IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR FLUID-PRESSURE ENGINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Pierre Chouteau, of Saint Louis, in the State of
Missouri, United States of America, at present residing at Fischer's Hotel,
No. 11, Clifford Street, Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS FOR FLUID-PRESSURE ENGINES."
A communication from abroad by Benjamin Brazelle, of Saint Louis, in the
State of Missouri, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Charles Pierre Chouteau at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1878.
CHARLES PIERRE CHOUTEAU, of Saint Louis, in the State of Missouri, United
States of America, at present résiding at Fischer's Hotel; No. 11, Clifford Street,
Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS. IN GOVERNORS FOR
FLUID-PRESSURE ENGINES." A communication from abroad by Benjamin Brazelle,
of Saint Louis, in the State of Missouri, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of governors ordinarily known as "hydraulic
governors," in which regulation of the supply of motive fluid is effected through the
variations of resistance to the rotation of a wheel or series of rotary abutments
in.an incompressible liquid medium induced by changes in the velocity of such
rotation.
The object of this Invention is to provide a governor of this description which
shall be cheap, simple, and durable in construction, and both sensitive and power-
ful in action, so as to ensure as far as practicable uniform speed under variations
of load in the engine to which it is connected.
To these ends the following parts are combined: -An enclosing case, to be filled
with oil or other liquid, a cam piston or rotary abutment revolving in a central
chamber therein, a moveable disc carrying a piston or abutinent fitted to an annular,
channel or passage surrounding the chamber of the cam piston, and provided with
ID 672

page_text: mechanism for actuating a governor valve, a vibrating wiper or flap, having its
free end continuously maintained in contact with the periphery of the cam piston
and an adjustable valve or gate, by which the area of opening for the passage of
oil from one to the other portion of the annular channel may be increased or
diminished at pleasure, all as herein-after more fully set forth.
In the Drawings, in which the governor is shown in its simpler form, Figure 1
is a vertical longitudinal central section; Figure 2, a vertical transverse section at
the line x, x, of Figure 1; and Figure 3, a view in perspective of the cam piston,
wiper, and portion of the case detached.
A cylindrical case A is provided having a removeable head or cover A¹ secured
upon it by bolts a'. The case A is supported by legs or brackets A2 upon the cap
or cover a³ of the chest A³ of the governor valve, which is not here shown, as it
per se forms no part of the present Invention, and may be of any approved con-
struction. The case. A is divided by a segmental partition flange A* into a central
chamber a, and a surrounding annular channel or passage a. The flange A* does
not extend entirely around the case, so that a free opening is left between the
lower portion of the chamber at and the channel as, for a purpose presently to be
described. An opening as is formed in the top of the case for the introduction of
oil, and is closed by a screw plug a. A cam piston B, so termed because of its
elliptical or cam shape, and having its longest diameter such as that it will fit
easily within the central chamber, is secured upon a shaft b, which is mounted in a
bearing a formed on the head A', and carries a driving pulley b¹, by which it is
rotated through a belt passing around a pulley on the shaft of the engine. A
disc C secured upon a shaft c mounted in a bearing a concentric with the bearing a
of the cam piston B fits neatly within the case A, its inner face bearing against
the partition, and having a piston or abutment C¹ formed upon or secured to it,
said piston fitting easily within the annular channel a³. A spur pinion C is
secured upon the outer end of the shaft c which carries the disc C, and meshes with a
segment gear D³ upon an arm D' of a horizontal rock shaft D mounted in a bearing
on one of the legs or supports A2 of the case A. Arms D³, D*, are likewise formed
upon or secured to the rock shaft D, one of which arms Ds is connected with the
upper end of the stem d of the governor valve. A helical spring D" is attached at
one end to the case A, and at the other to the arm D' of the rock shaft.
A wiper or flap E is pivotted within the case A, and extending upward through
the opening formed in the flange A below the cam piston B has its free end
pressed against the periphery of said piston by a spring e.
The width of the
wiper E is equal to the distance between the inner faces of the head or cover A¹ of
the case and the disc C, so that the liquid contained in the case can have no
passage from one side to the other of the wiper, except below it. The area of
opening for such communication may be varied by a valve or gate F of the same
width as the wiper, and pivotted below it to the case A. A screw ƒ serves to
elevate the gate F, so as to reduce as required the opening between its free end and
the wiper E.
In the operation of the governor, the case A. being filled with oil and the cam
piston B being rotated in the direction of the arrow through its driving pulley b',
the oil will be forced by such rotation out of the central chamber a* and against
the left side of the piston or abutment C¹ of the disc C, and at the same time oil
will be drawn away from the right side of said abutment C², passing through the
opening between the wiper E and gate F. This displacement of the oil induces a
pressure upon the left side of the abutment, which tends to move it with the disc C,
to which it is attached, in the direction of the arrow, such movement being trans-
mitted through the pinion C³ and segment gear D2 to the rock shaft D and governor
valve stem d, and being resisted by the spring Do, which is thereby drawn out
until an equilibrium is established between its contractive tension and the pressure
induced by the rotation of the cam piston, which equilibrium will be maintained
during a uniform desired speed of the engine. A decrease of the pressure upon the
abutment C¹, induced by a reduction of the speed of the cam piston, is coincidently

page_text: compensated for by the tension of the spring D5, which acts in an opposite direction
and correspondingly raises the stem d of the governor valve to admit more steam
to the engine, and conversely by an increase of speed of the cam piston the abut-
ment C¹ will be pressed further forward in the direction of the arrow, and will
proportionately lower the governor valve stem, and thereby reduce the supply of
steam. These alternate changes in the normal position of the abutment for an
adjusted rate of speed will accompany and compensate for tendency to either
increase or decrease the same, and corresponding uniformity in the movement of the
engine will be attained.
The speed of the engine is regulated to a desired normal rate by means of the
adjustable gate F, as greater or less pressure respectively upon the abutment C¹
relatively to the velocity of the cam. piston B is induced by reducing or enlarging
the area of opening for the passage of the oil between the wiper E and gate F by
corresponding adjustments of said gate through its screw f. The power of the
governor to overcome weight and friction of parts may likewise be increased as
required by this device, so that one size of governor may be, as required, rendered
adaptable for use upon governor valves of different sizes.
It will be observed that the object of making the piston B in cam or elliptic form
is to enable it to be maintained without jar or shock constantly in contact with the
wiper E, and as these, as well as the other internal moving parts, are constantly
surrounded by oil, ample lubrication is provided. Moreover from the relation of
the parts very close fitting is not essential, and corresponding economy in con-
struction and ease in action is attained.
It has been found in practice that the governor possess the qualities both of
sensitiveness and actuating power required for an efficient and reliable regulator of
a steam or other engine.
The invention also relates to modifications and improvements upon the governor
above described, consisting, first, in a novel construction of the enclosing case and
movable abutment, whereby the inner bearing of said abutment is dispensed with
and the pressure acting thereon is transferred to the rock shaft in a more convenient
and advantageous manner. This alteration admits also of an abutment of different
area being substituted whenever necessary or advisable; and, second, in combining
with the adjustable gate of said governor a weighted rod or pendulum by which
said gate is opened or closed coincidently and proportionately to variations
in the position of said pendulum, due to the action of gravity, in order to adapt
the governor to use upon marine engines, in the operation of which the alternate
immersion and exposure of the propellor due to the pitching of the vessel in a heavy
sea entails sudden and great variation of resistance.
In the Drawings Figure 4 is a vertical transverse central section partly in eleva-
tion of the governor; and Figures 5 and 6, vertical longitudinal sections of the
same at the lines x, x, and y, y, respectively of Figure 4.
The governor case L is of cylindrical form, having on its ends removeable heads
or covers L', L³, secured by bolts A, and is supported by legs or standards L³ upon
the cap or cover of the governor valve chest. The case L is divided by a vertical
partition L near its centre into two chambers or compartments 1, 1, connected at
bottom by a channel way or passage, and also communicating by a curved slot 7.
above the channel way . An opening is formed in the top of the chamber for
the introduction of oil to fill the chambers lª, 1º, and is closed by a screw plug 17.
An elliptical or cam piston M, the longer diameter of which is such as to enable
it to fit easily within the chamber 7, is secured upon a shaft m, mounted in a
boaring formed on the head L³, and carrying a pulley m', by which it is rotated
through a belt passing around a pulley on the shaft of the engine. A cylinder N
having a piston or abutment N¹ förmed upon its periphery is secured upon a shaft
n mounted in a bearing concentric with the bearing 1 of the cam piston.
and fits easily within the compartment 1, the outer surface of its abutment N¹
fitting against the inner surface of the chamber . A conical enlargement is formed
upon the shaft n, which is pressed outward so as to make a tight joint with its

page_text: spur
bearing by a helical spring resting in a central hub in the partition L. A
pinion N is secured upon the outer end of the shaft n which carries the cylinder
N and meshes with a segment gear 0 upon an arm O³ of a horizontal rock shaft
O mounted in a bearing on one of the legs or supports L³ of the case L.
Arms 03, 0+ are likewise formed upon or secured to the rock shaft O, one of
which arms O³ is connected with the upper end of the stem o of the governor
valve. A helical spring. O" is attached at one end to the case L, and at the other
to the arm O' of the rock shaft. A wiper or flap P is pivotted within the chamber
and extends completely across the same above the channel way 12, its free end
boing pressed against the periphery of the cam piston M.by a spring p; said wiper
controlling the passage of oil from the chamber into the channel way l². The
area of opening for the passage of oil from the channel way 1 against the side
of the abutment N' in the direction of the arrow, Figure 5, is varied as required
by a valve or gate Qextending across the chamber 1, said gate being secured
upon a pin q extending through the head L' of the case, by the proper adjustment
of which pin the valve Qmay be made to 'stand wholly or partially across the
annular passage between the cylinder N and the wall of the chamber P, and con-
sequently to intercept to a greater or less degree the movement of the oil therein.
The traverse of the abutment N¹ in either direction is limited by stops n¹ secured
in the wall of the chamber ; and stops may also be provided for limiting the
movement of the valve Q.
•
!
In order to adapt the governor to use upon marine steam engines, I. secure upon
the pin g of the adjustable valve Q a vertically depending rod R, having a weight
R' upon its lower end so that the oscillations of said weighted rod or pendulum
will correspondingly move the valve Q in the chamber 1.
2
In the operation of the governor, the case L being filled with oil and the
cam piston M rotated in the direction of the arrow, oil will be forced by such
rotation out of the chamber against the left side of the abutment N¹ and drawn
away from the right side thereof, passing through the opening into the chamber *.
The induced pressure upon the left side of the abutment tends to move it in the 3
direction of the arrow, such movement being transmitted through the gearing and
rock arms to the governor valve stem and being resisted by the spring 0 until
equilibrium is established, and changes in the normal position of the abutment for
an adjusted rate of speed will accompany and compensate for tendency to either
increase or decrease the same, and corresponding uniformity in the movement of the 3
engine will be attained. The speed of the engine is regulated to a desired normal
rate by means of the adjustable gate by which greater or less pressure may be
induced upon the abutment N¹ relatively to the velocity of the cam piston M, and
the power of the governor to overcome weight and friction of parts may likewise
bo increased as required by the driver.
4
The construction and connection of the abutment N' to its shaft n, to wit, by
means of its central cylinder N, enable me to change the area of the abutment
whenever necessary by the substitution of another connected either to a smaller
or a larger cylinder according as a greater or a less amount of pressure is required;
which change of area would not be practicable with an abutment working in an 4
annular passage both walls of which are stationary, as shown on Figures 1, 2, and 3.
When operating as a marine engine governor the oscillations of the pendulum
R, R', will close and open the gate Q proportionately to and coincidently with the
vertical inovement of the vessel, which alternately expose and immerse the pro-
peller, and will correspondingly close and open the governor valve proportionately 5
to the variations of resistance induced by said movement.
I claim as the Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-
First. The combination in an engine governor of an enclosing casé, à piston
rotating in a liquid medium therein, and a moveable abutment in said case con-
nected with the governor valve, and operated in one direction by pressure induced b
by the rotation of the piston, and in the other by the tension of a spring, substan-
tially as set forth.

page_text: Second. The combination of the enclosing case, the cam piston revolving in a
central chamber therein, the annular surrounding channel, and the vibrating wiper,
substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination of the enclosing case, the cam piston revolving in a
central chamber therein, the annular surrounding channel, and the moveable disc
and its abutment, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the enclosing case, the cam piston revolving in a
central chamber therein, the vibrating wiper, the moveable abutment, and the
adjustable valve or gate, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the enclosing case, the moveable disc and its abutment,
the pinion on the shaft of the moveable disc, the segment gear on the rock shaft
arm, the rock shaft and its arins, the spring, and the governor valve stem, substan-
tially as set forth.
I further claim in respect to the parts of the Invention illustrated by Figs. 4, 5,
& 6 of the Drawings,―
Sixth. The combination in an engine governor of an enclosing case divided
vertically into two chambers or compartments, connected by a lower channel way
or passage and an opening above said channel way, a cam piston rotating in one of
the chambers of the case, a moveable abutment located in the other chamber, and a
vibrating wiper, and adjustable gate governing the passage of a liquid medium from
one to the other chamber, the combination being and operating substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The combination in an engine governor of the enclosing case, the
moveable abutment, the adjustable valve or gate governing the pressure on said abut-
inent, and the weighted rod or pendulum connected to the pin or stem of said
adjustable valve, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination in an engine governor of a cylindrical enclosing case
and a moveable abutinent, formed upon the periphery of a cylinder secured on a
shaft concentric with said case, so as to enable the area receiving pressure to be
changed when required without alteration of any other member of the governor,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Pierre Chouteau, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CHAS. P. CHOUTEAU. (L.S.)