US1071895A - Governing mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

K. DOUGAN.

GOVERNING MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY s. 190e.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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K. DOUGAN.

GOVERNING MBCHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY s, 190s.

1,071,895. Patented Sept.2,1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

83 Mill! www DOLUMBIA PLANOURAPH Co\vAsHlNuTON. D, c.

K DOUGAN GOVERNING MEOHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 9, moa.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

` 5 SHEETS-SHEETS. #4L 57 W/TNESSES.

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Wan/@dom K. DOUGAN.

GOVERNING MECHANISM.

APPLIQATION FILED JULY e, 190s.

Patnted Sept. 2, 1913.

5 BHEETS*SHEET 4.

W/ TNESSES.- m

K. DOUGAN.

GOVBRNING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, moa.

1 ,O71 ,895, Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

KZWJMM.

KENNEDY DOUGAN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

GOVERNING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2,1913.

Application filed July 9, 1908. Serial No. 442,790.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, KENNEDY DOUGAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Governing Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in governing mechanisms, the object of which is to provide a power driven mechanism for the inter-position between an element indicating changes in the` condition to be governed (e. g., speed, temperature) and a movable element which directly governs said condition; in which the movements of said element shall be strictly proportional to the movements of the indicating element thereby correctly regulating the condition to be governed.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a mechanism, embodying my invention, designed for use in connection with a governing device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, omitting certain parts of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a front view of scale-arm 81. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the mechanism, part of the frame broken away, and for clearncss of illustration, arms 81 and 82 shown in Fig. 1 are omitted from Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 5 shows a modified thermostatadjusting device. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the double acting pawl. Fig. 8 is a detail View of the pawl-arm mounting. Fig. 9 is a vertical section viewed on line 19 of Fig. 2, showing the gears turned to a different position. Fig. 10 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modification adapted for governing speed, as of water turbines. Fig. 11 is a plan view of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail section of the main shaft and its pulley. Fig. 13 is a detail plan of the pawl. Fig. 14, is an elevation of a modification of Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is a modification of a detail of Fig. 11.

My improvement may be carried out by various structures, so long as they embody the principles involved in the following described structures.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4: 37 is a rotary shaft, corresponding to shaft 118 shown in Fig. 11. On it are keyed two opposed bevel gears 3S and 39. 40 is a frame, provided with bearings 4l and 42 for said shaft. Two shafts 43 and 44, set at right angles to, and driven by, shaft 37, through bevel gears 45 and 46, are j ournaled in bearings 47 and 48.

Two gears, 49, 50, of unequal diameters, having a common hub and turning as one, are revoluble on shaft 43. A yoke 51 is pinned on said shaft and carries a shaft 54, having keyed thereon two planet gears 0r pinions 52, 53. Meshing with pinion 53 and revoluble on shaft 43 is a gear 55 having a hub 5G that is also the hub of a ratchet wheel 57. If gears 53 and 55 are made equal in diameter, gears 50 and 52 must be unequal; or if the latter -are made equal the former must be unequal. As shown, the meshed gears 53, 55 are equal and the meshed gears 50, 52 are unequal. The above described construction is duplicated on shaft 44, as shown. But the teeth of the ratchet wheels point oppositely. When the main shaft 37 is rotated, the ratchet wheels are turned in opposite directions (see arrows, Fig. 4) unless one of them be checked. During such rotation, the yokes 5l, 51 are carried around their shafts, carrying with them the planet pinions. The rotation of the ratchcts is due to the differential effect of the gearing, as will be readily seen in Fig. 2.

The main shaft 37 may bc provided with a pulley, as 58 (Fig. 4) and rotated continuously; or may be turned step by step by any suitable mechanism.

Mcshing with both of the gears 49 and 49 is a curved rack, or more properly termed, a geared sector, 59, keyed on a rockable shaft 60, held by bearings G1 and (32 (Fig. 1). G3 is a hub, pinned on said shaft 60. Said hub carries a depending arm 64, which supports a vertically disposed thermostat, G5, at the lower end thereof. Any ordinary thermostat as now sold, either straight or curved, may be employed. Shaft G0 is tubular (Fig. l) and fitted rotatably within its outer end 1s a short shaft GG. The latter carries an upwardly projecting pin 67, through a slot G8 in shaft 60. Held by pin G7 is a pivot-pin 69, on which is mounted a vertically disposed arm 70, hereafter called the pawl-arm. Said arm is bifurcatcd and extends below the shaft 60 to balance the entire arm. Close to the pivot-pin 69 is a pivot-pin 71, carried by the pawl-arm 70. This pin is connected by a link 72 to a clip 73, mounted on the upper end of the thermostat 5.

The upper end of the pawl-arm carries a pivot-ally balanced double-stop-pawl 74, the ends of which are adapted to engage and respectively arrest the motion of either of. the ratchet wheels 5", 57. The pawl is slotted out to receive the upper end of the arm 70, and has a cross-pin 75 thatl rests in a notch in said arm. It is also provid-ed with oppositely projecting lateral clutchlugs 76, both shown in Fig. 2. When the pawl-arm moves these lugs play in are slots 77, whose center isY that of the shaft 60. These slots are formed in the front and rear walls of a housing composed of an arm 78 and a plate 79 secured thereto by screws 80'. This housing stands clear of the sides of the stop-pawl 74 so as to offer no frictional resistance, and the slots 77 should lit the lugs 76 loosely enough to prevent contact except when the pawl is tilted on its pivot 7 5. The clutch-arm 78 is rigidly held by the hub 63, and therefore partakes of every movement of the geared sector 59 imparted thereto by gear 49 or 49.

By reference to F ig.y 4 it will be readily understood that the angle at which the pawlarm stands may be adjusted byturning the innershaft 66 relatively to the outer one 60, asY by so doing the alinement of the pivots 69 and 7l .which supportVV the pawl-V arm, is altered, the lower pivot 69 being moved laterally by its arm 67 That tls adjustment may be made by any person with ease and accuracy, two hands 8l and 82 are provided. They are iXed upon the respective shafts 60 and 66 and extend in arallel relation. The inner hand 81 (Fig. bears at its end a graduated scale 83.l The index hand 82 is made of resilient metal and has afiixed to its inner face a knife-edge 84, which is pressed upon the surface. of the scale by the resilience of the hand 82. The marks of the scale may be grooved, so that the sharp edge of 84 will be retained therein without chance of slipping.v The scale indicates a range of temperature, and the operator simply sets the hand 84 at the temperature desired. An eXtreme position (to right or left) of the hand 82 may cause the pawl 70 to become engaged with one of the ratchet wheels 48, 48.

Tt is not essential that the ratchets 48, 48 rotate in opposite directions: the mechanism may be so geared that they may rotate in the same direction, and one end ofthe pawl changed accordingly.

The operation of the instrument shown in Figs. l to l() inclusive, is as follows: Normally the resistance due to friction of movable parts, will hold the sector 59 against being moved by gear 49 or49 and holds said gears against rotation. The ratchets 48, 48', however, are moved by every impulse of the drive shaft. Movement of said pawl 74 is initiated by ay change ofl temperature at the thermostat; the mechanism being so made that a fall of temperature will cause the damper-14 to be moved toward sired range of temperature within which it is free to move without starting the dampershifting mechanism, by proportioning the f distance between the ratchets to the length of the stop-pawl. The details ofthis operationy areY as follows: Suppose the tem-` perature has fallen below the desired limit, the thermostat' bends and' turns pawl arm 70, which engages pawl 74 with ratchet 57. l This stops the .rot-ation of gearU 57, but the planet pinions 52', 53 continue to revolve about the shaft 43.'Y The outer pinion 53, as it revolves, is rotated, rotating its companion 52, which inY turn rotates the coupled gears 50, V49. (Itjis'to be Lremembered that the coupled gearsrO, 49k (as well as the coupled gear-ratchets 55, 57) areV loose on the shaft, in the sense that they are not' keyedl thereon). The gear 49 is now rotated, and being meshed with the sector s 59, moves the latterin `the proper direction, to partially open the damper 14, and turns the rock-'shaft 60. This movementfofthe rock-shaft 60 turns the lever 78 having the slots 77 in which the vpawl-lugs 76 play. The'pawl has been tilted by the pressure of the ratchet wheel 57, so that its Vlugs 76 bind or catch in said slots. The movement of the lever 78 is in a direction to carry the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet, this being effected by friction between the lugs 76 and slots 77, asaforesaid. yThe in! stant the pawl is so disengaged, the ratchet resumes its rotation andthe gear 49, sector 59 and damper 14 stop. It is now to be noted that the same motion of the lever 78V that disengaged the pawl from the ratchet wheel, caused depending arm 64y to shift the thermostat 65 in eXact unison with the motion of said lever and of the pawl-arm 70. The result is that, when the'pawly rights itself on its pivot, forcing its lugs 76 from the sides of the'slots 77, the pawl is held in middle, neutral, or halfway position (as shown) until a further change of temperaf ture hasr occu-rred. This feature of the operation is very important, and distinguishes my regulator from all others. The action of this regulator is to create heat-regulating effects exactly proportional to the.fleX-. ing of thev thermostat caused by the change of temperature. In present electric-thermo. stat heat governors, the valve continues to close or open as longl as the circuit contacts are held closed by the thermostat. This nearly always results in the valve being opened too far or closed too fa-rto produce the normal temperature. In my inventi-on u-nder noV circumstances can a single bending of the thermostat cause the damper to be' moved more than slightly. -To cau-se the damper to turn several steps in the same direction, there must be a prolonged rise or fall in temperature. To complete the description of the operation: The damper 14 has been slightly opened by the mechanism, and, in consequence, the air in the room will in time become warmer. 1f the rise of temperature be suflicient, t-he thermostat will be bent far enough to engage the pawl with the right hand ratchet 57 Gear 46 will now turn the sector 59 in the direction that moves the damper 14 toward closed position; lever 78 disengages the pawl from the ratchet; arm 64 shifts the thermostat; and the gear 46 stops. The pawl now stands approximately midway between the ratchets, but starts to move again if the temperature continues to rise.

Should the geared sector 59 be thrown over to either of its extreme positions, the damper 14 will be either fully open or entirely closed.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 is simply the substitution of a C shaped or spiral thermostat 91 for the straight thermostat. )ne end is fastened to the shaft 60 or to an arm 92 thereof. The other end is pivotally connected to the stud or pin 71. l/Vith this construction, the manual adjustment of the thermostat may be nicely effected by means of a device similar to that shown in Fig. 15". Here, 93 designates the arm which holds the thermostat; 94, a shorter arm pivoted thereto on a pin 95; the thermostat being rigidly secured to arm 94. Touching arm 94 is an eccentric 96, the shaft 97 of which is journaled on the main arm 93. A stiff spring 98 holds the arm 94 firmly against the eccentric. The shaft 97 is extended (not shown) to a point accessible to the operator and provided with a handle and a pointer. A scale arranged to be traversed by the pointer, indicates the temperature corresponding to the several positions of the thermostat.

It is not necessary that the thermostat mechanism be mounted on or even adjacent to the radiator easing, as I have devised a system whereby my herein described thermostat mechanism may control one or more radiators at a distance.

Figs. 10 and 11 represent a mechanism embodying the same principle as that already described, but adapted for the regulation of speed of motors, particularly turbine water wheels. In this mechanism a centrifugal governor 100 (driven by the turbine not shown) controls the position of the pawl-arm 101, carrying the double-acting pawl 102. The sliding governor element 103 is connected to a lever 104 by a link 105, said lever being fulcrumed at 106. The pawl-arm 101 is pivoted on the lever at 107, and may be provided with a weight 108 to balance the pawl 102. The pawl is centrally pivoted on said arm, and has two opposite lugs 109, lying in parallel slots 110 in a stationary frame composed of plates 111, 112, bolted to a member 113 of the base-frame 113. Mounted to slide horizontally upon said base-frame, is a traveling frame 114, which carries a motion-translating mechanism exactly like that shown in Fig. 2, with the following exception: A straight rack 115 is substituted for the curved rack 59. Rack 115 is rigidly secured to a member 113 of the base-frame, and meshes with gears 116 and 116 on the oppositely-rotated shafts 117 and 117. The main or drive shaft 118 is carried longitudinally with the traveling frame 114, by means of t-wo collars 119, set on opposite sides of one of the bearings. Said shaft is extended at one end and passes through two bearings 120. In said shaft "is a spline groove 121. The driving pulley 122 is splined on said shaft and located between the bearings 120, which hold it against lateral movement with the shaft. Connected with the frame 114 at 123 is a rod 124 by which the motion of said frame is transmitted to the valve controlling the supply of motive fluid to the turbine. It will be observed that the points ofthe pawl 102 incline upward and terminate at points above a straight line connecting the center of the pawl and the center of either ratchet wheel 125, 125. To permit the full range of motion of the traveling frame 114, each end of said frame is slotted out to pass the rack, 115, as shown at 114', Fig. 10. i

The operation of the entire machine is as follows: The construction is such that the bodily movements of the traveling frame will be in the same direction as the movements of the pawl 102 when actuated by arm 101, lever 101.1-, and governor shaft 103. (It is understood that the position of this shaft 103 is determined by the speed at which the turbine is ruiming.) Assuming that the pawl is in a neutral position, and that the speed of the turbine drops. The centrifugal balls 100 approach each other, moving shaft 103 to the left; thus the arm 101 and pawl 102 are moved to the left, the pawl engaging ratchet 125. Instantly the gear 116 starts to rotate (the shaft 118 being continuously rotated) and the entire frame 114 is carried leftward by the action of said gear upon the rack 115. The rod 124 moves the valve or gate toward open position, and the speed of the motor increases. Said movement of the frame 114 was very short, however, because of the fact that only a short movement thereof is required to draw the ratchet away from the pawl, whereupon the ratchet turns and the gears stop. The slotted plates 111, 112, hold the pawl while it is being acted on by either ratchet, but when the pawl rights itself the lugs 109 become loose in their slots. The pawl is now held midway between the ratchets in their new position' by the centrifugal' balls, unless the speed is changing; in. which case thepawl will be shifted to rightor left and the rod 124 actuated accordingly. It will be understood that when the frame 114 is moved the shaft 118 will slide through bearings 120and pulley 122.

A fault common to .all hitherto cused water-Wheel governors is'- that called hunting'which means that the governor always overacts, and changes the speed of the turf lbine much vin excess of the requirement,

running it too fast and too slow alternately. My herein described .governor vwill-not act in that way, as will be understoodV from a litt-le study of its. peculiar operation, which is in principle exactly the. same as that of the temperature governor described.l y

The construction shown provides 'for a long range. of movement Vof the travelingframe; said range may be made equal to the full range of the pawl corresponding to the maximumV range. ofy t-he centrifugal balls- The lever 104 may be provided with a counterw'eight 104 .so that when said lever is turned from the vertical, the effect of -gravity upon the parts supported by said lever will not influence the degree of motion of said parts. The pawl itselfshould be of steel with the points thereof hardened.

The same results may be produced and the same principle employed, by modifications yof the mechanism just described. For example, the gear frame 114 may be non-slidably mounted or aliixed, and thel other frame 113, holding the rack 115, mounted. to slide.

In thatr construction the governor and pawlarm would. be mounted upon the slidable frame; the engagement of the pawl with a ratchet being followed by a reverse movement of the pawl, disengaging it from the ratchet. Again, both of the frames 113 and 114 may be fixed, relativelyv to each other at least, and therack mounted to reciprocate and actuate the gate or valve to be governed. In that co-nstruction a sliding frame connected with the rack would be provided, the centrifugal element and pawl-arms being mounted on such frame. Y

rI`his mechanism may be .employed'as a steering gear for acting upon. the rudder of a large ship; the swing of the rudder being easily controlled yby the steersman oper- Fig. 10 or mentioned hereinas a modifica-` tion. When an ample movement of a part is to be caused, the operator simply causes the pawl 102to follow up .the ratchet in its rectilinear motion, until the full movement has been performed. y

Fig. 14 shows a slight modification, wherein the ratchet shafts are driven by worm gears. I show also in this figure a pair of fly-balls driven by belt from the main shaft.

I claim: Y

1. In an automatic governor, a movable controlling element, means actuated by changes in the condition to be governed, power driven mechanism interposed between said element and said means, the vsaid means and mechanism movable in the samev direction, the said means controlling the mechanism and causing the mechanism to move to an extent proportionate to the Vmovement of said means.

2.. In an automatic governor, -a driven mechanism, a controlling element moved by said mechanism, means actuated by changes in the condition to be governed and movable in the same direction as said controlling element, and controlling said driven mechanism, whereby said controlling element is caused to fo-llow the movement ofsaid means actuated by changes in the condition to be governed.

3. In an automatic governor, a `driven mechanism, a controlling element actuatable in Vreverse directions by said mechanism, means actuated by changes in the condition to be governed and controlling said driven ,mechanism, said means and said controlling to control a valve, means, actuated byk changes in thecondition to be governed, for causing either of said differentials to act upon said controller element, and means, u

actuated by the movement of said transmission element, for limiting and stopping said movement.

5. In an automatic governor, a power driven shaft, differential gearings-ad'apted to be oppositely driven by said shaft, a movable element geared withA both said differentials, a movable startingV element actuated by changes in the condition to be governed and adapted to start the movements of said first-named movable element, and automatic means for arresting each movement of said first-named element.

6. In an automatic governor', a power driven shaft, differential gearings adapted to be oppositely driven by said shaft, a movable element geared with both said differentials, ratchets driven by said differentials, a movable pawl elelnent actuated by changes in the condition to be governed and adapted to engage either ratchet to start the movements of said first-named movable element, and automatic means for arresting Ieach movement of said first-named element.

7. In an automatic governor, a power driven shaft, differential gearings adapted to be oppositely driven by said shaft, a movable element geared with both said differentials, each differential comprising a normally rotating ratchet and a normally idle gear, a movable element geared with both of said normally idle gears, a stop-pawl poised between said ratchets, means for engaging the pawl with either ratchet, and means, actuated by the resulting movement of one of said gears, for releasing the ratchet from the pawl.

8. In automatic mechanism of the kind described, a pair of ratchets fixed upon separate shafts and driven in opposite directions, a pawl-supporting member, a double-acting pawl pivoted on said member between said ratchets, the pawl being provided with laterally disposed lugs; a movable clutch member loosely engaging said lugs and formed to permit longitudinal and pivotal motions of the pawl, means for driving the ratchets, means for engaging the pawl with either ratchet, and means for actuating said clutchmember to disengage the pawl.

9. A governor comprising a movable element connected with a valve or gate to vary the opening thereof, two differential gearings mounted on said movable element and engaging a rack for moving said element in opposite directions, means for continuously driving each differential, means actuated by a change in the condition governed for starting the operation of either differential upon the rack, and means actuated by the movement of the rack for limiting said movement.

10. A governor comprising a movable element connected With a valve or gate to vary the opening thereof, two differentials carried by said movable element and adapted to move said element in opposite directions, means for continuously driving each differential, ratchets rotated by the differentials, a pawl adapted to stop either ratchet, means actuated by a change in the condition governed for controlling the position of said pawl, and means to cause disengagement of the pawl and ratchet immediately after a short predetermined movement of the gate.

11. A governor comprising a movable element connected with a valve or gate to vary the opening thereof, two differentials carried by said movable element and adapted to move said clement in opposite directions, means for continuously driving each diflerential, ratchets rotated by the differentials, a pawl adapted to stop either ratchet, means actuated by a change in the condition governed for controlling the position of said pawl, a stationary guide for said pawl, and means carried by the pawl adapted to clutch said guide and hold the pawl during coengagement of the pawl and ratchet.

12. A water wheel speed governor eomprising a frame carrying two shafts and mounted for movement transverse to the axes of said shafts, differential gears mounted on said shafts, means for continuously driving each differential, idle gears and ratchets geared with said differentials, said idle gears meshing into a rack for driving said frame in opposite directions, a pawlguide (extending parallel with the line of motion of said frame), a pawl supported by said guide between said ratchcts, means actuated by a change in speed for engaging said pawl with either ratchet, and means for holding the pawl during its engagement with either ratchet, the resulting movement of said frame being utilized to shift a valve or gate.

13. In an automatic governor, a power driven mechanism comprising two sets of intergeared moving gears and idle gears, means adapted to be actuated by said idle gears, a motor controlling element actuated by the movement of the idle gears, and means controlled by the changes in the condition to be governed and adapted to set in motion independently the idle gears of either mechanism according to the changed conditions to be governed.

14. In an automatic governor, a power driven mechanism comprising two sets of intergeared moving gears and idle gears for each set, a motor controlling element geared with each set of idle gears and means controlled by the changed conditions to be governed for setting in motion independently either set of idle gears according to the changed conditions to be governed.

15. In an automatic governor, a power driven mechanism, a movable controlling element operatively connected with the power driven mechanism, means actuated by changes in the condition to be governed, the said power driven mechanism and said means independently movable toward and away from each other to cause the last said elements to control the movement of the controlling element.

16. In an automatic governor, a power driven mechanism, a movable controlling element operatively connected with the power driven mechanism, means actuated nected therewith and thereby moving the by changes in the condition to be governed, latter a distance equal to the movement of said power driven mechanism and said the said means.

means independently movable equal dis- KENNEDY DOUGAN. tances toward and away from each other to Witnesses: control the movement of the power driven MARIE DONOVAN,

mechanism and the controlling element con- K. M. IMBODEN.

v Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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