IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR MARINE AND OTHER ENGINES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Timbrill Clark, of Crick, near Rugby, in the
#
County of Warwick, and William Henry Ashwell, of Argyll House, The Oval,
Bedford, in the County of Bedford, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
GOVERNORS FOR MARINE AND OTHER ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Timbrill Clark
and William Henry Ashwell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 26th April 1880.
WILLIAM TIMBRILL CLARK, of Crick, near Rugby, in the County of Warwick,
and WILLIAM HENRY ASHWELL, of Argyll House, The Oval, Bedford, in the
County of Bedford. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR MARINE AND OTHER
ENGINES."
Our Invention has for its object improvements in governors for marino and other
engines, and our improved governors as applied to marine engines are of the class
designed to be actuated by the pitching of the vessel or by the water receding from
the screw.
One arrangement is as follows:-
A hollow metallic vessel (we will for clearness call it the inner vessel) is placed
insido a cylinder or vessel of any suitable shape (which we will call the outer vessol);
the outer vessel is in direct communication with the sea through a hole or holes cut
in any convenient place or places in the ship. Attached to the inner vessel is a
rod which works in a guide at the bottom of the outer vessel, and extends upward
above water line. The inner vessel is partially charged with water or other suitablo
liquid to give it proper weight without destroying its buoyancy. The arrangement is
such that whilst the water outside the ship covers the blades of the propeller, the water
inside the outer vessel shall support the inner vessel, and that as the water falls
away from the screw, or the stern of the ship rises, water will also fall away from
the outer vessel, so that the inner vossol will by its gravity and the weight of the
liquid inside it fall and cause the steam to be shut off from the engines. The
governor as described may be connected directly to a throttle valve or suitable gear,
or work a small slide or valve, which will control a piston or pistons for attaining
Price 8d1

page_text: the same end, as well understood.
The arrangement may be modified by the
weight of the rod, and the inner vessel being compensated for either by a buoyant
vessel, weight, or springs.
In another modification a metallic weight attached to a rod and furnished with
a buoyant chamber or chambers is arranged inside a cylinder and attached to a rod
extending above water line as aforesaid. The cylinder is in communication with the
sen, so that as tho water leaves the screw it will also leave the weight in the
cylinder, leaving the full gravity of the metal available to actuato the valvo or
valves as aforesaid.
We provide a valve or valves near the opening in the ship so as to reduce the
inlet and enlarge the outlet.
In another arrangement a cylinder is fitted with a piston to work in it, such
piston being provided with one or more valves arranged to let water pass through
the piston. The cylinder is connected at the bottom to a pipo or pipes, and at the
top to a branch pipe, which may be taken direct through the ship or connected to
the pipe at bottom of the cylinder; theso pipes can be replaced by passages cast
on the cylinder. The piston has a rod attached to it which extends upward above
water line. When the ship settles down in the water the water rushes through
the bottom pipo or pipes, passing through the piston and rising up to the level of
the water outside the ship. If the ship rises or the water recedes from the screw,
the water will run out of the cylinder, thus causing the descent of the piston which
will pull down the rod, and either close the throttle valve directly, or it may
bo through the medium of an auxiliary cylinder and piston, or gear such as
aforesaid.
The cylinder can be placed horizontally, and have one or more pistons working in
opposite directions so as to obtain more power, the piston and rod being compensated
for as before described.
In another arrangement a cylinder is placed at or near the stern of the ship, and
is fitted with a piston with passages, whereby water may pass from the back of tho
piston; a partial vacuum is formed either by a pump or ejector. From the front
side of the cylinder runs a pipo at any given line above the propeller shaft. So
long as the cylinder is below the level for the time being of the water external to
the ship, the piston will be held by reason of the partial vacuum in a certain
position, but should the water leave the pipo air will then enter the cylinder, and
the piston will advanco and cut off steam either directly or it may be by any
suitable gear,
In our arrangement, applicable also to stationary engines, a current of water is
forced by a rotary or other constant supply pump through one or more pistons,
weighted either by a weight or spring. The piston or pistons can be made to work
a small slide valvo controlling either hydraulic or steam pressure to work the
throttle valve or valves, or the piston or pistons may be coupled to the throttle
valve or valves direct.
We provide a stop valve between the delivery and suction, whereby the governor
is regulated.
It will be evident apparatus on the principle of our Invention as hereinabove set
forth may be constructed in various forms.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Timbrill Clark and William Henry Ashwell in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 26th October 1880.
WILLIAM TIMBRILL CLARK, of Crick, near Rugby, in the County of Warwick,
and WILLIAM HENRY ASHWELL, of Argyll House, The Oval, Bedford, in the
County of Bedford. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR MARINE AND OTHER
ENGINES."
Our Invention has for its object improvements in governors for marine and
other engines, and our improved governors as applied to marine engines are of the
class designed to be actuated by the pitching of the vessel or by the water receding
from the screw.
One arrangement is as follows:-A hollow metallic vessel (we will for clearness
call it the inner vessel) is placed inside a cylinder or vessel of any suitable shape
(which we will call the outer vessel); the outer vessel is in direct communication
with the sea through a hole or holes cut in any convenient place or places in the
ship. Attached to the inner vessel is a rod which works in a guide at the bottom
of the outer vessel and extends upwards above water line. The inner vessel may
be charged with water or other liquid to give it proper weight. The arrangement
is such that whilst the water outside the ship covers the blades of the propeller the
water inside the outer vessel shall support the inner vessel, and that as the water falls
away from the screw, or the stern of the ship rises, water will also fall away from
the outer vessel, so that the inner vessel will, by its gravity and the weight of the
liquid inside it, fall and cause the steam to be shut off from the engines. The
governor as described may be connected directly to a throttle valve or suitable
gear, or work a small slide or valve which will control a piston or pistons for
attaining the same end, as well understood.
The arrangement may bo modified by the weight of the rod, and the inner vessel
being compensated for by a buoyant vessel, weight, or springs. We provide a
valve or valves near the opening in the ship so as to reduce the inlet & enlarge
the outlet.
In order that the above mentioned arrangement may be clearly understood
we proceed more particularly to describe it with reference to the Drawings.
Referring to Sheet 1,--
Fig. 1 shows an elevation of the outer chamber or vessel.
Fig. 2, a plan of same shewing the top.
Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of the apparatus shewing the inner vessel raised.
Fig. 4, a sectional elevation with inner vessel down.
Fig. 5, a plan of the top of the inner vessel.
It will be understood from what we have already stated that this arrangement
is designed to govern or regulate by the pitching of the ship the admission of
steam to the engines, so that when the propeller is submerged the full power may
be exerted, but when the propeller emerges the power is proportionately decreased.
The rising or falling of the inner vessel C communicates (through the rod E and
connecting rod H) the necessary opening or closing motion to the steam throttle or
other valve of the steam engine. The passage A is open to the sea at a part of
the stern of the vessel near the propeller, so that when the propeller is submerged
the water enters and flows up the passage B, filling the chamber G, and rising up
the passage or tube F to the same height as the water outside the stern of the
ship. The inner vessel C works on a guide K and has attached to it the rod E,
the upper end of which is jointed to the crank I working in a centre at I* (and in this
case strengthened by 12) and thence to the connecting rod H.
The connecting
rod H may communicate direct to the throttle or other regulating valve of the

page_text: engines, or to a slide or valve which will control a piston or pistons for retaining
the same end. The inner vessel C may be charged with water for the purpose of
giving it sufficient weight to descend when the chamber G is empty; in this case
provision is made for the admission of the water by the holes J (see Figs. 3, 4, and 5)
and all dead weight, together with a part of the weight of the contents of the
inner vessel C, is compensated for by a weight K, K, or spring in a suitable
position. When therefore the propeller is submerged and the water fills the
chamber G, the vessel C (being iminersed) is raised by the weight K, K, Sheet 1,
Figs. 3 and 4, or spring, and a pushing motion is imparted to the connecting rod H
whereby the steam throttle or other valve is operated, and a full supply of steam
continues to be admitted to the engines as long as the chamber G remains full of
water, but when the ship pitches or the sea recedes from the opening A, then the
water escapes from chamber G through the valve D and that chamber is
emptied, where upon the inner vessel falls to the bottom of the chamber, and in
doing so imparts a pulling motion to the connecting rod H, thereby causing the
throttle or other valve to be closed and the supply of steam to the engines stopped.
In some cases instead of charging the inner vessel C with water it is made to
contain air only, and is hermetically sealed. In this case so soon as it is immersod
in the water entering chamber G its flotative power or buoyancy causes it to riso
with the water and communicate the necessary pushing motion to connecting
rod H for the purpose of opening the throttle or other valve, as before explained.
When the water leaves the chamber G the inner vessel C (being either of itself
of sufficient weight, or assisted by a weight or spring) will descend in G with the
water and transmit the desired pulling motion to the connecting rod H for the
purpose of closing the throttle or other valve of the engine.
When the water enters passage A it closes the valve D, and having to pass up
passage B the force of the water in a rough sea is broken before entering the
chamber G, thereby preventing sudden jerks or derangement of the inner vessel C
and its attachments. As the sea recedes the valve D will readily open to allow
the free egress of the water from the chamber. Sheet 2 shows a portion of a ship
with our improved governor in position.
In another arrangement of our Invention a cylinder is fitted with a piston to
work within it, such piston being provided with one or more valves arranged to
let water pass through the piston. The cylinder is connected at the bottom to a
pipe or pipes, and at the top to a branch pipe which may be taken direct through
the ship or connected to the pipe at the bottom of the cylinder; these pipes can be
replaced by passages cast on the cylinder. The piston has a rod attached to it
which extends upwards above water line. When the propeller is submerged water
rushes through the bottom pipe or pipes, passing through the piston, and rising up
to the level of the water outside the ship; if the ship rises or the water recedes
from the propeller, water will run out of the cylinder, thus causing (by the weight
of water above the piston) the descent of the piston, which will pull down the rod
and either close the throttle valve directly, or it may be through the medium of
an auxiliary cylinder and piston or gear, such as aforesaid. The cylinder might be
placed horizontally, and have one or more pistons working in opposite directions
so as to obtain more power, the piston and rod being compensated for as before
described, but such an arrangement is, in our opinion, undesirable.
In the Drawings Sheet 1, Figs. C to 11 inclusive, shew this arrangement of our
Invention.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 7, a plan.
Fig. 8. a sectional elevation shewing piston raised.

page_text: the engine. The piston C' has attached to it a rod E connected as before described
to a crank and connecting rod II with reference to the inner vessel in the preceding
arrangement. The weight of the piston and rod is over-balanced by a suitablo
weight or spring.
When the ship's propeller is submerged the water enters by passage A¹, part
ascends by passage B', and part passos through perforations in the valve D', the
water fills the cylinder G and passes up the tube or passage F' to the same height
as the water outside the ship; water being thus on each side of the piston the
overbalancing spring or weight causes it to rise, and the throttle or other valve is
kept open as long as the water remains in the cylinder G. When the sea recedes,
the water which is above the opening B" escapes through the passage B', that
below the piston through the valve D'. The weight of the water retained in the
cylinder above the piston being such that the weight or spring is overbalanced, the
piston valves H closing the piston is forced to or towards the bottom of the
cylinder, thus operating the throttle or other valve of the engine to cut off
steam.
The perforated valve D' breaks the force of the sea when it violently enters the
passage A¹, and the piston valves H' freely opening to admit the passage of the
water, sudden jerks and derangement of the piston are prevented.
In our arrangement, applicable also to stationary engines, a current of water is
forced by a rotary or other constant supply pump through one or more pistons
weighted either by a weight or spring. The piston or pistons can be made to work
a small slide valve controlling either hydraulic or steam pressure to work the throttle
valve or valves, or the piston or pistons may be coupled to the throttle valve or
valves direct.
We provide a stop valve between the delivery and suction, whereby the governor
is regulated. Such arrangements of our Invention are shewn on Sheet 3 of the
Drawings, Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive.
Fig. 10, a plan.
Rotary motion from the engine is imparted to a shaft or spindle a on to which
is keyed one of the toothed wheels c, c; the wheels c, c, are thereby revolved in
opposite directions and cause a like motion to the internal wheels b, b, which are
formed with coarse pitched teeth. The revolving wheels b, b, draw water or other
fluid from a reservoir r and raise it between their teeth, thereby creating pressure
below the piston e in the cylinder d, consequently any increase in the velocity of
the wheels will cause a greater pressure in the cylinder d, and the piston e will be
raised accordingly and depress the spindle & of the slide valve of the steam
cylinder, causing the steam piston to descend and act on the throttle valve, as
will be evident.
Two passages n and g are open to the cylinder d respectively above and below
the piston e. These passages are intercepted by a cock or valve f (see Fig. 1), by
partially opening or closing which the pressure in the cylinder below the piston
may be adjusted, and the speed at which it is desired the engine should work
regulated. The water which may escape from cock fand passagen will be returned
to the reservoir by the overflow pipe p (see Fig. 5). A spring & in connection
with the piston rod i keeps tho piston normally in its lowest position, the pressure
under this piston having to overcome the spring before tho piston can be raised.

page_text: Instead of the steam cylinder and piston we sometimes use for operating
throttle or other valves a collapsable chamber or vessel actuated by hydraulic or
other fluid, as clearly shewn by Figs. 6 to 10 inclusively.
In our Provisional Specification we described or referred to two proposed
modifications or arrangements of our Invention; the first referring to the employment
of a weight attached to a rod in combination with a cylinder, the second to the use
of a cylinder and piston operated partially by the action of the water, and partially
by a vacuum caused by either a pump or injector, but we do not now claim either
of these arrangements.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which it is to be performed, we desire it to be understood that what we claim as
new is,―
1st. The improved governor for marine engines, substantially as described and
shown by Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive on Sheot 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
2nd. The method of regulating the supply of steam to marine engines by the use
in a suitable chamber or vessel communicating with the exterior of the ship of an
inner vessel connected to the throttle or other valve, and controlled and operated
by the water, substantially as described.
3rd. The improved governor for marine engines, substantially as described and
shown by Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
4th. In a marine engine governor the use in combination with a suitable cylinder
communicating with the exterior of the ship of a perforated piston provided with
valves, and a perforated valve such as D¹, substantially as and for the purpose
described with reference to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 6 to 11 inclusivo
on Sheet 1 of the Drawings.
5th. The improved steam engine governor, substantially as described and shewn
in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings; also tho
modification thereof illustrated by Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive on the same Sheet.
6th. The use in combination for regulating the supply of steam to a steam engine
of a cylinder with piston, a chamber communicating with said cylinder and also
with a reservoir of liquid, and rotary wheels arranged within the said chamber,
all arranged and operating substantially as described.
1
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Ashwell, havo hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TIM TTV ACHIWETL