IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING SPEED
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GOVERNORS OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING SPEED." A communication from
abroad by Edouard Buss, of the Firm of Buss, Brothers, and Co., of Magdeburg,
Germany.
Sealed the 16th. September 1876, and dated the 15th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th April 1876.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING
SPEED." A communication from abroad by Edouard Buss, of the Firm of. Buss,
Brothers, and Co., of Magdeburg, Germany.
This Invention relates to governors or apparatus for regulating the speed of
revolving shafts, and it is based upon the principle of a rotating pendulum, the
momentum of the centrifugal force of which is proportional to the cosine of the
angle of separation for each angular speed.
The governor consists of a suitable combination of such a pendulum with a slide
or its equivalent, as herein-after described.
As an illustration of the principle of the Invention let there be assumed a pen-
dulum of this description suspended from a bracket or support, and gyrating around
a rotating vertical axis. Let it be further assumed that the pendulum is attached
by a stud or pin and a sliding piece with a slotted arm; then by suitably propor-
tioning the weight of the pendulum that of the slotted piece and the angle formed
by a line joining the centre of the stud or pin with the centre of suspension of the
pendulum and another line drawn from the last-mentioned centre at right angles to
the chord of the arc described by the divergence of the pendulum the desired result
will be obtained.
The apparatus is perfectly synchronous or astatic for all angles of separation.
The support may be fixed whilst the slotted arm is capable of moving in a vertical
direction, or the slotted arm may be stationary in a vertical direction whilt the
support is capable of moving in an upward or downward direction.
In carrying out this Invention the governor or regulator consists of two similar

page_text: cosine pendulums and a sleeve. A flat plate is attached by welding or soldering to
the upper part of the spindle which carries a catch. An axial hole is bored in the
top of the spindle. The sleeve consists of two parts, an upper part and a lower
part, connected by serews; the lower part is fixed to the spindle, whilst a pin,
which is firmly attached to the upper part, enters the central hollow of the spindle.
The catch by entering a suitable hole ensures the sleeve turning with the spindle.
The movement of the sleeve is limited below by means of a collar, and above by the
plate before mentioned.
Each pendulum consists of an angular or elbow lever suspended by a long hori-
zontal sleeve or bearing, and carrying on one arm a sphere, and on the other arm
another weight, say, for example, a hemisphere. The hemisphere is provided
with an eye, through which passes a pin terminating in an excentric stud, upon
which a roller is mounted. Each of the bearings of the pendulum is placed between
two eyes on the lower part of the sleeve, and the axis upon which each pendulum
is suspended consists of a steel rod, which is fixed in the sleeve or bearing of the
pendulum, and passes through the two eyes, whilst each of the two rollers bears
upon the horizontal plate herein-before mentioned.
The apparatus operates in the following manner:-If the two pendulums are
caused to travel round their axes in an outward direction whilst the weight of the
sleeve and of the pendulums causes the rollers to press upon the plate the axes of
the pendulum will at the same time be caused to travel vertically upwards together
with the sleeve, whilst the excentric studs of the rollers travel in a horizontal line.
By the displacement of the pin the position of the excentric stud is altered, and the
angle herein-before referred to is also altered in consequence. The apparatus may
thus be brought from a position perfectly astatic to a degree of stability of
equilibrium which corresponds to a difference of speed of, say, about 3 per cent.
Governors of various well known constructions exert a small amount of force at
small angles of separation, and at great angles are nearly immoveable, whilst even
at the angle of separation employed there is considerable varation both in their
moveability or sensitiveness, and in the degree of energy which they exert. By the
employment of this cosine governor however there may be practically and con-
veniently obtained an angle of total separation of, say, from 40° to 60°, and a con-
siderable elevation of the sleeve. This governor also possesses an almost equal
degree of sensitiveness, and it exerts an almost equal amount of energy at any angle
of separation.
The degree of sensitiveness may be changed as required from a perfectly astatic
condition to any degree of stability of equilibrium. Moreover, with the exception
of the spindle and the small plate, the whole of the parts of the governor (including
pendulum rods, pendulum bearings, and the like) co-operate in the production of
the force.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th October
1876.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING
SPEED." A communication from abroad by Edouard Buss, of the Firm of Buss,
Brothers, and Co., of Magdeberg, Germany.
The said Invention relates to governors for rotating engines or machines. As
may be mathematically proved, a rotating pendulum may be constructed, the
momentum of the centrifugal force of which will be proportional to the cosine of the
angle of separation for each angular speed.
The improved governor consists of a suitable combination of such a pendulum
with a slide,

page_text: that is to say, the apparatus is in this case again for a given angle ẞ, namely, for
Q.
cos B = (S+Q) d
perfectly astatic or isochronous.
As the two formulæ VII. and VIIb, do not contain the angle at all, the two
apparatus are perfectly astatic (isochronous) for all the angles for one rotation
round the axis c.
As each of the two apparatus is only astatic at a given angle ẞ, while a change
in the angle ẞ causes each time stability for half a revolution and instability for
the second half of the revolution, the degree of moveability in the two arrange-
ments can be changed as desired by altering the angle B.
From the equation 5b results
g
rs (S+Q) d sin B (S+
d cos Btg + Q 8 tg ⇓, or for
If the word energy for the sake of greater simplicity is taken to mean the force
which is exerted on the sleeve for an alteration in the speed of 1 per cent., this
energy is proportional to the momentum of the centrifugal force or to the cosine of
the angle of separation. If therefore the angle of total separation given to the pen-
dulum is from 20° to +20°, the numbers
-
Cos (20°) = 0.93969;
If the word energy for the sake of greater simplicity is taken to mean the force
which is exerted on the sleeve for an alteration in the speed of 1 per cent., this
energy is proportional to the momentum of the centrifugal force or to the cosine of
the angle of separation. If therefore the angle of total separation given to the pen-
dulum is from -20° to +20°, the numbers
-
Cos
Cos 0
-
20°) = 0.93969;
= 1 and
Cos (+ 20°)
===
0.93969, represent the proportional numbers for the energy in
the three principle positions of the pendulum. The energy in the two extreme

page_text: positions is therefore about 6 per cent. less than the maximum value corresponding
to the mean position.
It will be immediately perceived on the table that even for an angle 8, in which
the apparatus becomes very static and even for a separation of from
30° to + 30°,
C W
сф
-
the value is approximately constant, or that proportional angles of deviation
correspond to proportional changes of speed.
Having thus elucidated the principle of the Invention, I shall now proceed to
describe the mode of carrying the Invention into effect.
Figure 5 represents an elevation, and Figure 0 a sectional plan of the governor or
regulator, which consists of a shaft spindle A. and two similar cosine pendulums B, B,
shewn in detail in Figures 7, 8, and 9, and of a sleeve C, D. A flat plate a is
attached by welding or soldering to the upper part of the spindle A, which carries
the pin b. A hole is bored in the upper end of the spindle in the direction of its
axis. The sleeve consists of two parts C and D, connected by the screws c, c, c, the
lower one C of which is guided along the spindle, whilst a pin d, which is firmly
attached to the upper part D, enters the central hollow of the spindle. The pin b
entering the hole e compels the sleeve to turn with the spindle. The movement
(elevation) of the sleeve is limited below by the collar f, and above by the plate a.
A pendulum B consists of an angular lever suspended by a long sleeve or
bearing of the sphere of the weight i, and of the eye. The pin l, which passes
through the eye k, terminates in an eccentric portion or stud, upon which a roller m
is mounted, as shewn in the plan. Each of the bearings g of the pendulum is placed
between two eyes n, m, on the lower part Ċ of the sleeve, and the axis upon which
each pendulum is suspended consists of a steel rod o, which is fixed in the eyes n, n,
and passes through the sleeve or bearing g of the pendulum, while each of the two
rollers m bears upon the horizontal plate a.
I
Figures 10 and 11 (which are drawn to a reduced scale) shew the governor
complete.
The apparatus operates in the following manner: If the two pendulums B, B,
are caused to travel round their axes o in their direction of the arrows, shown in the
Drawing, whilst the weight of the sleeve and of the pendulums causes the rollers m
to press upon the plate a, the axes o, o, of the pendulums will at the same time be
caused to travel vertically upwards together with the sleeve C, D, whilst the
excentric studs of the rollers describe horizontal lines. By turning the pin Z the
position of the eccentric stud is altered, and the angle indicated by B in the formula
is also altered in consequence. The apparatus may thus be brought from a position
perfectly astatic to a degree of stability which corresponds to a difference of speed
of about 3 per cent.
The cosine governor possesses the following advantages, whilst the governors con-
structed upon the systems known as Watt's and Porter's exert a very small amount
of force at small angles of separation, and at great angles are nearly immoveable;
and whilst they produce even at the angle of separation practically employed both a
very variable degree of moveability and a very variable degree of energy, in the
governor known as Pröll's and in the crossed governor the moveability is certainly
greater, but on the other hand in the practical angle of separation still more variable
than in the apparatus first mentioned. The governor constructed upon what is
known as Buss' system, and in respect of which Letters Patent were obtained on
the Nineteenth January, One thousand eight hundred and seventy, No. 161,
possesses at an angle of about 20° a very great moveability or sensitiveness, and its
energy is also not very variable; on the other hand the entire arrangement of the
apparatus necessitates a considerable expenditure of material, which in no way con-
tributes to the production of the force or energy; also, it produces at the angle of
total separation of 20° only a very slight elevation of the sleeve, and necessitates
very complicated and inconvenient shapes for the detached parts; on the other hand
the cosine governor. which forms the subject of the present Invention admits of,-
First. Practically and conveniently an angle of total separation of 40° or even 60º
and in conformity also a very great elevation of the sleeve.

page_text: Secondly. It possesses an almost equal degree of sensitiveness, and also exerts an
almost equal amount of energy at any angle of separation, and in this respect it
greatly surpasses even Buss' governor.
Thirdly. The degree of sensitiveness may be changed as required from perfect
isochronism to any degree of stability.
Fourthly. Excepting the spindle A with the small plate a, the whole of the
governor, inclusively pendulum rods, pendulum bearings, and other accessories,
co-operates in the production of the force or energy, so that weight for weight the
apparatus exerts a much greater amount of force or energy than that of Buss, for
example.
Fifthly. The apparatus is much more simple and may be constructed much more
easily than that of Buss; it may also be established in a much more simple and
more convenient manner than even those of Porter or of Watt.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that the Invention does not consist in the employ-
ment of pendulums with two weights, for in respect of governors the pendulums of
which are each provided with two weights, there are known-first, Krause's governor,
1859; second, the pseudo-astatic American governor; third, Rankin's governor; and
fourth, Buss's governor; nor does it cousist in the arrangement by which the pen-
dulums are suspended to the sleeve, which is also known, and has been applied to
the governor known as Nicholson's; but what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention to be secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the cosine pendulum, which differs from the other
rotating pendulums by the following signs, which are highly characteristic (see the
theory)
(3.)
= 0
that is to say,—
First. The sum which results from the products of all the material points 9 of the
rotatory pendulum multiplied by the squares of their horizontal ordinates x is equal
to the sum which results from the multiplication of all the material points q (of
which the pendulum is composed) by the squares of their vertical ordinates y, and
at the same time the sum of the products of all the material points q of the pen-
dulum multiplied by the horizontal ordinate x and by the vertical ordinate y is
equal to zero.
Second. The momentum of the centrifugal force M. is equal to a constant mul-
tiplied by (the distance between the point of suspension of the pendulum and the
axis of the governor) and by the cosine of the angle of separation ↓, and for central
suspension.
Third. The momentum of the centrifugal force is equal to zero.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
cation set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)