Improvements in Engine Governing Arrangements.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Engine Governing Arrangements.
I, The Honourable CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS of Heaton Works
Newcastle-on-Tyne in the County of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a special type of engine governor in which motive fluid
is used to operate the steam admission valve or valves in a particular way, and also
The
to the mode of regulating the action of the fluid by electrical or other means.
main object of the invention is to efficiently work and control an admission valve
or valves admitting steam periodically to the engine for periods of longer or shorter
duration, the periods being varied automatically to suit the varying demands of
work from the motor together with varying steam pressure. I thereby secure to
the motor greater economy in the consumption of working fluid than is obtainable
when the regulation is effected by throttling the working fluid or by other means
detrimental to economical working.
To supply motive fluid for working the admission valve in accordance with one
feature of my invention, I prefer to use a reciprocating pump, or any pump
producing a pulsatory flow. It may be either a pressure or suction pump, and it
may have no valves, or any number of valves. I prefer however to use a single
acting pressure pump with two valves utilizing air as the working fluid. The pump
may be worked from the engine shaft, or a countershaft driven from the engine or
an electric or other motor of any description; the required condition being that the
speed of the reciprocations shall be such as to receive the most suitable periodicity
of the admissions of motive fluid to the motor to obtain good economy with
steadiness of motion. I prefer in most cases to work the pump from a countershaft
driven by gearing from the main engine. From the pump the fluid is led under a
piston which lifts the main admission valve against a stray spring or weight tending
to close it.
According to one arrangement of my invention a leak off or waste valve allows
the fluid to escape from the pump or supply pipe, thus allowing the admission valve
to close more or less, or for longer or shorter periods at each stroke of the pump; if
the leak-off valve be closed the admission valve remains full open, if the leak-off
valve be opened sufficiently, the admission valve remains closed. A relief valve,
or hole is provided under the piston which lifts the admission valve.
According to another arrangement of my invention a catch or stop is arranged to
prevent the working or closing of one or more valves of the pump with the object
of either allowing the air to escape back or to prevent its passage more or less
through the pump.
When the air escapes back, or little or none is pumped, the main throttle valve
soon closes by the action of the spring or weight, and its rapidity of closing may be
increased or diminished to any degree by providing a leak in the system to the
required amount.
To regulate the leak-off valve in the first or the pump valves in the second
arrangement I may use any mechanical governor actuated from the engine or any
other source, such as an electric motor, if a dynamo is being driven by the engine;
but I prefer to use the attractive force of magnets, or a solenoid and core, or two
solenoids, or any convenient force derived from an electric source.
Any of these methods may be used to work a small leak-off valve, which may be
of any ordinary construction such as a small slide valve plain or cylindrical, or a
mitre valve; but so proportioned as to give the necessary accuracy and quickness

page_text: of governing, and be free of movement. This valve may be arranged in any
ordinary form to receive the action common in gas engine governors, to cut off the
motive fluid, when the speed is too-great; and also when it falls below a certain rate,
or accident occurs.
This may be effected in the leak-off governor by arranging the valve to open in
the two cases, that is, when the electric current is too great, and when it falls below
a certain amount. Any of the above devices may be used to influence the working
of the pump valves. The action of either the suction or delivery valves may be
stopped; one arrangement is to allow the stems of the valves to project downwards,
below is a pivotted needle moved and controlled electrically or otherwise, and
formed with two projecting catches or cams, either of which are alternately under
the valve stem in the two extreme positions of the needle; but for intermediate
positions the valve stem falls between them, and the valve is allowed to close.
Thus should the speed of the motor rise too high, the needle is attracted to one
side, and one catch or cam keeps the pump valve more or less open. Should the
speed fall below a certain point or the magnet fail to be attracted through accident
the other catch or cam operates, and the motor is also stopped.
In this arrangement any mechanical or other than electrical method may also be
used for controlling the working of the pump valves.
The motion of the main admission valve when worked by either of the above
arrangements is, it is seen essentially intermittent and periodical.
In regard to the method of arrangement of the solenoids or magnets to operate
the governor, this must depend upon the conditions of the case.
may be used.
If the motor is driving a dynamo giving constant potential with varying quantity,
the solenoids or magnets should be shunt wound; should however the potential
require to be varied with the load, series coils should be added or subtracted;
should constant quantity, but varying potential be required the winding should be
series but any known winding or arrangement of solenoids or magnets or both
To operate the leak-off' valve I sometimes use the following complete arrangement.
A solenoid attracts an immersed or partially immersed iron core, which is
attached to one end of a pivotted arm, the whole being balanced by a counter-
weight; an adjustable spring resists the attraction of the solenoid on the core ;
attached to the arm is a small slide valve or narrow finger which more or less
covers the leak-off hole in the face in close proximity to which the finger moves;
the finger is made so narrow, that in the extreme positions of the needle the hole is
uncovered on one or the other side of the finger.
In some cases I prefer to replace the solenoid attracting the immersed core by
the attraction of a magnet or magnet bar of iron, or nickel wound with insulated
wire upon an iron needle or keeper pivotted or hinged-the magnet and the bar
being of any convenient shape to secure the necessary sensitiveness.
The double catch or cam arrangement may also be worked by the last described
magnet devices.
This intermittent admission governor arrangement is applicable to most ordinary
engines; but it is especially applicable to steam turbines of the radial flow, parallel
flow, or mixed radial and parallel flow types by reason of their great stored
momentum, the reduction of leakage by enabling larger passages and better formed
blades to be used, and also to the increased economy obtained by being able to
allow the full fluid or boiler pressure with consequent expansion to act on the
turbines during the periods of admission. This last named advantage gives also an
increased economy when working at half, or a portion of full load, which is the
normal condition of electric light plant in general.
Dated thin 15th Jan of T... 1000
MARKS & CLERK,
13. Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Engine Governing Arrangements.
I, The Honourable CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, of Heaton Works,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of Durham, 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 a special type of engine governor in which motive fluid is
used to operate the steam admission valve or valves in a particular way and also to
the mode of regulating the action of the fluid by electrical or other means.
The main object of the invention is to efficiently work and control an admission
valve or valves admitting steam periodically to the engine for periods of longer or
shorter duration, the periods being varied automatically to suit the varying demands
of work from the motor together with varying steam pressure. I thereby secure
to the motor greater economy in the consumption of working fluid than is obtainable
when the regulation is effected by throttling the working fluid or by other means
detrimental to economical working. To supply motive fluid for working the
admission valve in accordance with one feature of my invention, I prefer to use a
reciprocating pump or any pump producing a pulsating flow. It may be either a
pressure or a suction pump and it may have no valves or any number of valves.
I prefer however a single acting pump for pressure with two valves utilizing air as
the working fluid. The pump may be worked from the engine shaft or a counter-
shaft driven from the engine or an electric or other motor of any description, the
required condition being that the speed of the reciprocations shall be such as to
secure the most suitable periodicity of the admissions of motive fluid to the motor
to obtain good economy with steadiness of motion. I prefer in most cases to pump
from a countershaft driven by gearing from the main engine. From the pump the
fluid is led under a piston which lifts the main admission valve against a strong
spring or weight tending to close it.
According to one arrangement of my invention a leak-off or waste valve allows
the fluid to escape from the pump or supply pipe thus allowing the admission valve
to close more or less or for longer or shorter periods at each stroke of the pump;
if the leak-off valve be closed the admission valve remains full open; if the leak-off
valve be opened the admission valve remains closed. A relief valve or hole is
provided under the piston which lifts the admission valve.
According to another arrangement of my invention a catch or stop is arranged
to prevent the working or closing of one or more valves of the pump with the object
of either allowing the air to escape back or to prevent its passage more or less
through the pump. When the air escapes back or little or none is pumped, the main
throttle valve soon closes by the action of the spring or weight and its rapidity of
closing may be increased or diminished to any degree by providing a leak in the
system to the required amount. To regulate the leak-off valve, in the first, or the
pump valves in the second arrangement I may use any mechanical governor actuated
from the engine or any other source such as an electric motor, if a dynamo is being
driven by the engine. But I prefer to use the attractive force of magnets or a
solenoid and core or two solenoids or any convenient force derived from an electric
source. Any of these methods may be used to work a small leak-off valve which
may be of any ordinary construction such as a small slide valve plain or cylindrical,
or a mitre valve but so proportioned as to give the necessary accuracy and quickness
of governing and to be free of movement.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings I illustrate an effective arrangement of
governor constructed in the manner hereinbefore described and designed to control
the steam admission to a steam turbine. The pump cylinder A shown in transverse
section, carries the piston A' which piston is actuated by a crank or eccentric on a
counter shaft driven from the turbine spindle by suitable means such as is illustrated
and described in he Specification of Patent No. 1120 of 1890 granted to me.

page_text: The piston on its out stroke takes air into the cylinder through the inlet valve K
and compresses it and discharges it through the valve L3 by the pipe I to the
cylinder Bunder the piston C. The piston C is thrust downwards by the spring G
acting between it and the cap G' and the piston by the piston rod C₁ passing
through suitable packing glands, moves the balanced or double beat valve D, which
valve controls the admission of steam to the turbine by opening or closing the
passage F leading to the turbine and so allowing steam to enter from the live steam
space E or cutting it off.
In ordinary action each stroke of the pump piston by forcing air under the
When
piston C causes it to rise against the spring G and so open the valve D.
the pump ceases forcing air, the leak-off aperture H which is controlled by the
screw H permits the air to escape from the cylinder B and so allows the spring G
to thrust down the piston C and close the steam admission valve. The leak-off
aperture H may be regulated to cause the valve D to close with the desired rapidity
so that it opens and closes at every stroke of the pump or remains open till the
governor determines that it shall close. One arrangement of electrical governing
contrivance is shown. The solenoid N has pivoted above it the lever L which
carries at one end the immersed core L¹ forming part of the lever and is balanced
by a similarly shaped end L. The spring O, which is adjusted by the screw 0¹
resists the action of the solenoid and pulls the lever L to one extreme position when
no current is passing. The spindle K of the inlet or suction air valve K projects
below the cylinder and when the lever L is in the position shown upon the drawing,
the end of the spindle is just clear of the shaped or cam piece M carried upon the
lever L. The valve K then acts at every stroke of the pump and so a charge of
air in a compressed state is delivered to the cylinder B at every stroke. If however
the speed of the turbine and therefore of the dynamo should increase, the solenoid N
will pull the core L' further in against the action of the spring O and the cam or
raised portion M³ of the piece M will raise the spindle K and hold open the
valve K, so that the air taken into the pump on the out stroke is discharged on the
return stroke without passing through the valve L and therefore the piston C
remains down and does not open the steam valve D. So long as the speed remains
too high the valve D is kept shut. When the solenoid N ceases to pull the core L'
to such an extent as to hold open the valve K then the pump resumes its action
and by forcing air causes the valve D to open and close at every stroke or remain
more or less open as determined by the adjustment of the leak-off aperture H. The
valve K may be controlled as I have hereinbefore explained by a centrifugal or
If by any
other mechanical governor but I prefer the arrangement illustrated.
accident the electric current should cease and the load be thereby removed from
the turbine by the cessation of dynamo resistance, then the solenoid no longer
attracts the core L' and the spring O pulls the lever L to such position that the
projection M of the piece M raises the valve K by the stem K. The pump is thus
put out of action and the steam valve D is closed in either case, that is when current
increases unduly or when it ceases altogether or is unduly reduced by an accident
to the dynamo or other cause.
Instead of the solenoid N and core lever L an electro-magnet and pivoted
armature may be adopted with similar effect.
The motion of the main steam adinission valve in the arrangement illustrated is
essentially intermittent and periodical.
In regard to the method of arrangement of the solenoids and magnets to operate
the governor this depends on the conditions of the case. If the motor is driving a
dynamo giving constant potential with varying quantity the solenoids or magnets
should be shunt wound, should however the potential require to be varied with the
load, series coils should be added or subtracted; should constant quantity but
varying potential be required the winding should be series--but any known winding
or arrangement of solenoids or magnets or both may be used.
To operate the leak-off valve I sometimes use the following arrangement:-
A solenoid attracts an immersed or partially immersed iron core which is attached

page_text: to one end of a pivoted arm, the whole being balanced by a counter weight and an
adjustable spring resists the attraction of the solenoid on the core.
Attached to the arm is a small slide valve or narrow finger which more or less
covers the leak-off' hole in the face in close proximity to which the finger moves,
the finger is made so narrow that in the extreme positions of the needle the hole is
uncovered on one or other side of the finger. In some cases I prefer to replace the
solenoid and core by an electro-magnet and pivoted armature.
The arrangements I have described are applicable to ordinary steam engines for
governing the steam supply either by variable cut-off or by intermittent cut-off or
even throttle but they are specially designed for governing steam turbines of the
radial flow, parallel flow or mixed radial and parallel flow types. The reduction of
leakage by enabling larger passages and better formed blades to be used and the
increased economy obtained by being able to allow the full fluid or boiler pressure
with consequent expansion to act on the turbine blades are great advantages to the
working of such machines which are realized by my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
(1). Operating steam supply or cut-off valve or valves of a steam engine, steam
turbine or other elastic fluid motor by means of a pump which by compressing air
or other elastic fluid actuates a piston or diaphragin connected to the steam supply
or cut-off valves or valve substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(2). Operating and governing steam supply or cut-off valve or valves of a steam
engine, steam turbine or other elastic fluid motor by means of an air pump, a piston
or diaphragm actuating the said valve or valves and a leak-off aperture controlled
by a governed valve or without such control substantially as hereinbefore described.
(3). An actuating and governing apparatus consisting of a pump as A. drawing
air through a valve as K which valve is controlled by a solenoid as N and core
as L' or equivalent electro-magnet and armature, so that the electric current flowing
determines by changing the position of a cam piece as M, whether the valve K is
held open to keep the valve closed or is allowed to act and so cause air to be
forced through a delivery valve as L to raise a piston as C against a spring and
open the said steam valve D, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
(4). An actuating and governing apparatus as described in Claim 3 but with the
valve as K controlled by a mechanical governor instead of the electrical arrange-
ment substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 15th day of April 1891
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.