An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Regulating or Governing the Speed of Engines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1393-Accepted, 27th May, 1893
TRUVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Regulating or Governing
the Speed of Engines.
1, OWEN JONES, of 17, Keppel Street, Russell Square, in the County of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
-
My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for regulating
or governing the speed of engines.
In the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated
6th December 1890, No. 19,961, I have described a method of and apparatus
for regulating or governing the speed of an engine, or preventing undue acceleration
or racing thereof, by cutting off communication between the two ends of the
cylinder and the fluid supply and exhaust, and at the same time putting the two
ends of the cylinder in communication with each other through a suitable pipe
or passage, so that the steam or other fluid will be forced from end to end of the
cylinder alternately in either direction, and a resistance to the movement of the
engine will thus be set up within the engine itself. In my said former Specification,
I have also described the use of valves in the admission-ports of an engine-
cylinder for cutting off the communication between the said cylinder and the fluid
supply and exhaust for the purpose above specified.
My present invention comprises another method of regulating or governing the
speed of an engine, which method consists essentially in varying the area of the
passages for the ingress and egress of the fluid to and from the cylinder, without
at any time during the working of the engine, completely cutting off communication
between the said cylinder and the fluid supply and exhaust.
For this purpose, I, in some instances, employ valves in the ports of the engine-
cylinder in a manner similar to that described in my said former Specification,
with the exception that the said valves are so arranged that the ports cannot be
completely closed thereby. I combine, with these valves, suitable means whereby,
when the speed of the engine is unduly increased, the said valves will be operated
so as to proportionately contract or diminish the area of the passages for the flow
of the steam or other fluid through the said ports.
In other instances, 1 carry out my improved method of regulating or governing
the speed of an engine, by means of a suitable piston-valve arranged to be turned
about its axis through an angle of one-hundred-and-eighty degrees or other suitable
angle as described in the Provisional Specification accompanying my application
for Letters Patent dated 19th December 1891, No. 22,244, but so constructed that,
when the said valve is thus turned, it will contract or diminish the area of the
passages for the flow of the fluid through the cylinder-ports without completely
cutting off communication between the cylinder and the fluid supply and exhaust.
I sometimes employ, in combination with valves arranged as above mentioned, a
suitable pipe or passage for putting the two ends of the cylinder in communication
with each other substantially as described in my said former Specification
No. 19,961. The valves in the admission-ports are, in this case, so arranged that,
when they are turned to contract or partially close the said ports, they will, to
a greater or less extent as may be required, open the pipe or passage for com-
munication between the two ends of the cylinder; or I provide other suitable
means whereby the said pipe or passage will be opened and closed as required
to vary the internal resistance to the movement of the engine and thus regulate
its speed!
With this arrangement, although the live steam will have access to the exhaust,

page_text: yet the waste due to this cause will be but trifling compared with the advantage
gained by the prevention of racing.
In some instances, I provide for setting up a resistance to the movement of the
engine for the purpose of regulating or governing the speed, by so constructing
the piston-valve that, when turned about its axis as above mentioned, it will, during
its travel, not only keep the exhaust-port closed, but will also partially close the
admission-ports,, thus permitting communication between the ends of the cylinder
through the valve-casing. but contracting the area of the passages for the egress of
the fluid to and from the cylinder.
In applying my methods of regulation to compound or multiple expansion
engines, I find it advantageous, in some cases, to provide only the high-pressure
cylinder or only the high-pressure and intermediate cylinders with means for
regulating or governing the speed of the engines by setting up within them a
resistance to the movement of the engines, the low pressure cylinder being con-
structed and arranged in the usual manner. By this arrangement, I provide for
the continued action of the low-pressure engine for a short time after the resistance
has been sei up to the movement of the high-pressure engine or of the high-pressure
and intermediate engines, thus obviating any liability to stoppage of the engines
by the setting up of undue resistance to their movement.
My present invention, moreover, comprises improved means for operating the
regulating or governing valves.
In my said former Specification No. 19,961, I have stated that I prefer to
connect these valves with the piston of an auxiliary steam, hydraulic or pneumatic
cylinder, the distribution of the fluid to which is controlled by a governor actuated
by the engine itself or by the varying column of water in a well or tube com-
municating with the water outside the ship, or otherwise. Now it is desirable that
my regulating or governing apparatus should not be brought into action by any
slight increase in the speed of the engine above the normal speed thereof, but that
the speed of the engine should have to increase beyond a certain limit above the
normal speed in order to bring the said apparatus into action. I therefore so
construct and arrange the ports and the distributing-valve of the auxiliary cylinder,
that the said valve can be moved through a certain limited distance, by a corre-
sponding increase in the speed of the engine, or, in the case of a screw steam-ship,
by a corresponding diminution of the columu or head of water outside the ship,
without causing the movement of the piston of the auxiliary cylinder; when,
however, the said limit is exceeded, the fluid will be admitted to one end of the
said cylinder, and the other end of the latter will (either simultaneously or
immediately afterwards) be put into communication with the exhaust, so that the
regulating valve or valves will be operated by the piston of the auxiliary cylinder
so as to cut off or partly cut off the communication between the main engine
cylinder or cylinders and the exhaust, or between the said cylinder or cylinders
and both the fluid supply and exhaust. Moreover, when the speed has decreased
to or below the normal, or, if desired, before it has so decreased (or, in the case of
a screw steam-ship, before or when the column or head of water outside the ship
has increased to or above the normal height) the piston of the auxiliary cylinder
will be moved backward to operate the governing valves in the reverse direction
and thus open communication between the main engine cylinder or cylinders and
the fluid supply and exhaust. I prefer that the end of the auxiliary cylinder to
which the fluid is admitted to close or partially close the regulating valve or valves,
should, under normal conditions, be open to the exhaust, or, in the case of a steam-
cylinder, should be in communication with a condenser.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1892.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Regulating or Governing
the Speed of Engines.
I, OWEN JONES, of 17 Keppel Street, Russell Square, in the County of London,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for regulating or
governing the speed of engines.
In the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated
6th December 1890, No. 19,961, I have described a method of and apparatus
for regulating or governing the speed of an engine or preventing undue acceleration
or racing" thereof, by completely cutting off communication between the two
ends of the cylinder, and the fluid supply and exhaust, and at the same time putting
the two ends of the cylinder in communication with each other through a suitable
pipe or passage, so that the steam or other fluid will be forced through the said
pipe or passage from end to end of the cylinder alternately in either direction, and
a resistance to the movement of the engine will thus be set up within the engine
itself. In my said former Specification I have also described the use of valves in
the admission-ports of an engine-cylinder for the purposes above specified.
In the Specification of former Letters Patent dated 19th December 1891,
No. 22,244, I have described certain improvements in and modifications of the
method and apparatus described in my said former Specification, No. 19,961.
My present invention comprises another method of regulating or governing. the
speed of an engine, which method consists essentially in varying the area of the
passages for the egress of the fluid from the cylinder, or for the ingress and egress
of the fluid to and from the cylinder, without completely cutting off communication
between the said cylinder and the fluid supply and exhaust, that is to say, without
making any change in the working of the distributing-valve except that the areas
of the passages opened in the usual manner by the said valve are contracted when
necessary to prevent "racing."
For this purpose, I in some instances, employ valves arranged in the ports of
the engine-cylinder in a manner similar to that described in my said former
Specification No. 19,961, but I combine with these valves, suitable means whereby,
when the speed of the engines is unduly increased, the said valves will be operated
so as to contract or diminish the area of the passages for the flow of the steam or
other fluid through the said ports, without at any time completely closing such
ports.
I sometimes employ, in combination with these valves, a suitable pipe or passage
for putting the two ends of the cylinder in communication with each other, sub-
stantially as described in my said former Specification No. 19,961.
The said valves are, in this case, so arranged that, when they are turned to
contract the area of or partially close the said ports, they will open, to a greater
or less extent as may be required, the pipe or passage for communication between
the two ends of the cylinder. Or, if necessary, for example, in the event of any
tendency to excessive "racing," the said valves may be turned so as to completely
cut off communication between the cylinder and the fluid supply and exhaust,
whilst opening communication between the two ends of the cylinder as described
in my said former Specification No. 19,961. I can, if desired, provide suitable
means for increasing or diminishing the passage for the flow of the fluid through
the said pipe as may be required, to vary the internal resistance to the movement
of the engine and thus regulate its speed.
With this arrangement, although the live steam will have access to the exhaust,
when the admission-ports are not completely closed by the valves therein, yet the

page_text: waste due to this cause will be but trifling compared with the advantage gained by
the prevention of "racing."
In other instances, I carry out my improved method of regulating or governing
the speed of an engine, by means of a suitable piston-valve arranged to be turned
about its axis through an angle of one-hundred-and-eighty degrees or other suitable
angle as described in my said former Specification No. 22,244, but so constructed
that, when the said valve is thus turned, it will contract or diminish the area of
the passages for the flow of the fluid through the cylinder-ports, without completely
cutting off communication between the cylinder and the fluid supply and exhaust,
the distributing-valve opening and cutting off such communication in the usual
manner with the exception of the contraction of the ports.
It will be seen,
therefore, that, by my present invention, I provide for preventing "racing" of an
engine by simply contracting the ports more or less, without otherwise interfering
with the distribution of the fluid.
My present invention, moreover, comprises improved means for operating the
regulating or governing valves.
In my said former Specification No. 19,961, I have stated that I prefer to connect
these valves with the piston of an auxiliary steam, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder,
the distribution of the fluid to which is controlled by a governor actuated by the
engine itself or by the varying column of water in a well or tube communicating
with the water outside the ship, or otherwise.
I
Now it is desirable that my regulating or governing apparatus should not be
brought into action when but a slight increase takes place in the speed of the engine,
that is to say, the speed of the engine should be allowed to increase to a certain
limit above the normal speed before the said apparatus is brought into action.
therefore prefer to so construct and arrange the ports and the distributing-valve of
the said auxiliary cylinder, that the said valve can be moved through a pre-
determined distance by a corresponding increase in the speed of the engine or by a
corresponding diminution of the column or head of water in the said well or tube,
as the case may be, without causing any movement of the piston of the auxiliary
cylinder when, however, the said limit is exceeded, the fluid will be admitted to
one end of the said cylinder, and the other end of the latter will (either simul-
taneously or immediately afterwards) be put into communication with the exhaust,
so that the regulating valve or valves will be operated in the manner herein
described, or in the manner described in either of my said former Specifications, so
as to prevent undue acceleration or "racing" of the engine.
My said invention further comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my present invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, illustrating
one arrangement in which the governing or controlling valves are arranged in the
cylinder ports.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing another modification of the said arrangement.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal central section showing the auxiliary cylinder and its
distributing-valve.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal central section illustrating an arrangement
of my improved regulating or governing apparatus wherein a piston-valve is
employed.
Figure 5 is a rear elevation.
Figure 6 a plan, and
Figure 7 a horizontal section on the line a, a, Figure 5, showing the said piston-
valve removed from the valve-casing.
Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal central section showing an arrangement
wherein I employ a movable liner in the valve-casing in combination with a piston-
valve, and
Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal central section illustrating a further modij-
cation of my said invention.

page_text: Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is the cylinder; b, are the admission ports or passages; is the exhaust
port or passage; c is the distributing-valve.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, suitable plugs or valves e, el are fitted in
the cylinder-ports b, in a manner similar to that described in my said former
Specification No. 19961, with the exception that the said valves are so arranged
that they are only capable of a limited angular movement and consequently the
ports, cannot be completely closed by the said valves. The valves e. e¹ may, if
desired, be worked by hand. I prefer, however, to combine with these valves, an
auxiliary steam, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (Figures 1 and 3) the piston-
rod of which is connected by suitable links g, g and levers h, 2 to the
valves e, e and the action of which is controlled by a suitable governor actuated by
the varying speed of the engine or by the varying height of a column of water so
that when the speed of the engine is unduly increased the said valves will be turned
through such an angle as to contract or diminish the area of the ports or passages b, b
as shown in Figure 1 sufficiently to prevent "racing" of the engine, without
completely closing the said ports. In the normal working of the engine, the
valves e. el remain in such a position that they offer no obstruction to the flow of
fluid through the ports,
In my said former Specification No. 22,244 I have described the use of valves in
the admission-ports of the cylinder for varying the resistance to the flow of the
fluid from end to end of the cylinder whilst the exhaust-port was covered or closed.
According to my improved method, however, I use such valves for varying the
area of the admission-ports, whilst the admission and exhaust of the fluid are being
permitted by the distributing-valve in the usual manner.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 a pipe or passage d is provided whereby
the two ends of the cylinder a will be put in communication with each other when the
valves e, e' are turned to contract or partially close the ports, as above described.
The said valves may, in this case, he so arranged that, in the event of any tendency
to excessive racing" of the engine, they will be turned so as to completely close
the admission-ports, whilst opening the passage d.
I sometimes provide a rotary plug or valve in the pipe or passage d as described
in my said former Specification No. 19961 for increasing or diminishing the opening
through the said pipe or passage d to vary the internal resistance to the movement
of the engine and thus regulate its speed.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, I provide for preventing
undue acceleration or "racing" of the engine, by means of a piston-valve carranged
to be turned about its axis. This piston-valve is constructed with projections c¹ as
shown so that when thus turned it will partially cover the cylinder-ports at the ends
thereof and thus diminish their available length without altering their width; the
said valve may be arranged to thus partially cover only the exhaust port, or both
the exhaust-port and the admission-ports, as may be found most desirable. The
turning of the said piston-valve c about its axis is effected as described in my
said former Specification No. 22244 or in any other suitable manner.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figure 8, I use a piston-valve ç
combined with a liner j which is fitted in the valve-casing and which is so constructed
that the required diminution in the available length of the admission and exhaust
ports can be effected by the turning of the said liner about its axis through a suit-
able angle by means of a lever controlled by a governor or otherwise. For this
purpose the liner is constructed with two sets of ports of the same width but of
different length these sets of ports being on opposite sides of the liner so that, when
the said liner is turned about its axis as above described, the available length of
the cylinder-ports b, bb, will be diminished, without any alteration being made
in the width thereof. Or the said liner may be arranged to reduce the area of the
exhaust-port without changing that of the admission-ports.
j
I sometimes so construct and arrange the said liner that it can be adjusted for
the purpose above specified by sliding it longitudinally through a suitable distance

page_text: in the valve-casing instead of turning it about its axis. In this case the two sets
of ports are situated in different positions on the same side of the liner, in such a
manner that by moving the said liner longitudinally through a short distance,
either set of the said ports may be brought into the required position relatively to
the cylinder-ports b, 2. The turning of the liner or the longitudinal movement
of the same for the purpose above set forth, may be effected by a lever or a rack
and pinion or other convenient device worked by means of a suitable governor.
In the modification of my said invention shown in Figure 9 the piston-valve c is
so constructed that when turned about its axis as described in my said former
Specification No. 22244 it will during its travel, not only keep the exhaust-port
closed but will also partially close the admission-ports, thus permitting com-
munication between the ends of the cylinder through the valve-casing but contracting
more or less according to the width of the part e³ the area of the passages for the
egress of the fluid from the cylinder.
In the use of any of the forms of my regulating or governing apparatus it is,
as above stated, desirable that the same should not be brought into action by
merely a slight increase in the speed of the engine above the normal speed thereof,
but that the speed of the engine should have to increase beyond a certain limit
above the normal speed, in order to bring the said apparatus into action. I attain
this result by so constructing the auxiliary cylinder Figure 3 that its distributing-
valve normally occupies the position shown relatively to the ports of the said
cylinder and can therefore be moved through a predetermined distance by the
governor when responding to an increase in the speed of the engine or to a
diminution of the column or head of water at the stern of the ship, as the case
may be, without causing any movement of the piston of the said auxiliary
cylinder f; when, however, the desired limit is exceeded, the fluid under pressure
will be admitted to the rear end of the said cylinder f, and its other end will be
put into communication with the exhaust the piston will then be driven
forward, thus operating the regulating or controlling valve or valves e, e¹ or c so
as to contract the area of the ports or passages b, 2, as above described, or so
as to cut off or partly cut off the communication between the main engine cylinder
or cylinders and the exhaust, or between the said cylinder or cylinders and both
the Auid supply and exhaust as described in either of my said former Specifications.
Moreover when the speed has decreased to or below the normal, or, if desired,
before it has so decreased, the distributing-valve k, will be moved back into such a
position that the piston of the auxiliary cylinder will be driven backward and
will operate the governing or controlling valve or valves in the reverse direction,
and thus again permit the working of the main engine under the same conditions
as existed before the action of the said auxiliary cylinder. I prefer that the rear
end of the auxiliary cylinder should, under normal conditions, be open to the
exhaust, as shown, and, in the case of a steam-cylinder, should be in communication
with a condenser.
In applying my methods of regulation to compound or multiple expansion engines,
I find it advantageous, in some cases, to provide only the high-pressure cylinder or
only the high-pressure and intermediate cylinders with means for regulating or
governing the speed of the engines by setting up within them a resistance to their
movement, the low-pressure cylinder being constructed and arranged in the usual
manner. By this arrangement, I provide for the continued action of the low-
pressure engine for a short time after the resistance has been set up to the move-
ment of the high-pressure engine or of the high-pressure and intermediate engines,
thus obviating any liability to stoppage of the engines by the setting up of undue
resistance to their movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
what I claim is :-
First. The herein described method of governing the speed of an engine, by

page_text: varying the area of the passages for the flow of the fluid to or from the cylinder,
without otherwise interfering with or altering the distribution of the fluid.
Second. The combination, with the valves in the admission-ports (with or
without the passage for connecting the said ports), of suitable means whereby,
when the speed of the engine increases above a predetermined limit, the said
valves will be automatically operated so as to contract without completely closing
the said ports, substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Third. The combination, with an engine-cylinder, of a piston-valve arranged
to be turned about its axis through a suitable angle, and so constructed that,
when thus turned, it will diminish the available length of the admission and
exhaust-ports or of the exhaust-port only, substantially as, and for the purpose,
above specified.
Fourth. The combination, with an engine-cylinder, of a piston-valve-casing
provided with a movable or adjustable liner which is so constructed that, when
turned about its axis through a suitable angle, or when moved longitudinally
through a suitable distance, it will diminish the available length of the admission
and exhaust ports or of the exhaust-port only, substantially as, and for the purpose,
above specified.
Fifth. The combination, with the auxiliary-cylinder whereby the controlling
valve or valves are actuated, of a distributing-valve therefor, arranged substantially
as hereinbefore described so as to permit a definite increase in the speed of the
engine before the piston of the auxiliary cylinder will be moved, as, and for the
purpose, specified.
Sixth. The combination, with an engine-cylinder, of a piston-valve arranged to
be turned about its axis and so constructed that, when thus turned, it will, in its
travel, keep the exhaust-port closed and partially close alternately the admission-
ports, substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Seventh. The modification of my invention wherein I provide for governing the
speed of a compound or multiple expansion engine by means of governing or
controlling devices applied only to the high-pressure cylinder or only to the high-
pressure and one or more intermediate cylinders, as the case may be, for the purpose
above specified.
Dated 4th day of April 1990.
OWEN JONES.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
OWEN JONES.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.