Improvements in Hydraulic Governor for Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Governor for Engines.
We, WILLIAM HENRY GRAY and JAMES DANIEL GRAY of West Falls in the
County of Frederick and State of Maryland, United States of America, Gentlemen
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to hydraulic governors for all classes of Machinery, and
has for its object to simplify such governors and render them more certain, steady and
reliable in action.
With these ends in view the Invention consists in the improved construction,
arrangement and combinations of parts herein-after fully described and afterwards
specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical, sectional view through our improved
governor, the steam pipe, and the means for regulating it being shown in
elevation.
Figure 2, is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the central line of figure 1,
the steam pipe and valve operating mechanism being omitted.
Figure 3, is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line ax of
figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.
Figure 4, is a view showing in longitudinal section the governor shown in figure 1,
and in elevation, another (and preferred) form of mechanism operating the steam
pipe valve mechanism.
Figure 5, is an inside view, in elevation of one of the heads of the horizontal
cylinder.
Figure 6, is a view in elevation of the side of one of the piston heads (or one of
the stationary diaphragms) in the horizontal cylinder, opposite to that on which the
valves are attached.
Figure 7, is a view of a fragment of the upright shown at the left of figure 4,
showing the tooth for holding down the valve lever when desired.
Figure 8, is a top plan view of the liquid box, with the top plate and vertical piston
and rod removed, the upright cylinder and mechanism for operating the valve
between it and the liquid box being shown in section.
Figure 9, is a transverse vertical section taken through the liquid box, and vertical
cylinder, the horizontal cylinder being shown in elevation, and
Figure 10, is a view of the graduated scale and indicator on the wheel for operating
the flush or plug valve shown in figures 8 and 9.
Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts wherever they occur in the
various figures of the drawing.
Referring to the drawings by said numerals of reference, 4 is a cylinder closed
at each end, 10 is a liquid box or tank, the lower portion of which is occupied by
the cylinder 4, which may be secured therein or cast integrally therewith, as plainly
shown in figure 2.
50, is an upright cylinder mounted centrally upon the cylinder 4, its lower end
opening freely into the upper side of said cylinder 4, and its upper end reaching not
quite to the top of the liquid box being entirely open as at 53.
The cylinder 4, communicates near each end by openings 51 and 52 with the
liquid box 10 which also has communication with the cylinder 50, through the medium
of an opening 54 near its lower end.
The piston rod 6, extends entirely through the cylinder 4, and has mounted upon
its two piston heads 55, 56, each of which is perforated as shown at 57, 58, and
provided on the face toward the center, with inward opening valves 59, 60.

page_text: The cylinder 4, is further provided, near each end with a stationary head, or
diaphragm as at 61, 62, perforated as at 63, 64, and having inward opening valve
as 65, 66. These diaphragms may be screwed into, or otherwise secured in the
cylinder. Cylinder heads 7, 8, properly bored to permit the reciprocating of the
piston rod 6, are provided to close the ends of the cylinder, and may be secured in any
well known manner.
In the vertical cylinder 50, is a solid piston head 67, mounted on the lower end
of the piston rod 68, which passes up through the top of the box, and is secured to
the valve above, in the steam supply pipe 31, by means of a link 69, and valve
rod 29, said valve rod being balanced by weight 42, and regulated by the
weight 43, according to the graduated scale 41. A spring may be used instead of
this weight.
The opening 54, is closed by a plug valve 70, passing through a boss 71, on
the box 10, and controlled in the extent of its inward and outward movement by a
pin 72.
76,
It is provided (see figures 8, 9, 10,) with a graduated disc 73, secured to the
cover 74, of the boss 71, and on the valve plug is a wheel 75, provided with a
to indicate the amount of valve opening.
in figure 4, I show another (and the preferred) form of mechanism for operating
the valve in the steam pipe 31. In this form there is loosely mounted on the valve
stem, a disc 77, a portion of whose periphery is serrated having teeth 78. The rod 68
is extended upward and provided with teeth 79, which engage with the teeth 78 on
the disc 77.
A lever 80 (Figure 4) is loosely mounted on the valve stem and balanced by means
of the pieces 81, 82, secured to its end respectively. These pieces are shaped so that
their outer edges curve in ares of a circle described on the valve stem as a center,
and on one end of the lever is secured a cord 83, carrying at its lower end a
weight 84. As this end of the lever moves this cord rests on the curved surface
of the piece 82, so that the weight is always hanging at the same distance from
the center.
This distance may be regulated by lengthening or shortening the ends of this lever
by sliding the two pieces of which each end is composed, through the loops 85, and
securing them by means of pins in the holes 86. The downward pull of the weight 84,
is communicated to the valve dise 77, through the medium of a stop pin 87, rigidly
secured to the disc, and projecting therefrom in the path of the weighted end of the
lever. At the other end of the lever 80, is a handle 88, by means of which the valve
can be operated by hand when desired.
The vertical movement, in a straight line, of the rod 68, will thus cause the disc
to turn, carrying with it the weighted end of the lever 80, thus gradually closing the
valve in the steam pipe, and shutting of the steam as the rod rises.
The operation of the invention in the preferred form last described, may be described
as follows;-
The piston rod 6, being connected at one end either to the piston rod, cross head,
eccentric rod or other moving part of the engine, whose supply of steam passes
through the pipe 31, and the box 10, and the two cylinders 4 and 50, being filled
with liquid, the valve 70, is set at a predetermined point on the scale 73, and the
ends of the lever 80 being adjusted in length and properly set. The engine is now
ready for operation. The piston rod 6, moving to the right, causes the valves on the
right hand piston head, and left hand diaphragm to open, and those on the left hand
piston bead, and right hand diaphragm to close, thus moving the liquid in the left half
cylinder to the right, and causing it to pass through opening 54 into box 10. At the
same time, the liquid in the box passes out at opening 51, into the cylinder 4, so that
the body of liquid contained in the left hand half of the box and cylinder moves in
the circuit described. Upon the reversal, and movement to the left, of the piston
rod, the whole action is reversed. The valves on the left hand diaphragm, and the
right hand piston head are closed, and those on the right hand diaphragm and left
hand piston head are opened. The liquid in the right hand portion of the cylinder

page_text: and box moves in a circuit through opening 32, the valve ports 64, of the right hand
diaphragm 62, and opening 54.
In either motion, to right or left as described, it will be seen that the liquid in the
cylinder is forced through the opening 54, and when this opening is regulated in
extent by valve 70, only a given quantity can pass through it in a given time, thus
only permitting the piston to move at a certain limited speed. When, by reason of
additional pressure of steam, or by taking off part of the resistance (the machinery
run by the engine) the piston starts at a speed in excess of that allowed by the
passage of the liquid through opening 54, the liquid in the cylinder 4, will be forced
into cylinder 50 causing the piston on head 67, to raise, carrying up its rod 68, and
opening the valve in the steam pipe 31, to cut off a part of the supply, and thus
reduce the power of the engine and lower its speed. As soon as the proper speed is
attained by such reduction of the supply, the parts will assume their normal positions,
and the piston rod 6, be reciprocated, and all connecting machinery moved, at the
speed intended by the position of valve 70.
As the rod 68 moves up, the teeth 79 on it will engage with the teeth 78 on the
periphery of the disc 77, and thus turn the disc. The stop 87 bearing under the
weighted end of the lever 80 will cause the lever to turn with the disc raising
the weight 84, which as before mentioned, will always exert its force in the same
vertical line, thus preventing any variation in such force. When the disc 77, is
turned in the opposite direction, the weight 84, will always cause the levor to remain
in contact with the stop 87.
When the handle 88, is depressed by hand, it will turn the valve independent of
the disc, and thus shut off steam in steam pipe when required, and it may be held
in its depressed position by slipping it under a tooth on the rear side of standard or
upright 90, as shewn in figures 4 and 5. As many such teeth may be provided as is
considered necessary.
It will be observed that the arrangement of cylinder 4, with the stationary
diaphragm at each end provided with inward opening valves, and leaving a space
near each cylinder head and the corresponding diaphragm such spaces being open
to the liquid box above, relieves the cylinder head of the pressure of the liquid
necessary to raise the piston in the central upright cylinder. The box is not
quite full of liquid, and all liquid under pressure is confined between the three pistons.
When the liquid is discharged into the box either through the opening 54, or over
the top of the central vertical cylinder, it simply runs by its own gravity, or is drawn
into the lower cylinder, ready to be again forced into the vertical cylinder or through
the opening 54. When the piston rod 6, and its pistons move to the right (see
figure 1) the pressure is exerted against the right hand diaphragm, and when the
motion is to the left (see figure 4) the pressure is against the right hand diaphragm.
In each case and at all times, the cylinder heads 7 and 8, are relieved of such pressure
so that only sufficient packing is required to prevent leakage due to the body of the
liquid in the box.
This gives great ease to the motion of the piston rod 6, through such cylinder
heads and will make the Governor move much more freely, and run much longer
without repairing. It is only necessary to make the piston rod 68, to fit fairly
close where it emerges from the box, thus rendering it more free and easy in
operation.
This liquid box is thus made sufficiently tight, by simply providing such packing as
is necessary to guard against leakage due to the weight of the liquid in the box, free
from all other pressure.
It will be seen also that the two cylinders, the pistons, diaphragms, valves etc., are
all enclosed in the box, the only thing passing out being the piston rod and valve
stem 70. This compact arrangement is of great importance on many grounds,
especially those of economy of space and cost, absence of liability to get out of
order, and simplicity. The two cylinders may be cast together and integrally with
the box except its top and the cylinder heads thus dispensing with much expensive
work and fittings.

page_text: Having thus fully described our Invention what we claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is ;-
1st. In combination the close liquid box 10, the two communicating cylinders 4
and 50, therein, having communication therewith at 51, 52, and 54, the pistons and
diaphragm at opposite sides of the opening 54, and the piston 67 with the rod 68
passing through the top of the box, as set forth.
2nd. In combination a liquid box or reservoir, a cylinder therein having near each
end a stationary diaphragm with inward opening valve, a piston rod in the cylinder
carrying two heads with inward opening valves, a second cylinder communicating
with the first and with the liquid box, a valve to control the opening to the liquid box,
and a piston in the second cylinder whose roʻl connects with and operates the supply
valve, as set forth.
3rd. In combination the liquid cylinder, the supplementary cylinder communicating
therewith, the liquid box, communicating with both cylinders and the valve between
the supplementary cylinder and liquid box having a pointer and graduated scale to
indicate the speed, as set forth.
4th. In combination the liquid box, the liquid cylinder, and the supplemental
cylinder, having communication with each other, the valve between the supplemental
cylinder and the liquid box, and the pin in its plug to limit the extent of its adjustment
in either direction as set forth.
5th. In combination the rod 63, having teeth 79 the supply pipe valve, its stem,
the disc mounted thereon having teeth to engage those on the rod, and the lever 80)
engaging therewith, as set forth.
6th. In combination the extensible lever having curved pieces 81 and 82, at its ends
and mounted upon the supply pipe stem, the cord 83 having weight 84, at one end
and the handle 88 at the other end of the lever, the disc on the valve stem and the
stop 87 thereon, as and for the purpose set forth.
ப
11000
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W., Agents for the Applicants.