US2384767A

US2384767A - Wind impeller governor

Info

Publication number: US2384767A
Application number: US474642A
Authority: US
Inventors: Prince John
Original assignee: A P Nelson
Current assignee: A P NELSON
Priority date: 1943-02-04
Filing date: 1943-02-04
Publication date: 1945-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 1962-09-11

Description

s p 1945- J. PRINCE 2,384,757

WIND IMPELLER GOVERNOR Fiied Feb. 4, 194:5 2 Shets-Sheet 1 I fINYENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 11, 1945. J. p mc 2,384,767

WIND IMPELLER GOVERNOR Filed Feb. 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iawh- INVENTOR- W ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 11, 1945 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIND lMFELLER GOVERNOR John Prince, Sioux City, Iowa, assignor of onehalf to A. P. Nelson, Spencer, Iowa Application February 4, 1943, Serial No. 474,642

1 Claim.

My invention pertains to a governing device for wind driven impeller blades.

An object of my invention is to provide a governing device which automatically lowers the speed of rotation as the impeller blades rotate about a fixed axis.

A further object of my invention is to pro-, vide such a governing device which will govern the speed of rotation of such impeller blades by presenting a reduced surface of such blades to the wind when certain speeds are attained.

A further object of my invention is to provide a governing device of this character which includes governing members which will not apply their forces too quickly, or, in other words, in

a gradual uniform manner.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement wherein the governing device includes fixed shafts with means rotatable about the shafts for th governing function.

A further object of my invention is to provide a governing device in which the governing action is applied synchronously to two or more blades of the arrangement.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustment wherein the starting pitch of the arrangement can be set as desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method for attaching an impeller blade at the desired pitch in a positive manner wherein the attached members cannot get out of the desired pitch and wherein they will 'be held securely.

A further object of my invention is to provide all the above mentioned objects in a simple structure. 1

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a forward elevation of an impeller structure utilizing two impeller blades,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view similar to Fig. 1 with the exception, however, that the impeller blades are at a position 90 from that position shown in Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a forward view of Fig. 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail taken substan; tially along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Figure 5 is a section taken along the lines 55 of Fig. 3, and

Figure 6 is a further detail.

My invention contemplates the provision of a governing arrangement which eliminates some of the objections caused by certain governors wherein the governing action is applied in an abrupt manner, and one of the principal objectives of my invention, as stated heretofore, is to provide a governing arrangement which is uniform and smooth in operation. It will be understood, of course, through the description herein, that the arrangement can be applied to any number of blades as desired.

I have used the character 10 to designate an electric generator which includes the rotor shaft ll. Securely attached to the rotor shaft II is the hub member l2 which is attached to the shaft by means of suitable keys, or preferably by means of a shrunk fit. Extending at right anglesto the member I2 are the two extending members l3, and securely attached at M (see Fig, 4) to the members l3 by means of a shrunk fit, etc., are the further fixed shafts l5 which, therefore, extend radially from the central shaft H. Enclosing the shafts [5 are the cylindrical shells I6 which shells include the bearings I1 and I8 so that th shells 16 can rotate about the fixed shafts l5. The shells l8 include shoulders at I!) upon which rests the thrust bearings 20 which can be of the ball or roller bearing type. The

shafts l-5 extend to the termination at 2|.which Extending integrally from the flange 24 is the 6 round pin 26 which passes between an upper block 21 and a lower block 28, with each of said blocks including the

arcuate surfaces

29 and 30 adapted to snugly engage the. exterior surface of the pin The impeller blades are indicated by the character 3| which impeller blades are received within the sheet metal holder's 32, and attached thereto by means of rivets or other means '33. Merging with the holder 32 are the further spaced dished

members

34 and 35 which snugly engage the

blocks

21 and 28, with the lower block 28 normally being riveted or welded to the lower portion 35. The upper member 34 includes the opening 36 which communicates with a further opening 3"! which passes to the pin 26. By virtueof this construction, the impeller blades 3| can be fixed at any desired angle by first setting the angle when the arrangement is assembled on the pin 26, and then welding the upper block 21 through the opening 36 and the opening 37 so that the pin 26 and the composite Weld will firmly afiix the impeller blad at the desired angle which cannot become displaced. Just before the welding operation, however, the bolts 38 are tightened just sufficiently to still allow the arrangement to be turned slightly to the desired pitch,

The shaft H extends through the hub portion l2 into a further integral portion 39, and securely attached to the front end of the shaft l2 at is a further reduced shaft 4| which passes forwardly and which is slidably received within the bearing .2 (see Fig. 6) which bearing is received within the further cylindrical housing 43. The member 43 terminates in the collar 44 which collar includes the ears 45. The forward portion of, the rod or shaft 4| is threaded at 46 and is engaged by the lock nuts 41.. Extending integrally from the rotatable sleeves l6 and attached at 48 thereto are the inwardly extending flanges 49 which terminate in the cylindrical bosses 50. The bosses 50 are attached to the further members 5| which members 5| are pivotally attached at 52 to a pair of links 53. The links 53 extend forwardly (see Fig. 2) and are further pivotally attached at 54 to the ears of the collar 44. 'The bosses 59, as will be seen from Fig. 2, normally extend angularly with respect to the plane of rotation of the blades 3|. Attached to the bosses at 55 are the governing bars 56 which are preferably made round, but which can be made of any other cross sectional shape, and these governing bars or weights 5% are then positioned substantially at an angle to the plane of rotation of the impeller blades 3|, the dotted line 51 in Fig. 2 indicating the normal plane of rotation of the blades. The angle of inclination of the members 56 from the plane of rotation can be any desired angle, although I have found that substantially between 30 and 40 is to be preferred. A compression spring 58 receives the forwardly extending rod 4| and abuts at 59 against the collar 44 and rearwardly against the extending portion 39.

The device functions as follows: Assuming that the wind is blowing in the direction of the arrows 60 (see Fig. 2), the impeller blades will then rotate in the direction of the arrows 6| (see Figs. 1 and 3). Normally, the weights 56 are positioned as shown in Fig. 2, that is, when the blades are in their stationary position. During rotation of the blades, however, about the shaft ll, the tendency will be for the centrifugally urged members 56 to be thrown outwardly, thereby carrying these members also inwardly in the direction of the arrows 62 as shown in Fig. 2. In other words, the greater the speed of rotation of the impeller blades, the greater will be the tendency for the weights 56 to approach the plane of rotation of the blades. As the weights 56 pivot in the direction of the arrows 62, correspondingly the collar M will be carried inwardly against the spring 58, and due to the fact that the weights 56 are rigidly attached to the boss 50, which, in turn, is rigidly attached to the sleeves I6, the sleeves l6 will be rotated a slight distance about the fixed shafts.

rally, the greater the area of the blades, the higher the speed, and vice versa. As a result, the faster the blades rotate, the greater is the tendency for the centrifugally urged members to pitch the blades at an angle to the wind, thereby reducing thereof,

the effective area, whereby the blades are slowed down sufficiently to restrict them to the desired normal speed. This governing action thereby prevents injurious effects to tower structures and the like which are set up through too rapid speed, which causes excess vibration, overcharging of batteries, etc.

Since the governing weights 56 are of a uniform size throughout the length thereof, the governing action is effected more gradually, and since the spring 58 tends to exert a compressive effect upon the collar 44, the action is also very uniform and not abrupt. Also, during release of the governing action,.or when the weights swing back to normal position or during decreased speed of the blades, the tendency will be for a gradual action. Since the links 53 are connected to the same collar 44, the. blades are pitched synchronously, or at the same speed and angle, which is important in maintaining a uniform action for two or three blades, whichever structure is used.

As shown in Fig. 2, the blade is originally set at a slight angle, and by the provision of the nuts A? which are threadably engaged with the portion 45, the original starting pitch of the impeller blades can be increased or decreased as desired by merely screwing these nuts upon the threaded portion, carrying the collar M inwardly or outwardly to the desired distance, thereby correspondingly adjusting the starting pitch of the blades. The provision of the fixed shafts with the sleeves rotating about these shafts eliminates centrally arranged rotating parts, thereby providing functioning members which will not readily get out of order.

It will now be seen that I have provided a governing device for wind driven impeller blades which provides the objectives mentioned in the objects of my invention, and which includes other advantages readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the partsof my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

A governing device for wind impeller blades comprising a shaft driven by said blades, a plurality of fixed shafts extending radially therefrom, sleeves journalled on said fixed shafts, said impeller blades being attached to said sleeves, centrifugal means for urging said sleeves rotatably about said fixed shafts, said shaft including an extension thereof, a collar slidably engaged with said extension, links connecting said collar and said sleeves to provide synchronous turning said impeller blades being normally pitched at a starting pitch, said centrifugal means adapted to swing said blades to a greater angular position. with respect to the plane of rotation thereof to provide a reduced area for wind action thereagainst, a compression spring positioned between said collar and said shaft to provide resisting movement of said centrifugalmeans, said centrifugal means including lengthened weighted bars rigidly attached to said sleeves, said bars being normally positioned at a substantial angle to the plane of rotation of said impeller blades.

JOHN PRINCE.