IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPLIANCES FOR CONTROLLING AND REGULATING THE SPEED OF ENGINES EMPLOYED FOR DRIVING DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Richardson, of the Firm Robey and Company, of
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, Engineers, for an Invention of "IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPLIANCES FOR CONTROLLING AND REGULATING THE
SPEED OF ENGINES EMPLOYED FOR DRIVING DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Richardson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd January 1881.
JOHN RICHARDSON, of the Firm Robey and Company, of Lincoln, in the County
of Lincoln, Engineers. "IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPLIANCES FOR CON-
TROLLING AND REGULATING THE SPEED OF ENGINES EMPLOYED FOR DRIVING
DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES."
This Invention relates to an improved method of and appliances for controlling
and regulating the speed of engines employed for driving dynamo-electric machines
which have to be driven at an absolutely uniform speed, and to effect this I fit
the engine steam passage with an equilibrium throttle valve, which is acted upon
by a sensitive high speed governor, but instead of driving this governor in the
ordinary manner by cords, belt, or gearing direct from the engine, I mount upon
the governor itself a small dynamo-electric machine, which is actuated by the
same current as that which produces the light, so that its power shall vary in
the same proportion as the intensity of the current varies.
When the current of electricity generated by the machine shall have reached a
sufficient intensity, such a speed will be communicated to the governor that it will
at once cut off any further admission of steam, and thus keep the engine at that
speed; and on the other hand should the intensity of the current be reduced
through lack of speed in the machine, this being instantaneously communicated to
the governor, its speed will be checked in the same proportion, and in a corre-
spondingly increased quantity of steam admitted to the engine, thus restoring the
current to its normal intensity.
In connection with this governor is an electric magnet, which holds a weight
suspended so long as the current is passing through it, but in case of any accident
to the belts or gearing driving the electric machine so as to cause its stoppage this
magnet ceases to act, and the descending weight instantly shuts off all steam from
the engine.
Another way in which this Invention could be applied where it is inconvenient
or impracticable to drive the governor by means of electricity, I so connect the
governor with an electric-magnet as to cause it to open or close its throttle valve
in proportion to the strength or weakness of the current generated by the dynamo-
electric machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Richardson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st July
1881.
JOHN RICHARDSON, of the Firm Robey and Company, of Lincoln, in the County
of Lincoln, Engineers. " IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPLIANCES FOR CON-
TROLLING AND REGULATING THE SPEED OF ENGINES EMPLOYED FOR DRIVING
DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES."
This Invention relates to an improved method of and appliances for controlling
and regulating the speed of engines employed for driving dynamo electric machines,
which have to be driven at an absolutely uniform speed, and to effect this I fit the
engine steam passage with an equilibrium throttle valve, which is acted upon by a
sensitive high speed governor, but instead of driving this governor in the ordinary
manner by cords, belt, or gearing direct from the engine, I mount upon the governor
itself a small dynamo electric machine, which is actuated by the same current as
that which produces the light, so that its power shall vary in the same proportion
as the intensity of the current varies.
When the current of electricity generated by the machine shall have reached a
sufficient intensity, such a speed will be communicated to the governor that it will
at once cut off any further admission of steam, and thus keep the engine at that speed;
and on the other hand should the intensity of the current be reduced through lack
of speed in the machine, this being instantaneous communicated to the governor,
its speed will be checked in the same proportion, and a correspondingly increased
quantity of steam admitted to the engine, thus restoring the current to its normal
intensity.
In connection. with this governor is an electric magnet, which holds a weight
suspended so long as the current is passing through it, but in case of any accident
to the belts or gearing driving the electric machine so as to cause its stoppage, this
magnet ceases to act, and the descending weight instantly shuts off all steam from
the engine.
Another way in which this Invention could be applied where it is inconvenient
or impracticable to drive the governor by an electro motor; I so connect the
governor with an electric magnet as to cause it to open or close its throttle valve
in proportion to the strength or weakness of the current generated by the dynamo
electric machine.
The manner of carrying my Invention into practice is exemplified in the annexed
Sheets of Drawings.
Sheet I., Figures 1, 2, and 3, show side and end elevations of a Robey engine.
A is a high speed governor acting direct upon an equilibrium valve contained within
the chest B. Instead of driving this governor in the ordinary manner by a belt,
strap, or gearing from the engine, I drive it by a small electro motor C, which may
be attached direct to it, as shown in Figure 2 (being of course insulated in a
suitable manner), or it may be fixed at a distance, as shown in Figure 3. It is
evident there are many ways in which this motor could drive the governors, which
are immaterial to the principle of the Invention. This electro motor is actuated
by a portion of the main current which produces the electric light, and its speed
varies in relation to the intensity of the said current, so that when the large
dynamo machine which produces the current has reached such a speed as gives the
required intensity, the governors at the same time attain sufficient speed to shut off
all further admission of steam, and the current is therefore retained exactly at this
intensity; and as all changes of intensity, however minute, instantaneously affect

page_text: the admission of steam, whatever may be the variations of intensity in the current,
these are instantaneously rectified by a greater or less admission of steam, thus
maintaining the current at a practically uniform intensity.
It is evident that while the governing would be perfect so long as the large
dynamo machine were being driven, yet should any accident arise to the driving
belt of this machine or other connections between it and the steam engine so as to
cause its stoppage, and therefore a cessation of current, the governors would
instantly fall, and full steam would be admitted to the engine. This is automatically
prevented in the following manner:―
The stalk of the equilibrium valve is prolonged through the bottom of the valve
chest, as shown at D. Upon this is strung an electro magnet E, whose weight is
sufficient to close the valve. So long as any current is passing a small portion of
this is taken through the said electro magnet, and it is magnetically held to the
underside of the valve box B, thus leaving the equilibrium throttle valve to be
freely acted upon by the governor. The moment the current ceases however this
loses its magnetic force, and falls upon the collar of the stalk D, thus holding it
down and preventing any further admission of steam.
It is evident that this method of governing may be applied to other classes of
engine than that shown, and it may be modified in various ways.
In one modification shown on Sheet 2 of the Drawings the centrifugal governor
is entirely dispensed with. The stalk of the equilibrium valve is continued through
the bottom of the valve chest B, and passes through the core of an electro
magnet C. Upon this stalk is fixed an iron armature, and when the current
passes through the electro magnet C' this armature is attracted downwards so as
to partially close the admission of the steam, and the position of this throttle valve,
and consequently the admission of steam, is regulated according to the intensity of
this electro magnet C. The throttle valve is made of such area that its vertical
motion need not be more than a fraction of an inch to give all the variations required
from the full power of the engine to an absolute cut off of the steam.
To prevent the engine running away or chasing in case of accidental stoppage of
the current, the same means are adapted as described in connection with Sheet I.,
and are referred to by the same Figures.
According to another modification, which I show on Sheet 3, instead of having
an electro magnet of comparatively feeble power, as required in the other Sheets, I
use one of very intense power, the whole or a greater part of the current passing
round it; this is shown at F. It is fixed to the valve chest, though insulated from it,
and is hollow. Through this hollow part its core G can freely move.
The lower
end of G is carried in a guide, and the upper end is attached to the long arm of a
lever H, the short arm of which regulates the position of an equilibrium throttle
valve.
As soon as an electric current passes through F the tendency of G is to rise
within F until its poles are coincident with the ends of F.
In so doing it presses
the equilibrium valve upon its seat, and prevents any further admission of steam
so soon as the current has acquired its requisite intensity.
In the case of an accidental stoppage the same means are adopted to stop the
engine as described in Sheets 1 and 2, and are referred to by the same letters.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
The method and means of controlling the admission of steam by a portion of the
main current derived from the dynamo electric machine, and maintaining the
uniform intensity of that current, as herein before set forth, and by the arrangement
of appliances shown in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. I claim the method of instantly cutting off admission of steam to the
engine in case of any accidental stoppage of the current from whatever cause by
the means and appliances arranged, as herein set forth, and substantially as shown
on Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings.

page_text: Thirdly. I claim the modified arrangements of appliances shown on Sheets 2 and
3 of the annexed Drawings, for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Richardson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN RICHARDSON. (L.S.)