US3053097A - Centrifugal governor - Google Patents

Description

.Sept 11, 1962 E. s. HUGHES 3,053,097

CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNOR Filed May 3l, 1960 r l I i! IN VEN TOR.

Q BY

United States Patent O 1 3,053,097 CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNOR Edgar S. Hughes, Detroit, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,625 s claims. (ci. 7s-551) The invention relates to a centrifugal governor and more particularly to a governor which has captive governor weights contained within a chamber which may be expanded and contracted in relation to the speed of the governor drive. Devices embodying the invention may include a governor speed sensing pick-up mechanism to provide a suitable control for any device to be operated in accordance with the speed of the governor drive.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a cross section view of the mechanism embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a section View of the mechanism of FIGURE l taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 of that iigure.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section view similar to FIGURE 1 and showing the governor elements in a position obtained during rotation of the governor drive.

The governor mechanism includes a housing with a suitable drive member 12 extending therethrough. Drive member 12 is illustrated in the drawing as being a shaft to which any suitable drive means such as a vehicle speedometer drive cable may be attached. When the mechanism embodying the invention is used in conjunction with a speedometer drive cable, the speedometer drive will pass through the mechanism without interfering with the operation of the speedometer. A conical finger mechanism 14 is contained within the governor chamber 18 of housing 10. A second conical linger mechanism 20 is also received Within chamber 18 and receives drive member 12 therethrough so that the mechanism 20 may move axially in relation to drive member 12. Opening 22 is provided for this` purpose in mechanism 20 at the apex thereof and is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of drive member 12. Similarly, mechanism 14 is secured to the drive member 12 at its apex.

Mechanism 14 is formed to include a plurality of fingers 24 by providing cut-out sections 26 in the conical surface of the mechanism. Similar ngers 28 are provided as a part of the mechanism 26 by cutting out sections 30 of that mechanism. The fingers 24 and 28 are assembled in interlaced relationship so that iingers 24 extend through cut-out sections 3f) and fingers 28 extend through cut-out sections 26. The fingers and the cut-out sections are so proportioned as to permit relative axial movement of mechanisms 14 and 20 throughout a portion of the axial length of governor chamber 18.

The apex end 32 of conical mechanism 20 is secured to an annular plate 34 which is also received about drive member 12. The outer periphery 36 of plate 34 is slidably received within chamber end 38 of housing 10. A compression spring 49 is mounted about drive member 12 in chamber end 38 and engages wall 42 of housing 10 and plate 34 so as to urge that plate, as well as the conical mechanism 20, toward the apex of conical mechanism 14. A spring abutment plate 44 may be provided on the side of plate 34 forming a portion of chamber end 3S. Suitable bearings 46 and 48 which also may act as seals are provided in housing 10. These bearings receive drive member 12.

The central portion 50 of drive member 12 may be provided with suitable splines 52 on which a drive race 54 is slidably mounted. Drive race 54 includes an internally splined sleeve 56 and a plurality of circumferentially Patented Sept. 11, 1962 spaced and radially extending rods 58. Governor balls or weights 60 receive rods 58 so that the balls may slide radially inward and outward on the rods relative to sleeve 56 and drive member 12. Balls 60 normally engage the inner walls of the mechanisms` 14 and 20 so that they occupy the expandable and contractable chamber 62 formed by those mechanisms.

A suitable pick-up 64, which is illustrated in this instance as being electrical, may include contacts 66, 68 and 70, which extend into chamber end 3-8, and contacts 72, 74 and 76 which may be disposed arcuately from the other contacts within chamber end 38. The contacts may be so positioned as to be engageable with the outer periphery 36 of plate 34 so that the plate closes an electrical circuit between contacts 66 and 72, in one position. The. plate may move farther to break that circuit and close la second circuit through contacts 68 and 74, under influence of the governor, and still farther to break that circuit and close la circuit containing contacts 70 and 76. In the position of plate 34 illustrated in FIGURE 1, with the governor at rest, none of the contacts are in engagement with the plate 34.

As the drive member 12 is rotated at various increasing speeds, balls 60 move outwardly on rods 58 within chamber 62. Since mechanism 14 cannot move relative to drive member 12 the centrifugal forces of the balls act on mechanism 20 to move that mechanism to the left -as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3. This results in an outward and leftward movement of balls 68 as well as the drive race 54. Plate 34 is also moved to the left against the force of spring 40. The various pick up contacts are engaged as the speed continues to increase and may send the desired signal to any mechanism being controlled by the governor. The particular construction illustrated is especially applicable for controlling the shift points of a vehicle transmission although it may also -be used for other purpoess. Also, if desired, a conventional mechanical pick-up may be utilized.

As the rotating speed of drive member 12 decreases the centrifugal forces exerted by balls 60 against conical mechanisms 14 and 20` decrease and spring 40 moves plate 34 to the right as illustrated in the drawing, thereby moving conical mechanism 20 to the right, and causing movement of balls 60 inwardly on rods 58. Drive race 54 will also slide to the right on splines` 52.

The interlaced arrangement of mechanisms 14 and 20 permit the speed responsive movements of mechanism 20 under the centrifugal forces of the ball 60 and the axial force of the spring 40 Without permitting the balls 60 to escape from the expansible and contractable chamber 62.

What is claimed is:

l. A centrifugal governor comprising a housing, a drive member extending through and rotatable in said housing, a first conical member received in said housing and attached for rotation with said drive member and having radially spaced fingers formed on the outer end thereof, `a second conical member received in said housing about said drive member and movable axially relative thereto and having radially spaced fingers interlaced with said first conical member fingers and cooperating with said first conical member to form `an expandable and contractable chamber, yielding means operatively engaging and acting on said second conical member and urging that member axially toward said first conical member and tending to contract said expandable and contractable chamber, a plurality of governor balls received within said expandable chamber, drive means mounted for rotation with and slidable movement relative to said drive member and including radial pins receiving said balls for rotating said Aballs in said expandable. and contractable chamber with said drive member whereby said balls are urged outwardly under centrifugal force when said drive member is rotated to act on said second conical member and move said second conical member axially along said drive member to expand said expandable and contractable chamber in response to the speed of rotation of said drive member.

2. A centrifugal governorV comprising a drive member, ya drive race slida-bly connected thereto for rotation therewith, a plurality of governor weights mounted on said drive race and radially movable thereon, a rst hollow conical member secured to said drive member and receiving said drive race and said governor weights therein and having a plurality of outwardly extending lingers, a second conical member mounted about said drive member and extending in a direction opposite to said rst conical member and receiving said drive race and said governor Weights therein and having outwardly extending fingers formed thereon yand in interlaced relation with said rst conical member lingers, said governor weights engaging the inner Walls of said conical members and reacting thereagainst under centrifugal force generated by rotation of said drive member to move said second conical member axially along said drive member in response to the speed of rotation of said drive member, and means urging said second conical member toward said rst conical member and opposing the centrifugal force of said governor Weights.

3. In a centrifugal governor, a first conical member having lingers formed in the outer periphery thereof, a

second conical member having lingers formed in the outer periphery thereof, said rst and second conical member fingers being interlaced and permitting relative axial movement of said conical members, a drive member extending through the apexes of said conical members and having one of said conical members axially and rotatably secured thereto and the other of said conical members axially slidable thereon, said first and second conical members providing an expandable and contractable chamber through which said drive member extends, means on said drive member receiving a plurality of governor Weights within said chamber and rotating said governor Weights when said drive member is rotated whereby centrifugal force of said governor weights causes said weights to expand said chamber by moving the axially movable of said conical members axially along said drive member, and means acting on said axially movable conical member for opposing said axial movement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 995,412 Morrison lune 13, 19ll 2,053,514 Broders Sept. 8, 1936 2,306,696 Hale Dec. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 139,602 Great Britain Mar. ll, 1920 384,795 Great Britain Dec. 15, 1932 790,172 Great Britain Feb. 5, 1958

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