US2754106A

US2754106A - Speed governors

Info

Publication number: US2754106A
Application number: US381313A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ifield Richard Joseph
Original assignee: Lucas Industries Ltd
Current assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
Priority date: 1953-09-21
Filing date: 1953-09-21
Publication date: 1956-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1973-07-10

Description

July l0, 1956 R. J. IFIELD SPEED GOVERNORS Filed Sept. 2l, 1953 IIII IH IIIII Il United States Patent C) SPEED GOVERNORS Richard Joseph Iiield, Dural, New South .Wales Australia, assignor to Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited, Birmingham, England Application September 21, 1953, Serial No. 381,313

2 Ciaims. (ci. 264-6) This invention relates to speed governors of the type in which movement of a part under the action of centrifugal force is utilised for actuating a valve, electric switch or other controlling means, the object of the invention being to ensure prompt action of the governor and to minimise hunting.

The invention comprises the combination of a hollow rotary body, a part movable by centrifugal force, and a helically-shaped member contained in the said body and connected to the said centrifugally movable part, the arrangement being such that under the action on the said helically shaped member of a liquid contained in the said rotary body a supplementary force is exerted on the said part during acceleration or deceleration of the rate of rotation of the body.

The accompanying drawing is a sectional view illustrating one example of a speed governor in accordance with the invention for controlling the supply of motive liquid to a servo-mechanism which controls the rate of supply of liquid fuel to a prime mover.

Referring to the drawing, there is mounted within a housing a a hollow cylindrical rotary body b which is rotated by a driving spindle c. Within this body is contained at least one centrifugal mass d, but preferably two or more similar masses are provided. Each such mass is carried by a pair of spring, or spring-loaded, arms e one of which is attached at one end to one end of the rotary body b. Also within the rotary body is contained a hollow cylindrical and axially slidable member f having formed around it a iin g of helical form. To this meinber is attached one end or ends of the other arm or arms e, the arrangement being such that radial inward or outward movement of the centrifugal masses is accompanied by a corresponding axial movement of the said member f.

The helically nned member f may have several convolutions, or a single convolution. Alternatively any other equivalent helically shaped body may be used.

The helically finned member f is attached to a sleeve h which is slidable on a hollow and ported axially arranged valve stein i for controlling the flow of motive liquid through the said housing, the stem being axially adjustable by a manually operable cam j and being loaded by a spring k.

The rotary body b is filled with which normally rotates with, and at the saine speed as, the body, but which owing to its intertia can rotate independently of the body during acceleration or deceleration.

When, as shown in the drawing, the governor is required to control the action of a servo-motor which in turn is required to control the supply of motive fluid to an engine, the liquid contained in the governor is that required to operate the servo-mechanism. In the drawing any convenient liquid there is represented diagrammatically a known form of servo-mechanism. This comprises a cylinder m containing a piston n which is loaded by a spring o. From the piston extends a rod p for actuating an engine controlling means, such as the means for varying the output of a fuel pump, a fuel-controlling throttle, a fuel bypass or other means. Motive liquid for the servomechanism is admitted at q and both ends of the cylinder are in communication with each other through a restricted orifice r. At the end of the cylinder remote from'the liquid inlet is provided a vent s which is connected by a pipe to the inlet t of the body part of the governor. When flow through the vent is stopped by the governor valve above described the spring o moves the piston to the position of maximum fuel `supply to the engine. On opening the valve, the preponderating liquid pressure then acting on the left hand side of the piston moves the latter in the direction for restricting the fuel supply.

The action of the governor above described is such that so long as the speed of the engine remains below a given rate determined by the setting of the cam j, the sleeve h prevents ow of liquid from the servo mechanism. But when that speed is exceeded the sleeve moves upwardly to a position in which it permits flow of liquid from the servo cylinder through the hollow stem i, rotary member f and holes in the rotary body b to the interior of the housing a, and thence through a discharge outlet u, and so enables the servo mechanism to restrict the fuel supply.

The inode of action of the governor is such that during change of speed, with accompanying outward or inward movement of the centrifugal masses d, a relative rotational motion occurs between the liquid and the finned member f, causing an axial force to be exerted on the said member which antecedes the action of the centrifugal masses, and so ensures prompt action of the governor: it also minimises hunting. This action ceases when the rotation resumes a uniform rate.

The essential feature of the invention resides in the combination of the liquid-operable helically finned member with a part responsive to the action of centrifugal force, and the invention is not restricted to the example or purpose above described, as it may be applied in essentially the same manner to other forms of speed governing mechanisms dependent on the action of a rotary mass or masses movable by centrifugal force. Moreover, instead of actuating a valve, the governor may be adapted to actuate an electric switch or any other control means required to be moved from one position to another with a change of speed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A speed governor comprising in combination a rotary liquid receptacle, a rotary and axially movable member mounted in said receptacle, and at least one centrifugally operable mass connected to said receptacle and member so that rotation of said receptacle is accompanied by rotation of said mass and member, and axial movement is imparted to said member in response to movement of said mass by centrifugal force during rotation of said receptacle, said member being helically shaped to enable liquid contained in said receptacle to exert on said member a supplementary axial force during acceleration and deceleration of the rate of rotation of said member.

2. A speed governor comprising in combination a Patented July 1o, i956.

housing, a rotary liquid receptacle in said housing, a rotary and `axially movable memberrnounted in said 're eeptacle, and at least one centrifugally operable mass connected to said receptacle and member so that rotation of said receptacle is accompanied by rotation of said mass and member, and axial movement is imparted to said member in response to movement of said mass by centrifugal force during rotation 4of said receptacle, said member consisting in part ofat least-one helical iin for enabling liquid contained in :said receptale to exert on said member a supplementary axial force which antesaid member during acceleration and deceleration of the rate of rotation of said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,130,659 Baldwin Mar. 2, 1915 2,247,989 Cita July l, 1941 2,472,181 Werth n. June 7, 1949