Patent ID: 7524160

Claim:
A rotary speed governor apparatus for use with a fluid driven unit, the rotary speed governor apparatus being configured to be employed redundantly if desired, the rotary speed governor apparatus comprising: (a) a rotor configured to be disposed in a fluid-filled housing and to engage a shaft, such that the rotor and shaft can rotate about a common axis relative to the housing, the rotor including a plurality of radial vanes configured to engage the fluid in the fluid-filled housing; and (b) a stator comprising: (i) a plurality of fluid pockets, such that the rotor, the stator, and the fluid in the housing interact to generate a braking torque that is imparted to the rotor and the shaft; and (ii) means for securing a plurality of stators together to form a stack in which the plurality of stators remain fixed in position relative to one another, thus enabling a plurality of rotors and the plurality of stators to be disposed in an alternating configuration to achieve a speed governor stack, to increase the braking torque imparted to the shaft compared to that provided by only a single stator and a single rotor, thus enabling the rotary speed governor apparatus to be employed redundantly.