IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STARTING GEAR AND GOVERNORS OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Geo. Low, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STARTING GEAR AND GOVERNORS
OF STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 28th November 1876, and dated the 5th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Low at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th July 1876.
GEOE. Low, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk.
STARTING GEAR AND GOVERNORS OF STEAM ENGINES."
"
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
This Invention has for its object improvements in the starting gear and governors
of steam engines.
In order to admit steam to the engine I employ an equilibrium valve mounted
upon a vertical spindle which is able to slide through a guide and starting handle,
but is prevented turning by a groove and feather. From the lower end of the
spindle there is suspended a hollow metal ball, the weight of which tends to keep
the valve open. The starting handle turns freely on the spindle. There is a stop
on the spindle which by resting upon the starting handle regulates the distance the
valve is allowed to open.
The upper surface of the guide is of an inclined or spiral form, and upon it the
starting lever rests, and is held in position by a flat spiral spring parallel to it.
By moving the starting handle the distance that the valve can open is regulated, or
the valve can be raised to its seat, and the supply of steam to the engine entirely
shut off, the governor being at all times capable of closing the valve, but not of
opening it more than the starting valve will admit. Through the bottom of the
hollow weight or ball above mentioned the governor spindle passes, and it carries
within the ball two weighted arms. These arms have projections near the upper
ends which as they diverge come against a rim or flange formed within the upper
part of the hollow ball, and the projections acting against this rim or flange lift the
ball, and with it the spindle of the valve, and so as the speed augments the valve
is more and more closed and the admission of steam to the engine obstructed.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Low in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th January
1877.
GEORGE LOW, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk.
STARTING GEAR AND GOVERNORS OF STEAM ENGINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
This Invention has for its object improvements in the starting gear and governors
of steam engines.
In order to admit steam to the engine I employ an equilibrium valve mounted
upon a vertical spindle which is able to slide through a guide and starting handle,
but is prevented turning by a groove and feather. From the lower end of the
spindle there is suspended a hollow metal ball, the weight of which tends to keep
the valve open. The starting handle turns freely on the spindle. There is a stop
on the spindle which by resting upon the starting handle regulates the distance the
valve is allowed to open.
The upper surface of the guide is of an inclined or spiral form, and upon it the
starting lever rests, and is held in position by a flat spiral spring parallel to it. By
moving the starting handle the distance that the valve can open is regulated, or
the valve can be raised to its seat and the supply of steam to the engine entirely
shut off, the governor being at all times capable of closing the valve, but not of
opening it more than the starting valve will admit.
Through the bottom of the hollow weight or ball above mentioned the governor
spindle passes, and it carries within the ball two weighted arms. These arms have
projections near the upper ends which as they diverge come against a rim or flange
formed within the upper part of the hollow ball, and the projections acting against
this rim or flange lift the ball, and with it the spindle of the valve, and so as the
speed augments the valve is more and more closed and the admission of steam to
the engine obstructed.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a steam engine with starting gear
and governor constructed according to my Invention.
A is an equilibrium stop valve by which the admission of steam to the steam
case in which the slide valve works is regulated. The valve is double seated and
its stem passes out from the valve casing B through a stuffing box; C is a hollow
ball suspended from the valve stem by a rod C₁; D is an adjustable coupling to
regulate the distance between the valve and the ball; E is a guide through which
the rod C¹ passes, the rod is square where it passes through the guide so that it
cannot turn, or the same end may be attained by means of a groove and feather;
Care lock nuts on the stem C₁ forming a stop or abutment against which the
starting handle operates; F is the starting handle, it can turn freely on the stem C,
and as it is turned round it rides up or down the incline E' formed on the guide E,
and when the handle is moved to the top of the incline it lifts the valve A to its seat.
The valve A is also under the control of the governor balls G, G, contained within
the hollow ball C. The arms carrying the balls G are jointed to the upright
axis H which is driven as is shown by bevelled gear from the crank shaft. The
axis H passes through the bottom of the ball C, which however can slide freely
upon it.
The arms carrying the governor balls have also projections G¹, G¹, upon
them, and when in consequence of the speed of rotation the governor balls diverge
from the axis these arms come against a rim or internal flange upon the ball C and
raise it, and so close the valve A towards its seat.
Figure 2 shews another arrangement differing from that already described in that
a hand wheel is substituted for the starting handle, and in place of operating on
the stem C¹, from which the hollow ball C is suspended, the hand wheel operates

page_text: on the hollow ball itself; the hand wheel is carried by and turns upon a fixed screw
formed upon the upper bearing of the axis H, and when the hollow ball C is not
supported by the governor balls it rests upon the boss of the hand wheel.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim the combination of the
equilibrium valve hollow ball governor, and hand lever or wheel arranged and
operating substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, said George Low, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, this Thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
GEOE. LOW. (L.S.)