IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS AND SPEED REGULATORS POR MACHINERY
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Meriton, of Hamburgh, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS AND SPEED
REGULATORS POR MACHINERY."
Sealed the 7th November 1862, and dated the 22nd July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Meriton, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
July 1862.
I, THOMAS MERITON, of Hamburgh, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS
AND SPEED REGULATORS FOR MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
My improvements in steam engine governors and speed regulators for
machinery relate to that description of governor known as the fly wheel
governor, the action of which depends upon what may be termed the principle
of differential velocities, and consist partly in simplifying this form of governor
by dispensing with superfluous parts, thereby effecting economy in first cost,
but mainly in rendering more certain, prompt, and efficient its action by im-
proved construction, arrangement, and disposition of parts. A shaft made
wholly or partially hollow is cut through at portions of its surface so as to
form two spiral guides or double-action inclines. Upon this hollow shaft is
fitted loosely a fly wheel having at the hub or boss an elongated cylindrical
piece or chamber, with guides cut spirally through its surface, so as to form

page_text: double-action inclines.
In the interior of the hollow shaft before-mentioned
is a short spindle or shaft attached to a lever for working the valve. This short
spindle or shaft has a pin passing through it in such manner that the ends
project and form as it were two studs, which fit into recesses or holes cut
through or in the inner surface of a ring, which ring has also forged upon its
outer surface two studs. The two pin ends or studs within the circle of the ring
pass through the spiral guides of the hollow shaft from the short shaft con-
nected with the lever working the valve, and the two studs without the circle
of the ring pass into the spiral guides in the cylindrical piece or chamber
attached to or forming part of the fly wheel. This arrangement of regulating
apparatus is connected by pullies or gearing with the engine, and upon any
increase of engine speed the speed of the hollow shaft will be in excess of
that of the fly wheel, and the inertia of the wheel resisting at first, the
change will cause the one set of inclines to press upon the studs and draw up
the short shaft connected with the lever working the valve, whereby the valve
will be closed. Thereupon the engine speed and consequently that of the
hollow shaft will fall below that of the fly wheel whose momentum will cause
the second set of inclines to press upon the studs, and return the short shaft
to its original position, thereby re-opening the valve without the aid of a
spring or weight as is employed in most governors of this description. It
will be seen also that the use of any sliding sleeve is dispensed with. My
improved governing or regulating arrangement, although designed principally
for marine engines is applicable also to all kinds of steam and. other motive
power engines and machinery requiring controlling or regulating apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Meriton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st December 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MERITON, of Hamburgh, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the 'twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Meriton, Her special licence, that I, the said Thomas Meriton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Meriton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any

page_text: timo agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM ENGINE GOVERNORS AND SPEED REGULATORS FOR MACHINERY," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Meriton, 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, the said Thomas Meriton, 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, that is to say:-
My improvements in steam engine governors and speed regulators for
machinery relate to that description of governor known as the fly wheel
governor, the action of which depends upon what may be termed the principle
of differential velocities, and my improvements consist partly in simplifying
this form of governor by dispensing with superfluous parts, thereby effecting
economy in first cost, but mainly in rendering more certain, prompt, and efficient
its action by improved construction, arrangement; and disposition of parts. A
shaft, made wholly or partially hollow, is cut through at portions of its surface
so as to form two spiral guides or double-action inclines. Upon this hollow shaft
is fitted loosely a fly wheel having at the hub or boss an elongated cylindrical
piece or chamber, with guides cut spirally through its surface so as to form
double-action inclines. In the interior of the hollow shaft before mentioned
is a short spindle or shaft attached to a lever for working the valve. This
short spindle or shaft has a pin passing through it in such a manner that the
ends project and form as it were two studs, which fit into recesses or holes cut
through or in the inner surface of a ring, which ring has also forged upon its
outer surface two studs. The two pin ends or studs within the circle of the
ring pass through the spiral guides of the hollow shaft from the short shaft
connected with the lever working the valve, and the two studs, without the
circle of the ring, pass into the spiral guides in the cylindrical piece or chamber
attached to or forming part of the fly wheel.
In order that the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which I effect
the same, may be more clearly described and ascertained, I to this Specification
append a Sheet of Drawings, having figures and letters of reference marked

page_text: thereupon, the like letters being used to denote similar parts in each Figure,
and in these Drawings my improved governor is shown as applied for the
purpose of controlling or regulating the speed of marine engines, and is secured
or suspended by hangers to a deck beam of the vessel.
In these Drawings Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 2 an end
view, of marine governor; and Figure 3 is a transverse section showing the
relative positions of the hollow shaft with spiral guides, cylindrical piece with
spiral guides, and the ring and short shaft as herein-before mentioned. Figure
4 is a separate view to an enlarged scale of the hollow shaft and cylindrical
piece, for the purpose of showing more clearly the arrangement of spiral
guides or double-action inclines. In these Drawings F, F, is the hollow or
partially hollow shaft, and S*, S, are the spiral guides or double-action inclines
cut therein; H is the fly wheel with cylindrical piece or chamber G, having
also spiral guides or double-action inclines S¹, *S¹; D is the short spindle or
shaft working in interior of hollow shaft F, and having a pin passing through
its end and through the hollow shaft, and taking into the ring W, which has
two studs K, K, on its outer surface passing into the guides S', *S', in
cylindrical piece or chamber attached to or forming part of fly or momentum
wheel. These studs may be forged on to the ring W, so as to form one piece
therewith, or screwed and secured as shown in Drawing; E, E, are the bearers
or hangers; A the throttle valve, and B, C, the hinged lever arrangement for
communicating the travel of the sliding ring W to the valve; P is a pulley for
the purpose of driving the shaft F by connection with the motive machinery
which is to be regulated. This arrangement of regulating apparatus is con-
nected either by pulleys or gearing with the engine, and upon any increase of
engine speed, the speed of the hollow shaft F, will be in excess of that of the
fly wheel H, and the inertia of the wheel, resisting at first the change, will
cause the one set of inclines S and S¹ to press upon the studs and draw up
the ring and also the short shaft D, connected with the valve A, whereby the
valve will be closed. Thereupon the engine speed and consequently that of
the hollow shaft F, will fall below that of the fly wheel H, which will
cause the second set of inclines *S, and *S¹, to press upon the studs and
return the ring and also the short shaft D to their original positions, thereby
reopening the valve without the aid of a spring or a weight, as employed in
most governors of this description. It will be seen also that the use of any
sliding sleeve is dispensed with. My improved governing or regulating
arrangement, although designed principally for marine engines, is applicable to
all kinds of steam and other motive power engines and machinery requiring a
controlling or regulating apparatus.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be clearly
understood that what I claim as my Invention is, the construction and use in
fly wheel governors or regulators of the hollow shaft (with spiral guides or
double inclines) the internal short shaft with transverse pin or studs, the ring
with studs, and the combination or mechanical arrangement of such parts with
the cylindrical piece or chamber having also spiral guides or double-action
inclines, and with the fly or momentum wheel in the mode or manner herein
(in this Specification and Drawing) described and shown, so as to form an
apparatus for the purpose of controlling or regulating the speed of steam and
other motive-power engines and machinery.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Meriton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this the Twentieth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
5
Witness,
THOMAS MERITON. (L.B.)
JOHN HENRY RICH MERITON,
27, Second Bernhard Strasse, St. Pauli,
Hamburg.