Improvements in and relating to Electrical Governors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 25th Sept., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electrical Governors.
I, PERCY WILBRAHAM NORTHEY, A.I.E.E., of Ashley Manor, Box, in the County of
Wilts, Electrical and Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to electrical governors chiefly designed for use with marine
engines, and comprises the improved apparatus hereinafter described.
An important part of my said invention consists in the provision of a suitable
electric motor so coupled or connected to the throttle-valve or valves of the engine
that it can be operated to close or open the same, and arranged in connection with a
circuit closing device which will be so operated by the elevation of the ships
propeller out of water as to close a circuit or circuits, and actuate the motor in one
direction to shut down the throttle-valve or valves, and upon the return of the vessel
to its normal position and the propeller becoming again submerged, will close another
circuit and actuate the motor in the obverse direction to raise or open the said
throttle-valve or valves. I am thus enabled to ensure the steam being cut off from
the engine when the propeller is temporarily raised out of the water in a heavy sea,
and to prevent the racing of the said engine that otherwise takes place by reason of
the sudden reduction of l'ad consequent upon this occurrence, and if necessary can
anticipate the said racing and shut down the valves before the load is removed from
the propeller.
Another important feature of my said invention consists in the provision of suitable
means whereby should racing of the engine occur through any internal cause or
mishap, such for instance as the sudden breaking of the propeller shaft, an
emergency governor will so act as to either permanently or temporarily close a
circuit and operate the electric motor to shut down the throttle-valve, being retained
in the closed position in the first case by means of a suitable clutch or catch
until such time as it may be released, and in the second returning automatically to
its normal position upon the speed of the engine becoming reduced. I also provide
means whereby the above mentioned clutch or catch can, when desired, be rendered
inoperative, and the governor will then, upon the occurrence of any abnormal speed,
after having closed the circuit and thus caused the electric motor to shut down the
throttle-valve, return, upon the cessation of the said abnormal speed consequent upon
this netion, to its original position, break the said circuit, and close another circuit
by which the motor will be operated in the obverse direction and raise or open the.
throttle-valve.
My said invention comprises inoreover the further improvements and apparatus
hereinafter described.
According to the first part of iny said invention I provide an electric motor of any
suitable form having a winding which will enable the direction of motion to be
readily reversed. This motor is connected to the throttle-valve of the engine, and in
order that, when put in operation as hereinafter described, it may, having first effected
the closing or opening of the said throttle-valve, continue to revolve until it runs
down and comes gradually to rest, I provide the following device for automatically

page_text: disconnecting it therefrom and re-connecting it thereto. That is to say-Upon the
shaft or spindle of, or one connected with, the motor, I provide a worin or tangent
screw adapted to gear with a worm wheel upon a shaft or spindle operating the
throttle valve. This worn is mounted upon the said shaft or spindle so as to be free
to move lengthwise thereon, but is caused to rotate therewith by a pin or fenther
working in a longitudinal groove or feather way therein. Upon one end, moreover,
of the said worm is an extension terminating. in a flange or having a circumferential
groove near the end thereof, which extension engages in a recess formed in a nut
adapted to screw upon a screw-threaded portion of the said shaft or spindle, and which
whilst free to revolve independently of the said worm is at the same time prevented
from leaving the latter by one or more screws, pins, or the like engaging behind the
above mentioned flange or in the circumferential grooves and thus retaining it in
place in the said recess. To admit of the worm shaft revolving freely without
nctuating the worm wheel after it has been rotated through a certain angle or distance
in either direction sufficient to close or open the throttle-valve, I form at each
extremity of the screw-threaded portion on the worin shaft or spindle a screw-threaded
taper, upon reaching which the above mentioned nut will cease to bite upon the screw
threaded portion of the said shaft or spindle and will admit of the latter rotating
independently thereof. The nut is prevented from rotating with the worm shaft or
spindle whilst being free to move in a lateral or longitudinal direction thereon by
means of a pin, stud or projection arranged to engage with, and slide in, a slot or
groove formed in the casting or frame of the motor or other convenient place. It
will be seen that upon the rotation of the worm shaft or spindle in one direction the
worm wheel will be likewise rotated through the worm, and at the same time the
said worm will have an endwise movement upon the shaft or spindle imparted to it
by the nut until such time as the latter reaches the taper portion of the screw-thread,
when the said endwise movement will cease and the worm be clear of the worm wheel
in one direction. To cause the nut to be retained sufficiently in engagement with
the threads at either end of the screw-threaded portion of the shaft or spindle to bite
therewith and to travel thereon to the opposite end upon a reversal of the direction
of motion of the latter, I provide at each end a buffer consisting of a light spring or
equivalent device which will at one extremity engage with, and be slightly compressed
by, the worm, and at the other by the nut. The length and the pitch of the thread
upon the spindle and the worin and the diameter of the worm wheel are so designed
that the requisite movement in either direction be imparted to the worm wheel
spindle to shut down or close or to open the throttle-valve or valves.
In order, moreover, that when the motor has done its work its circuit may be
broken it is necessary, or at any rate highly desirable, that the motor should be
fitted with a self-contained arrangement for antomatically cutting off or breaking
the relay circuit at such time as the necessary work or movement of the throttle
valve in either direction is completed. To effect this I preferably employ a
commutator consisting of a toothed or other quadrant gearing or engaging with a
toothed or other wheel connected with the motor as hereinafter described, and
which quadrant is connected to another quadrant the central portion of the face
of which is formed of some suitable good conductor of electricity, and at the ends of
which are provided pieces or blocks of any suitable non-conducting material. In
contact with the face of this quadrant are suitable fixed contacts or brushes, and the
toothed or other quadrant for operating the movement of the contact quadrant
relatively to the latter is so geared to the shaft or spindle operating the closing and
opening of the throttle valve that it will be caused to move through such an angle at
each operation of the motor as to make electrical contact and close the circuit for
the requisite time whilst the brushes are in contact with the conducting face thereof,
and will break the said contact at the termination of its movement in each
direction. It will be seen that the circuit will be thus automatically broken by the
action of the motor itself after the latter has operated sufficiently to close or open
the throttle-valve, and that the contacts will be left in the proper position for the
next or reverse movement of the motor,

page_text: In order to close the circuit and operate the motor to shut down the throttle-valve
at such times as the propeller may leave the water, and as before mentioned to
prevent racing of the engine consequent upon the reduction of load thus caused I
provide the following contact making device. That is to say :-At or near the stern
post of the vessel or in any convenient and suitable position just below the normal
water line I fix a cylindrical or other suitably shaped casing having communication
through branches or apertures situated at or near its extremities with the exterior of
the vessel and admitting of free access of water to the interior of the said easing
through the said branches or apertures which latter may, if desired, be governed by
suitable valves so as to admit of the said access of water being cut off when desired.
Within this cylindrical or other casing I place a float which is preferably formed
round or egg ended aud, moreover, is so shaped that it will present a more or less
acute belt or surface centrally round the same, which surface only will come in
contact with the walls of the cylindrical or other chamber during the movements of
the said float and thus minimise the chance of the said movements being affected by
frictional contact therewith. Arranged centrally and at a suitable distance apart in
the cylindrical or other chamber I provide two sinall air and water tight cylindrical
or other casings or boxes of metal having at their opposite ends cap shaped
depressions or concavities corresponding to the convexities of the float and with one
or other of which concavities the float is adapted to engage in accordance with the
level of water in the main cylindrical or other casing. Within each of the small air
and water tight cylindrical or other casings or boxes is provided a contact making
device comprising an arrangement of levers in the form of what is usually known
as a lazy tongs, that is to say to the short arms of two crossed pivoted levers is
coupled by two links or connecting rods a suitable contact and at each of the
free ends of the long arms of the said levers is provided a block of iron, steel
or other metal as an armature that will be readily attracted by a magnet.
Arranged axially within the float is a powerful permanent magnet the extremities
of which magnet protrude and form the convex or rounded ends of the said float
consequently upon one of the said ends engaging in the socket, cup, or depression
in the corresponding contact casing or box, it will act through the thin skin or
thickness of metal to attract the above mentioned armature blocks or pieces
upon the free ends of the long arms of the levers and thus through the short
arms thereof and the links or connecting pieces to move the contact to close an
electrical circuit, and thus energizing one of a pair of electro magnets so as to
attract a plunger or core suspended from a centrally pivoted beam which likewise
carries the plunger or core of the other electro magnet and is accurately balanced
upon a bracket or any convenient support, the whole forming a relay-switch for
connecting the motor in circuit. At the ends or other parts of this beam are
provided contacts which when the said beam is depressed under the action of one or
other of the electro-magnets will dip into mercury cups, or otherwise close the
required circuits on the one or other side to operate the motor in the one or other
direction to shut down or open the throttle valve as the case may be.
Under normal conditions the float will be maintained in engagement with the
uppermost contact box or case and the throttle valve consequently maintained
full open.
An important feature of this contact making and breaking device is that the
contacts situated in the float casing are tightly enclosed within fluid tight boxes
or cases and are consequently protected from the corroding and other deleterious
action of the water, which, especially in the case of salt water, would otherwise
cause an uncertain and inefficient action and a rapid deterioratio. and destruction
thereof by electrolysis.
The cylindrical or ether casing is so constructed that the contact boxes or cases
can be readily removed in order to clear out any deposit that may have become
accumulated in the cup-shaped depressions or concavities therein, or at the saune
time to examine if necessary the float and permanent magnet in order to test its
magnetic intensity.

page_text: According to the second part of my invention I provide for actuating the motor
to close the throttle-valve should racing of the engine take place from any other
cause other than the propeller coming out of water. For this purpose I provide a
centrifugal governor of any suitable form, but preferably of that description wherein
the spherical or other weights are mounted centrally or approximately so upon
springs the upper or outer ends of which are secured to a collar rigidly fixed to the
top of the governor spindle, and the lower or other ends whereof are secured to a
collar or sleeve free to slide or move longitudinally upon the said spindle and having
the purpose of a commutator. In connection with this sliding collar or sleeve I
so arrange three or other convenient number of contacts or brushes that under
normal conditions one set of the said contacts or brushes will form electrical contact
and be in series with the relay-circuit to so operate the motor as to open the
throttle valve, whilst any undue acceleration of the speed of the engine by increasing
that of the governor and causing the spherical or other weights to fly outwards will
raise the hereinbefore mentioned sliding collar or sleeve or commutator upon the
spindle and by forming electrical contact with the other set of contacts or brushes
close a circuit to operate the motor to shut down the throttle valve, and also if
required at the same time to choke the exhaust.
To retain the governor in the latter position and the throttle valve shut down I
provide upon the governor spindle a fixed collar to which are pivoted two or other
suitable number of hooked catches, which, when the governor acts to sufficiently
raise or move the sliding collar or sleeve engage with a fixed collar or projection
provided upon an extension of the latter, and under the action of spiral or other
springs firmly lock the said sleeve or collar in that position.
To enable the sliding collar or sleeve to be released when desired, and thus allow
the governor to return to its normal position, I form the governor spindle or a
suitable portion of it hollow or tubular, and within this hollow or tubular
portion I arrange a rod, the upper or one end of which is connected
by means of short links or connecting rods with arins or projections
upon the above mentioned hook catches so that by pulling or operating
the other extremity of the said rod which projects beyond the governor spindle the
said hooked catches will be moved out wardly and disengaged from the collar or projection
on the sliding collar or sleeve. To retain the hooked catches permanently inoperative,
when desired, I provide upon the lower or projecting end of the above mentioned rod a
fixed or other collar or head, or a nut or the like, enclosing a spring and I provide another
nut or other convenient means whereby the said spring can be compressed and rendered
inoperative, but which will adinit of the said spring being released when desired and
allowed to press against the end of the hollow or tubular governor spindle or other
convenient abutinent. The strength of this spring is such as to admit of its forcing
down the rod to permanently hold the catches out of engagement with the collar
upon the sliding sleeve.
Dated this 24th day of October 1906
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to electrical governors chiefly designed for use with marine
engines, and comprises the improved apparatus hereinafter described.
An important part of my said invention consists in the provision, in manner
hereinafter described, of a suitable electric motor so coupled or connected to the
throttle-valve or valves of the engine that it can be operated to close or open the
same, and arranged in connection with a circuit-closing device which will be so
operated by the elevation of the ship's stern or propeller, as to close a circuit or
circuits, and actuate the motor in one direction to shut down the throttle-valve or
valves, and upon the return of the vessel to its normal position and the propeller
becoming again submerged, will close another circuit and actuate the motor in the
obverse direction to raise or open the said throttle-valve or valves. I am thus enabled
to ensure the steam being cut off from the engine when the propeller is temporarily
raised out of the water in a heavy sen, and to prevent the racing of the said engine
that otherwise takes place by reason of the sudden reduction of load consequent upon
this occurrence, and if necessary can anticipate this said racing and shut down the
valves before the load is removed from the propeller.
Another important feature of iny said invention consists in the provision of
suitable means whereby, should racing of the engine occur through any internal cause
or mishap such for instance as the sudden breaking of the propeller shaft, an
emergency governor will so act as to either permanently or temporarily close a circuit
and operate the electric motor to shut down the throttle-valve or valves, being
retained in the closed position in the first case by means of a suitable clutch or catch
until such time as it may be released, and in the second returning automatically to its
normal position upon the sperd of the engine becoming reduced. I also provide
means whereby the above mentioned clutch or catch can, when desired, be rendered
inoperative, and the governor will then, upon the occurrence of any abnormal speed,
after having closed the circuit and thus caused the electric motor to shut down the
throttle-valve or valves return,upon the cessation of the said abnormal speed consequent
upon this action, to its original position, break the said circuit, and close another
circuit by which the motor will be operated in the obverse direction and raise or open
the throttle-valve or valves.
My said invention comprises, moreover, the further improvements and apparatus
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view shewing the general arrangement of my
apparatus.
Figure 1 is a detail of part thereof.
Figure 2 is a side elevation drawn to full size shewing an antomatic arrangement
for disconnecting and re-connecting the electric-motor with the throttle-valve or
valves.
Figure 3 is a side elevation drawn to a smaller scale than Figure 2, shewing an
improved float or contact making and breaking device, hereinafter described.
Figure 4 is a side elevation drawn to the same scale as Figure 3, showing an
improved emergency governor for use with the above apparatus.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a portion of a steamer shewing an application of the
above electrical governing apparatus thereto.
Like letters indiente corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is a reversible motor of any suitable description; b is the float or contact making
and breaking device; c, c are solenoids or electromagnets with plungers or cores d, d;
e represents an accumulator or other suitable source of electrical energy, and f is
the emergency governor.
The motor a is connected by means of suitable shafting to the throttle valve or
valves of the engine to be governed, and in order that, when put in operation as
hereinafter described, it may, having first effected the closing or opening of the said

page_text: throttle-valve or valves continue to revolve until it runs down and comes gradually to
rest, I provide the device shewn in Figure 2 for automatically disconnecting it there-
from and re-connecting it thereto. Referring to that figure, upon the shaft or
spindle a of, or one connected with, the notor a is a worm or tangent screw g adapted
to gear with a worm-wheel h upon a shaft or spindle & operating the throttle valve
or valves of the engine. This worm g is mounted upon the said shaft or spindle a' so
as to be free to move lengthwise thereon, but is caused to rotate therewith by a pin
or feather working in a longitudinal groove or featherway 2 in the said spindle a
Upon one end of the said worm g is an extension g' terminating in a flange g', or
having a circumferential groove near the end thereof, which extension engages in a
recess formed in a nut i adapted to screw upon a screw-threaded portion of the
said shaft or spindle a' and which nut i, whilst free to revolve independently of the
said worm, is at the same time prevented from leaving the said flange g2 by one or
more screws or pins engaging behind the above mentioned flange g, or in the
circumferential grooves, or by any other equivalent device, so as to retain it in place
in the said recess . To admit of the worm shaft or spindle a revolving freely
without actuating the worm-wheel h after it has been rotated through a certain angle
or distance in either direction sufficient to close or open the throttle valve or valves,
I form at each extremity of the screw-threaded portion on the said worm-shaft or
spindle a a screw-threaded taper as indicated at a, a upon reaching which the above
mentioned nut i will cease to bite upon the screw-threaded portion a³ of the said
shaft or spindle a' and will admit of the latter rotating independently thereof. The
nuti is prevented from rotating with the worm-shaft or spindle a whilst being freed
to move in a lateral or longitudinal direction thereon by means of a pin, stud or
projection 3 arranged to engage with, and slide in, a slot or groove formed in the
casting or frame of the motor or other convenient place. It will be seen that upon the
rotation of the worm-shaft or spindle a¹ in one direction the worm-wheel will be
likewise rotated by means of the worm g, and at the same time the said worm will
have an endwise movement upon the shaft or spindle a¹ imparted to it by the nut i
until such time as the latter reaches the taper portion at of the screw thread at the
end when the said endwise movement will cease and the worm g be clear of the worm-
wheel h in one direction. To cause the nut i to be retained sufficiently in engagement
with the taper-screw threaded portions a' at either end of the screw-threaded
portion a³ of the shaft or spindle a to bite therewith and to travel thereon to the
opposite end upon a reversal of the direction of motion of the latter, I provide at each
end a buffer consisting of a collar or washer j and a light spring or equivalent device
which will at one extremity engage with, and be slightly compressed by, the worm g
and at the other by the nut i. The length and the pitch of the thread upon the
spindle a¹ and the worm g and the diameter of the worm-wheel are so designed that
the requisite movement in either direction will be imparted to the worm-wheel
spindle A to shut down or close, or to open the throttle-valve or valves with
which it is connected.
In order that when the motor has done its work its circuit may be broken, it is
necessary or at any rate highly desirable--that the motor should be fitted with a
self-contained arrangement for automatically cutting off or breaking the relay circuit
at such time as the necessary work or movement of the throttle valve or valves in
either direction is completed. To effect this I preferably employ a commutator
consisting of a toothed or other quadrant k as seen inore clearly in Figure 1^ gearing
or engaging with a toothed or other wheel connected with the motor as hereinafter
described, and which quadrant k is connected to another quadrant the central
portion of the face of which latter is formed of some suitable good conductor of
electricity, and at the ends of which are provided pieces or blocks of any suitable
non-conducting material. If contact with the face of this quadrant are suitable
fixed contacts or brushes m and the toothed or other quadrant for operating the
movement of the quadrant contact relatively to the latter is so geared to the shaft
or spindle operating the closing and opening of the throttle-valve or valves that it
will be caused to move through such an angle at each operation of the motor as to

page_text: make electrical contact and close the circuit for the requisite time whilst the brushes
are in contact with the conducting face thereof, and will break the said contact at
the termination of its movement in each direction. It will be seen that the circuit
will be thus automatically broken by the action of the motor a itself after the latter
has operated sufficiently to close or open the throttle valve or valves, and that the
contacts will be left in the proper position for the next or reverse movement of the
said motor.
In order to close the circuit and operate the motor for instance to shut down the
throttle-valve or valves at such times as a ship's propeller may leave the water, and
prevent racing of the engine consequent upon the reduction of load thus caused, I
provide the contact-inaking device illustrated in Figure 3. At or near the stern post
of the vessel, (as shewn in Figure 5), or in any convenient and suitable position below
the normal water line, I fix a cylindrical or other suitable shaped casing b having
communication, through branches or apertures & situated at or near its extremities,
with the exterior of the vessel and admitting of free access of water to the interior of
the said easing through the said branches or apertures, which latter may if desired be
governed by suitable valves 62 so as to admit of the free access of water being cut off
when desired. Within this cylindrical or other casing 6 I place a float which is
preferably formned round or egg-ended and, moreover, is so shaped that it will present
a more or less acute belt or surface centrally round the saine, which surface only will
come in contact with the walls of the cylindrical or other chamber during the
movements of the said float, and thus minimise the chance of the said movements
being affected by frictional contact therewith. Arranged centrally and at a suitable
distance apart in the cylindrical or other chamber b are provided two small air and
water-tight cylindrical or other metal casings or boxea 6 having at their opposite
ends cup-shaped depressions or concavities b' corresponding to the convexities of the
float and with one or other of which concavities the said float b³
is adapted to engage in accordance with the level of water in the main
cylindrical or other casing b. Within each of the small air and water-tight
cylindrical or other casings or boxes b' is provided a contact-making device comprising
an arrangement of levers in the form of what is usually known as a lazy tongs or
toggle levers or other equivalent contact inaking device, that is to say, to the short
arins of two crossed pivoted levers b' is coupled by two links or connecting rods b' a
suitable contact 6 and at each of the free ends of the long arms of the said levers is
provided a block of iron or other paramagnetic metal as an armature that will be
readily attracted by a magnet. Arranged axially within the float is a powerful
permanent or other magnet the poles of which magnet protrude and form the
convex or rounded ends of the said float 6. Consequently upon one of the said ends
engaging in the socket, cup, or depression in the corresponding contact casing or
box 6', the magnet will act, through the thin skin or thickness of metal, to attract
the above mentioned armature blocks or pieces 68 upon the free ends of the long
arms of the levers 6 and thus, through the short arms thereof and the links or
connecting pieces b', to move the contact 6* to close an electrical circuit and
energize one of the pair of electro-magnets or solenoids e of a relay switch (the
form I prefer to employ being that shewn in Figure 1) so as to attract the
corresponding plunger or core d which is suspended from a centrally pivoted
beam n which likewise carries the plunger or care d of the other electro-inagnet
or solenoid e and is accurately balanced upon a bracket n¹ or any convenient support,
the whole forming a relay switch for connecting the motor a in circuit. At the
ends or other parts of the beam n are provided contacts na, n2 which when the said
beam is depressed under the action of one or other of the electro-magnets will dip
into mercury cups, or otherwise close the required circuits on the one or other side
to operate the motor a in the one or other direction to shut down or open the
throttle-valve or valves as the case may be.
Under norinal conditions the float 63 will be maintained in engagement with the
uppermost contact box or case 6 and the throttle-valve or valves consequently
remain full open,

page_text: An important feature of this contact-making-and-breaking device is that the
contacts situated in the float casing are tightly enclosed within fluid-tight
boxes or cases b and are consequently protected from the corrosion and other
deleterious action of the water, which, especially in the ease of salt water, would
otherwise cause an uncertain and inefficient action and a rapid deterioration and
destruction thereof by electrolysis.
The cylindrical or other casing b is so constructed that the contact boxes or
enses can be mpidly removed in order to clear out any deposit that may have
necumulated in the eup-shaped depressions or concavities therein, or at the same
time to examine, if necessary, the float and permanent magnet 6 in order to test
its magnetic intensity. I find it highly desirable to electrolytically deposit a coating
of copper on this steel permanent magnet so that any salt water which may come in
contact have no action thereon.
According to the second part of iny invention I provide for actuating the motor a
to close the throttle-valve or valves should racing of the engine take place from any
cause other than for example the propeller coming out of water. For this purpose
I provide a centrifugal governor of any suitable form, but preferably of that
description wherein, (as shewn in Figure 1 and illustrated in detail in Figure 4) the
spherical or other weights f, fare mounted centrally, or approximately so, upon
springs, the upper or outer ends of which are secured to a collar frigidly fixed
to the top of the governor spindle f and the lower or other ends whereof are secured
to a collar or sleeve f free to slide or move longitudinally upon the said spindle f
and having the purpose of a commutator. In connection with this sliding collar or
sleeve I so arrange three or other convenient number of contacts or brushes o that
under normal conditions one set of the said contacts or brushes o will form electrical
contact and be in series with the relay circuit to so operate the motor a as to open
the throttle-valve or valves, whilst any undue acceleration of the speed of the engine.
by increasing that of the governor and causing the spherical or other weights to
Hy outwards will raise the herein before mentioned sliding collar or sleeve or commu-
tator upon the spindle f, and, by forming electrical contact with the other set
of contacts or brushes o, close a circuit to operate the motor to shut down the
throttle-valve or valves, and also, if required at the same time to choke the
exhaust.
To retain the governor f in the latter position and the throttle-valve or valves shut
down I provide upon the governor spindle f a fixed collar f" to which are pivoted
two or other suitable number of hooked catches f, which, when the governor nets
to sufficiently raise or move the sliding collar or sleeve f, engage with a fixed collar
or projection provided upon an extension of the latter, and, under the action of
spiral or other springs, firmly lock the said sleeve or collar in that position.
To enable the sliding collar or sleeve to be released when desired, and thus allow
the governor f to return to its normal position, I form the governor spindle for a
suitable portion of it hollow or tubular as indicated at f, and within such hollow or
tubular portion I arrange a rod p the upper or one end of which is connected by means
of short links or connecting rods 9 with arms or projections 12 upon the above
mentioned hook catches y' so that, by pulling or operating the other extremity of the
said rod p which projects beyond the governor spindle the said hook catches fcan
he moved outwardly and disengaged from the collar or projection on the sliding
collar or sleeve. To retain the hooked entches fperinanently inoperative, when
desired, I provide upon the lower or projecting end of the above mentioned rod pa
fixed or other collar or head r, or a nut or the like, enclosing a spring a and I provide
another nutt or other convenient means whereby the said spring 8 can be compressed
and rendered inoperative, but which will admit of the said spring s being released
when desired and allowed to press against the end of the hollow or tubular governor
spindle for other convenient abutment. The strength of the spring 8 is such as to
admit of its forcing down the rod p to permanently hold the catches out of
engagement with the collar y upon the sliding sleeve.
The hereinbefore mentioned apparatus may be wired up in any suitable manner, I

page_text: prefer, however, to employ the arrangement shewn in Figure 1 wherein indicates
the electro-motor circuit, v the relay-circuit and w the common leads. The path
taken by the electric current, is indicatel upon the diagram by the arrow heads.
I am aware that it has, before the date of my invention, been proposed to utilize
sea pressure or head of water to effect the governing, or prevent the racing, of marine
engines, and I do not claim such as my invention. Those methods, lead to unreliable
and inaccurate results since the pressure on any given spot on a ship's hull can never
be a certain sign of the height of water covering the propeller. In a stormy sea the
pressure at any given point beneath the surface is never entirely proportional and
due to the vertical height of water above that point, which point, though really but
a few feet beneath the surface, may be surrounded on all sides by mountains of waves
exerting many hundreds of tons pressure, which condition renders any governing
arrangement that depends alone on pressure for its operation unsuitable. Again, in
arrangements beretofore adopted wherein the said pressure or head of water has;
through mechanical devices, been designed to make and break an electrical circuit,
the constant variation of such pressure has caused continual movements to occur in
the governing device and which has resulted in the "worrying" of both engine and
governing device. With this constant variation of pressure there is always the
liability that any movement caused by such variation may only partially, and not
completely, effect the making or breaking of such contact, or fail, by an infinitesimal
amount to make or break contact at all. My governor, working solely by flotation
and being unaffected by varying pressure, keeps normally dormant and only acts (and
then with certainty) at the moment when the water surrounding the propeller has
fallen to the pre-arranged depth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a governing apparatus for marine engines, the method, substantially as
described, of bringing the governing device into operation by means of a float.
2. In a governing apparatus for marine engines, the method, substantially as
described, of bringing the governing device into operation by means of a float
carrying a magnet.
3. In an electrical governing apparatus, a contact-making device comprising a
casing, a float carrying a magnet retained within such casing but capable of
movement therein when the water has reached the predetermined level, and water-
tight cases or boxes above and below such float each containing one or more
armatures attached to lazy tongs or toggle levers or other suitable arrangement of
armature and whereby electrical contact is made or broken and the valves of the
engine operated, substantially as set forth.
4. An electrical governor consisting essentially of a reversible motor fitted with
an automatic circuit making and breaking device, and a contact-making device
comprising a casing communicating with the exterior of the vessel, a float fitted with
a magnet, and water-tight casings or boxes having suitable concavities or depressions
adapted to receive the ends of the float and within each casing an arrangement of
armatures actuating a contact making device, substantially as set forth.
5. A governing apparatus comprising a reversible motor fitted with an automatic
circuit making and breaking device, a contact-making device consisting of a casing
having free access of water from the exterior, a round or egg-ended float fitted with a
magnet and adapted to engage in one or other of correspondingly shaped depressions
or concavities in water-tight casings or boxes, each fitted with an arrangement of
armatures actuating a contact making device and an electro-magnet forming a relay
switch, substantially as set forth.
6. In a governing apparatus, the device for admitting of the motor continuing to
revolve until it runs down and comes gradually to rest after having effected the
opening or closing of the valves consisting essentially of a worm or tangent screw
so mounted upon the motor shaft, or a shaft connected thereto, as to rotate
B

page_text: therewith, whilst at the same time the worm is moved longitudinally upon the said shaft
by a nut rotatably connected to the said worn, which nut is itself prevented from
rotating but is free to move longitudinally and is threaded upon, or engaged with, a
screw-theaded portion of the said spindle tapered at each end, a suitable worm-
wheel gearing with the said worm, and spring or other buffers, substantially as set
forth.
7. In an engine governing apparatus, the improved device comprising a centrifugal
governor fitted with a sliding electrical contact making and breaking arrangement,
and a suitable catch or catches for retaining the governor in that position wherein
the throttle valve is shut down, with or without a rod and spring or other device
for rendering the said catch or catches inoperative when desired, substantially as set
forth.
8. The improved electrical engine governor constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings and operating
in the manner set forth.
9. The improved emergency governor constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, and operating in the manner
set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of trout 1907
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.