Improvements in Apparatus for Governing, Starting, Stopping, or Adjusting Steam, Hydraulic, and other Motors and Electric Installations, and for Regulating. Water Levels, the Temperature of Bearings, and for other Regulating Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date Application, 8th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Governing, Starting, Stopping, or
Adjusting Steam, Hydraulic, and other Motors and Electric
Installations, and for Regulating. Water Levels, the Temperature
of Bearings, and for other Regulating Purposes.
I, WILLIAM JOHN LAWRENCE HAMILTON of Portrush County of Antrim, Electrical
Engineer and Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
According to this invention I govern regulate adjust start or stop machinery
or electric installations and effect other regulations by utilizing a small force set
in action by very delicate and sensitive apparatus. This small force sets in action.
a force of greater magnitude, for effecting the governing or other operations
named.
The apparatus consists mainly of the following parts viz. :-a centrifugal or other
governor or regulating contrivance of a construction adapted to the requirements
of the case and which I will call the indicator; secondly of an electrical contact
maker or armature which makes electrical contact with one, or other of two
electromagnets or solenoids; thirdly of an operating part which by the aforesaid,
armature and by admission of a liquid to one side or other of a piston in a cylinder.
moves said piston in one direction or the other; and fourthly of the regulator proper
which may be a cock or valve a slide valve link, an expansion valve regulator, a
switch, or resistance coil, or any suitable contrivance for producing the required
regulation or constancy.
For regulating a motor for constant speed I conveniently use a small high speed
centrifugal governor or a tachometer which actuates a lever having platinuin or
other contact points vibrating between two similar contact points one of which through
the fulcruin of the governor lever is in electrical connection with one pole of a battery
or other source of electricity while the other contact point is in electrical connection
with the other pole. As one or other of these contacts is touched by the contact on
the governor lever a circuit is closed including one of two electro-magnets or
solenoids between which is situated a lever armature this latter being attracted by
one or the other magnet. This armature lever actuates a slide or other valve in one
direction or the other whereby water or other suitable liquid under pressure is admitted
to one side or the other of a piston in a cylinder from which piston notion is
communicated to the steam admission valve (or water admission valve in the case,
of a water-wheel or other hydraulic motor) opening or closing the same. more or
less according as the load on the motor was increased or decreased as shown by the
fall or rise of the aforesaid centrifugal or other governor or "indicator" .forming
the first member of the apparatus. Or the regulating power is transinitted to a
"link" or other gear for actuating an expansion valve or other regulating device.
The contacts are adjustable so as to admit of regulating the speed at which the motor,
is to work:
The slide valve on the above cylinder covers both ports in the middle position
and may be normally maintained therein by a spring or springs; the closing of
the circuit through 'one electromagnet or the other produces a full port
opening.
For keeping constant potential in an electric installation I may use a voltmeter as
the "indicator." For an electric current regulator I may with the aforesaid
arrangement use an ammeter as the "indicator." If the operating piston is
Connected so as to vary resistances instead of varying the speed of the prime
mover I place the resistances in a shunt wound dynamo in series with the field
19

page_text: magnet coils and in a series wound machine
39.
place them in shunt across the
field magnet coils. For regulating so. as to keep, constant potential or pressure I
Instead of inserting resistances I may cause the
use an ammeter as the "indicator.'
dynamo brushes to be shifted:
For regulating are lamps in which the feed of the carbons is regulated by a
piston and cylinder with fluid pressure and suitable gearing I control the piston by
1-17411
an ammeter or voltmeter.
For preventing an excessive. current passing through a circuit a thermometer, or
an, ammeter, may be used to actuate the magnets which switch off the current or
act nate a piston as before to insert. resistance and anally break; the circuit...
For obtaining constant potential in a branch circuit, a voltmeter therein actuates
the piston which inserts, or removes more or less resistance from the circuit.
When the invention is applied to the regulation of a. liquid level I arrange
the contacts in connection with a float while the piston acts on a pump or equivalent
apparatus.
For preventing overheating of shaft bearings or other frictional surfaces I apply a
thermometer for making or producing the contacts and so that the magnets either
cause the oil or water to be admitted to the bearing (in which case the cylinder is
dispensed with) or the piston may be used' to do so.
For electric street lighting in order to extinguish the lamps when the moon is
shining and yet. to light them when the moon is merely obscured by a cloud, I
employ accumulators in series for sending a current at constant pressure through a
circuit containing a galvanometer and a number of selenium cells or other cells
sensitive to light which cells are exposed to the action of the moon's rays. The light
of the moon varying the resistance of the circuit produces motion on the galvano-
meter needle which makes electrical contact for operating one of the magnets or
solenoids which in its turn actuates the hydraulic piston so as to switch the current
on or off to light or extinguish the lamps in the installation.
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Governing. Starting: Stopping, or
Adjusting Steam, Hydraulic, and other Motors and Electric
Installations, and for Regulating Water Levels, the Temperature
of Bearings, and for other Regulating Purposes.
I, WILLIAM JOHN LAWRENCE HAMILTON of Portrush, County of Antrim, Electrical
Engineer and Contractor, 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:-
According to this invention I govern, regulate, adjust, start or stop-machinery or
electric installations and effect other regulations by utilizing a small force set in action
by very delicate and sensitive apparatus. This sinall force sets in action a force of
greater magnitude for effecting the governing or other operations named,
The apparatus as applied to the regulation of prime movers and for some other.
purposes as hereinafter specified consists mainly of the following parts viz.: a centri-
fugal or other governor or regulating contrivance of a construction adapted to the
requirements of the case and which I will call, the indicator, secondly of an electrical
contact maker or armature which makes electrical contact with one, or other of two
electromagnets or solenoids; thirdly of an operating part which by the aforesaid
armature and by admission of a liquid to one side or other of a piston in a cylinder
moves said piston in one direction or the other, and fourthly of the regulator proper,
which may be a cock or valve, a slide valve. link, an expansion valve regulator, a
switch or resistance coil, or any suitable contrivance for producing the required
T

page_text: In Figure..1 of the accompanying drawings is shown a form of apparatus suitable
for regulating a motor, for constant speed, I conveniently use, as the indicator" a
small high speed centrifugal, governor A or a tachometer which actuates a lever B
having platinum or, other contact, points FF and capable of vibrating round a
fulcrum C between, two similar contact points such as the platinum tipped insulated
screws G. G in the carriage I which by a set screw L is adjustably, fixed on a bar K
to afford facility for varying the speed of the engine.. One of the screws is through
the fulcrum C of the governor lever B in electrical connection with one pole of a
battery I or other source of electricity while the other contact, screw is in electrical
connection with the other pole. As one or other of these contacts is touched by the
contact on the governor lever. B a circuit is closed including one of two electro
inagnets H H or solenoids between which is situated a lever armature M this latter
being attracted by one or the other magnet.. This armature lever turns on a fulcrum N
and is held in its neutral position by adjustable springs 0. It serves to actuate a slide
valve P or other valve. in one.direction or the other whereby water, or other suitable
liquid under pressure.is admitted say from a high pressure water main by the pipe $
to one side, or the other of a piston U in a cylinder R from which piston motion is
communicated to the steam admission, valve (or water adinission valve in the case of a
water, wheel or other, hydraulic motor) opening or closing the same more or less
according as the load on the motor was increased or decreased as shown by the fall or
rise of, the aforesaid; centrifugal governor A. or other governor or indicator forming
the first member of the apparatus ;, or the regulating power is transmitted to a "link"
r; other, gear, for, actuating an. expansion valve or other regulating device.. The
contacts G. Gare adjustable, so as to. admit of regulating the speed. at which the
motor is to work... Where inuch sparking-occurs at the contact points a condenser
may be employed and the contacts.may be still further protected by being surrounded
by a box containing nitrogen or other inert gas. Or I use a high resistance coil
connected. electrically to the two; contacts G G The slide valve P on the above
cylinder covers both parts in the middle. position and may be normally maintained
therein by a spring or springs O O the only two other positions of the slide valve are
top inlet port fully open or bottom inlet port fully open the closing of the circuit
through one electro inagnet or the other produces a full inlet port opening. By
replacing the governor. A by other governing instruments various governing effects
may, be obtained. The arrangements described may also be applied to, water wheels
and turbines by acting on the sluice valve or gate, or be applied, to other prime
.or;
movers.
For keeping constant potential in an electric installation, I may use a voltmeter as
the indicator. Figure 2 illustrates such an arrangement where A is a fine insulated
wire of high. resistance with terminals, OP connected to the positive and negative
main. The current in A tends to draw in the core, B. which by pin E in the slot end
of the lever C having its fulcrum at 1) and carrying an adjustable weight Fibeld. by
set screw. G. With the same number of volts between. O and Pithe solenoid core B
will always be drawn in to the same distance, it thus, forms, a fair voltmeter. The
bracket K K carries a fork shaped ebonite block H with brass contact screws, LL
insulated from each other and connected respectively to the terminals S, R. From
thence wires run to the two solenoids which work the slide valve of the hydraulic
cylinder R, Figure 1. The lever C.and bracket K are, through the binding. screw T
connected with, one pole of a battery or with the main circuit, whilst the solenoids for
working the,slide valve P of. the cylinder Rare connected with the other pole. As
the lever Coscillates with, the variations in the voltage it completes the circuit through
one or other of the said solenoids. The regulation of the piston may be effected in
three ways.
1.. Where only one dynamo is driven by one engine it may regulate the speed in
the manner described.
2. It may rock the brushes..
3., It may by working an, arm or switch with multiple contacts cut in or throw out
step by step resistance in the field inagnet circuit if the dynamo is.shunt, wound. But

page_text: if it is series wound the resistances should be arranged to shunt more or less of the
current past the field magnets thereby varying their magnetization as required.
In regulating for constant current a similar instrument is used but wound with
coarse wire through which all the current to be regulated should pass; the other
arrangements would be as above named. This coarse wire in series with the lamps
or other apparatus converts the voltmeter into an ammeter. But if a separately
excited dynamo were used the regulation either for constant electro motive force or
current would be effected in the exciter in one of the aforesaid modes.
I do not bind myself to this particular form of Volt- or Ammeter.
When the invention is applied to the regulation of a liquid level I arrange the
contacts in connection with a float while the piston acts on a pump or equivalent
apparatus.
Figure 3 illustrates such an arrangement. A gauge glass tube A connected to the
boiler or other vessel in any ordinary or suitable way at top and bottom is provided with a
hollow metal float B which by the wire cord C is electrically connected to the platinum
terminal D which is insulated by being sealed in the glass plug E. The float or
indicator has at its upper end a platinum contact plate which is capable of coming
in contact with the interior ends of the platinum contacts G or H (which latter are
insulated by glass tubes) according as the rising or failing water level in the gauge
glass A causes the float B to rise or fall.
The terminal D is connected with one pole of a battery or circuit and the contacts G
and H each with one of the solenoids operating the slide valve of a hydraulic cylinder
and return wire running from the other ends of the solenoid coils back to the other
pole of the battery. It will thus he evident that a sufficient rise or fall in the water
level and float will cause the hydraulic piston to move to one end or other of its
cylinder and if the piston rod is connected to the apparatus (whether feed pump
injector or donkey pump or other apparatus for supplying the boiler with water) the
water level can be maintained within the limits corresponding to the distance between
the contact points G and H. The float B may have guide rods on its outside or it
may be of a square or trianguular form. The water gauge shewn instead of effecting
automatic feed regulation may be connected to a gong or other signal to indicate high
or low water in the boiler so as to warn the attendant.
For preventing overheating of shaft bearings or other frictional surfaces I apply
a thermometer for making or producing the contacts and so that the magnets either
cause the oil or water to be admitted to the bearing (in which case the cylinder is
dispensed with) or the piston may be used to do so.
Figure illustrates this part of my invention. A water-jacketted bearing has
attached to it a thermometer A which may suitably consist of two united metallic
strips of unequal expansion or it may be a mercurial one. This therinometer is at
one end by a wire B. connected with one pole of a battery C. A platinum tipped
screw D insulated by a vulcanite bush E is so arranged that the other end F of the
thermometer A touches it when the bearing becomes too hot. The battery circuit then
completing through the solenoid G the latter will draw in its core H and with it the
weighted lever I. This latter is fixed to a wheel K which gears with pinions Land M.
When the lever I is lifted the wheel K and pinions L and M thus receive a partial
revolution. The wheel L is fixed on the plug of a cock for supplying water to the
bearing jacket, and the pinion M is fixed on the plug of a cock for supplying oil to
the bearing. When the bearing cools down the contact between F and D is broken,
the lever I drops and the cocks are closed; the oil cock should however not be quite
closed but allow a sufficient drop supply of oil to the bearing at all times. Instead
of working both air oil and a water supply cock, one of either only may be
employed.
For electric street lighting in order to extinguish automatically the lamps when
the moon is shining and yet to light them when the moon is merely obscured by a
cloud, I employ accumulators in series for sending a current at constant pressure
through a circuit containing a galvanometer and a number of selenium cells or other
cells sensitive to light which cells are exposed to the action of the moon's rays. The

page_text: light of the moon varying the resistance of the circuit produces motion on the
galvanometer needle which makes electrical contact for operating one of the magnets
or solenoids which in its turn actuates the hydraulic piston so as to switch the current
on or off to light or extinguish the lamps in the installation.
In Figure 5 the current from accumulators A passes through selenium cells L and.
through the coils of a galvanometer by its terminals G G. Its needle N-is-thereby
deflected and as it strikes one or other of the terminal contacts C C and closes a
circuit it sends a current from the battery B through one or other of the solenoid"
coils H H which act on the slide valve of the hydraulic cylinder R. The piston
rod works a switch in the main lamp circuit whereby the lamps are lighted or
switched off.
.
For regulating arc lamps in which the feed of the carbons is regulated by a piston
and cylinder with fluid pressure and suitable gearing I control the piston by an
ammeter or voltmeter.
Figure 6 illustrates such an arrangement. The piston A works in a cylinder, B and
is by a cord or wire D connected to the drum C. Another cord E on the drum F:
which is fixed to the smaller drum C is attached to the crosshead G which carries the
upper carbon holder. Any motion communicated to the drum C will thus be multiplied
in the ratio of the size of the drum F. The cross head G is weighted and slides freely
between the guide rods of the lamp, so that when the cord E is slackened the upper
carbon holder with its carbon drops. The lower carbon may be fixed. The feed is
regulated as follows. The slide valve P is by the rod I connected with the locking
armature lever M which turns on the fulcrum. N. and is held in the neutral position by
the springs 0, 0. HH, are two electromagnets. When either of the magnets is
excited the slide valve P opens.one or other of the two admission ports (the other
being at the same time open to the exhaust) and the fluid preferably inercury supplied
from the reservoir S¹, enters the cylinder B and moves the piston A and thereby
indirectly the upper carbon holder. The exhaust runs into a lower reservoir.K.. To
enable the electricity to regulate the arinature lever M'and thereby the feed of the
carbon I connect either the volt-meter or ammeter described the solenoid of which is
shewn at S or of any other suitable formn) with the circuit as hereinafter described and
this by the already illustrated method excites one or other of the magnets H H.
If I wish to run the lamps on a constant current circuit I use a volt meter connected
to the two main terminals of the lamp that is to say in a shunt to the lamps. The
magnets H H would also be excited from the main circuit whenever the volt-meter
lever made contact with one or other of the studs.
If in the arc lamp I wish for constant current that is to say when I run on a
constant potential circuit I have the ammeter already described connected in series
with the lamp, the other connections being as before.
If in the arrangements herein before described the regulating current is from a
source different from that regulated a switch to break the regulating circuit is
advisable.
Having now particularly, described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in
claim is-
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
First. The combination of a governor or other regulating contrivance hereinbefore
called the indicator an armature operated thereby through a contact maker and
capable of being attracted by one of two electromagnets a slide or other valve worked
by the armature and adapted to admit liquid under pressure to one side or other
of a piston in a cylinder, and a connection from the piston to a valve or other
regulating contrivance for regulating the admission of motor liquid to a prime mover,
for moving rocking commutator brushes, for inserting or removing resistance in an
electric circuit, for admitting liquid to a feed pump or other feed contrivance, for
regulating the upper carbon in an are lamp and for other regulating purposes, the
whole operating substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second. The combination of parts constituting the apparatus for regulating
the speed of a prime mover substantially as described with reference to Figure 1.
Third. The combination of parts constituting the apparatus for ensuring constant
potential current or constant electro motive force substantially as described with
reference to Figure 2.
-Fourth. A gauge glass with hollow float connected to one terminal of a battery
or circuit and having a platinum contact which when the float rises or falls a certain
distance from the normal level position closes a circuit to one of two oppositely
arranged solenoids and thereby moves a lever or other part connected to a slide or
other valve for admitting liquid to one side or, other of a piston the rod of which
serves to regulate the admission of feed water to the boiler substantially as set
forth.
Fifth. The construction of water gauge shewn in figure 3.
Sixth. The combination of parts constituting the apparatus for automatically
keeping a bearing cool and lubricated substantially as described with reference to
Figure 4.
Seventh. The combination of parts constituting the apparatus for automatically by
the use of selenium cells (or equivalent resistances which are sensitive to the influence
of light) and the rays of the moon acting thereon turning on or off electric street
lamps substantially as described with reference to Figure 5.
Eighth. The combination of parts constituting the apparatus for regulating electric
arc lamps substantially as described with reference to Figure 6.
Dated thir OLL
January 1
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.