe or passage a box or chamber is inserted, within which a disc is
suspended upon an axis mounted at the top of the box or chamber. One end of
the axis passes through a stuffing box and carries a lever and rod connected with.
a lever on the axis of the throttle valve.
The lever upon the axis of the suspended disc is connected with an adjustable
spring balance (or lever and adjustable weight). The diameter of the disc is less
than the steam passage, an annular space being left around it equal to the area of
the steam pipe so as not to intercept the free passage of the steam (or other fluid)
which in its passage exerts a greater pressure on the side of the disc presented to
the current than on its other side, thus causing the disc to be moved forward in
the direction of the flow of steam or other fluid.
The extent of the forward movement of the disc is controlled by the action of
the adjustable spring balance connected there with, which thus regulate the
quantity of steam allowed to pass to the engine.
In place of employing a disc, a small external steam cylinder and piston may be
arranged outside the box or chamber, steam passages leading from the steam pipe
being arranged in cominunication with each side of the piston, one passage being
opposite to the forward direction of the steam (or other fluid) and the other in the
direction of the flow. The pressure of the steam in its passage to the engine acts
on one side of the piston and upon an adjustable spring balance connected
therewith to close the throttle valve, the reaction of the spring tending to open the
valve to the extent to which it is adjusted.
The cylinder previously referred to may be arranged with a slide valve to
actuate the piston thereof, the slide valve being actuated by the disc before

page_text: referred to or by the steam flowing through suitable steam passages arranged in
opposite directions so as to open or close the throttle valve as required.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will now proceed to describe
the Drawings hereto annexed, which show the method of carrying my Invention
into practice as applied to a steam engine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a longitudinal section, Figure 2 an external view,
Figure 3 a transverse section, and Figure 4 an end view of apparatus applied to
the steam pipe of a (steam or other motive power) engine for governing or
regulating the speed thereof, in accordance with my Invention.
a is the box or chamber inserted in the steam pipe or passage a¹; b is a disc
carried by the arm b¹ suspended and fixed upon the axis b, which passes through
a stufting box 63. On the outer end of the axis b² a bell crank lever c, c², is
mounted; the lever arm c carries an adjustable weight cx, and the lever arm c' is
connected by the connecting rod c³ with the lever arm d fixed on the axis d¹ of
the throttle valve e, the axis d' passing through a stuffing box in the usual manner.
The arrows show the direction of the flow of steain (or other fluid) from the
boiler to the engine, the pressure being greatest on that side of the disc 6 opposed
to the flow of steam (or other fluid pressure) which always tends to close the
throttle (or other) valve e. This pressure is counterbalanced by the adjustable
weight c, and when the weight is adjusted so as to balance the pressure upon the
-disc-b.in.accordance with the speed the engine is desired to run at and the power
it has to exert any variation in the speed of the engine would-at-once-cause-a-
variation in the speed of the steam-(or other fluid)-flowing-through the pipe a', which
speed acting more or less upon the disc b would either act to close or open the
throttle valve, thus keeping the engine at one uniform speed.
Figure 5 shows an external view of apparatus corresponding to that of Figure 2,
in which an adjustable spiral spring d is substituted for the adjustable weight
and lever c, c* in accordance with my Invention, this arrangement of apparatus
being adapted for marine engines where weights would be objectionable, such
arrangement being also equally applicable to other engines.
One end of the spring dx is attached to the lever d of the throttle or other
valve, the other end of the spring d* being attached to the end of the adjustable
screw d which passes through and is supported by the bracket d³; d* is a screw
nut and do a lock nut on the screw d² for the purpose of adjusting the tension of
the spring d* according to the speed at which it is desired that the engine should
run at.
In place of employing a disc b, as previously described, the disc may be formed
as a valve acting to close the steam passage from the boiler by an adjustable weight
or spring, and as soon as the steam is turned on this valve would be forced open
and remain open to an extent depending on the velocity and pressure of the steam
counter balanced by a weight or spring. The annular space around the disc (when
closed on its seat) in this case would be dispensed with.
Figure 6 (Sheet 2) shows a longitudinal section of governing apparatus arranged
in accordance with my Invention, consisting of a small external steam cylinder and
piston a placed outside the box or chambor a, the steam passage a, a, leading
from the steam pipe a' being arranged in communication with each side of the
piston a. The mouth of the passage a³ is turned opposite to the forward direction
of the steam (or other fluid), and the mouth of the passage a' in the direction of
the flow. The pressure of the steam in its passage to the engine acts on one sirle
of the piston a³ (to close the throttle valve), and upon an adjustable spring
balance d* connected with a pin as on the end of the piston rod, such pin aⓇ being
connected with the lever d fixed on the axis of the lever d' of the throttle valve e.
The reaction of the spring dx acts to open the throttle valve e to the extent to
which it is adjusted.

page_text: An annular space is left around the pipes a³, a, equal to the area of the steam
pipe, so as not to intercept the flow of the steam to the engine, as indicated by the
arrows.
Figure 7 shows a side elevation of another arrangement of governing apparatus
in which a steam cylinder and piston a² is also combined with the steam pipe and
box a, a¹, in accordance with my Invention.
In this arrangement, on the axis b², a lever b' and disc b is mounted. On the
axis 69 a lever c¹ is mounted, and is connected with the stem f of the slide valve in
the valve chest f¹. The slide valve chest flis supplied with steam through the
pipe from the steam pipe a', the exhaust steam passing away through a similar
pipe into the exhaust or condenser.
It will be evident that the action of the disc b (as in Figure 1) will either open
one or other of the ports to admit steam to opposite sides of the piston contained in
the cylinder a³, according to the varying velocity of the steam to the engine by
which its speed will be regulated.
This arrangement of apparatus would be suitable for moving heavy valves.
In condensing engines the apparatus previously described may also be connected
with a cock or valve on the condenser, so as to destroy the vacuum and thus arrest
the racing of such condensing engines quickly.
I would remark that governing apparatus, such as hereinbefore described, may
be caused to act upon the slide valve of motive power engines so as to impart a
varying stroke to the slide valves of such engines, and thereby regulato the speed
automatically by expansion.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not intend to limit
myself to the exact details herein before described so long as the broad principle of
my Invention is retained, which consists in utilizing, substantially in the manner
described, the varying velocities of the steam (or other fluid in its pasange through
the steam pipe to supply the engine) which, by acting on any suitable apparatus
applied to or combined with the steam pipe or passage controls the action of the
throttle valve (or other suitable valve) combined or connected with the governing
apparatus. At the same time I do not claim any of the mechanical parts separately,
which are well known and in common use, but what I claim is,—
First. The improved mode of governing or regulating the speed of steam and
other motive power engines by utilizing the varying velocity of the steam or other
fluid in its passage to the engine, and in causing it to act on suitable apparatus,
substantially such as or equivalent to that hereinbefore described and represented
in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. I claim the several modifications of my improved mechanism or apparatus
for governing or regulating the speed of steam and other motive power engines acting
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before described and respec-
tively represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Grafton Jones, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
W.C.
J. GRAFTON JONES. (Ls.)