Governor for Steam Engines

Governor for Steam Engines

In this governor, patented in 1844-5 by Mr. J. Woods and Sir C. W. Siemens, the top horizontal bevel wheel is driven by the engine, and drives the horizontal bevel wheel below it (which is carried by a hollow vertical shaft), through the medium of the two intermediate vertical bevel wheels. Hung from the hollow vertical shaft are two semicircular weights, which revolve freely within the casing up to a certain speed, and beyond that speed fly out and rub against the casing. The extra power required to be transmitted through the intermediate wheels to overcome the friction causes them to be carried bodily a few degrees round about the vertical shaft; the weighted lever, which opposes their motion, being lifted, and acting upon the throttle valve regulates the steam.