18-16] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



249 



circular border around cell/,/, and by the aforesaid fittings and contact over 

 a considerable diameter, tlie wheel D, and disc B, are securely sustained in 

 their intended vertical planes, and qualified to bear the endway pressure of 

 spindle H, notwithstanding the eccentricity thereof to wheel D, as shown ip 

 fig. 4. The aforesaid slow-revolving motion of the disc B, and wheel D, is 

 given thereto by means of the endless screw E, on the cross axis F, which is 

 turned round by spin-wheel G, on the end of it, that wheel receiving motion 

 from another spin-wheel N, on the end of another cross axis I, whereon is 

 another screw wheel J, which is turned by the endless screw,;, on spindle H. 

 The aforesaid wheel-work and screw-work will give a very slow revolving 

 motion to wheel D, and the disc B, compared with the rapid revolving 

 spindle H; hut the proportions of the said wheels and screws may be varied, 

 and the endless screws, E and j (or one or them), may be made with 2 or 

 3 spiral threads, in which case the revolving motion given to disc B will not 

 be so slow. And if the parts are constituted according to the drawing, so that 

 the cell // is not immnveably fixed, the degrees of eccentricity can be 

 varied at pleasure, and the motion quickened merely by turning the lever 

 handle K, which is fastened on tne extreme end of the axis i in figs. 3 and 

 4, which axis is part of the metal of the cell //, but eccentric thereto, as 

 shown in fig. 4. 



It is easily seen that the said axis i is fitted into a socket, perforated 

 through the end of the box A, and fiat vertical surface of the said end 

 around that socket affords a flat bearing for the flat vertical surface at back 

 of the cell,//, around its axis /c. The socket for the axis i is somewhat 

 eccentric to central line of spindle H, as shown in fig. 4, and by the position 

 of the parts there shown, the eccentricity of axis 4, in respect to spindle H, 

 concurs with the eccentricity of the cell//, in respect to its said axis R, for 

 giving tlie full degree of eccentricity for disc B, in respect to spimlie II, that 

 the disc B, and of the end of the spindle H, will permit, as is shown in 

 fig. 4. But if the handle K, and axis R, with the cell//", were to be turned 

 half-way round from their said position, fig. 4, then the eccentricity of the 

 axis R in respect to the spindle H ; and those of the cell //, in respect to 

 the axis k, would counteract or neutralise each other, so as to give little or 

 no eccentric motion to the disc B in respect to the spindle H. On the han- 

 dle K being turned to any intermediate position between the aforesaid ex- 

 tremes would give any intermediate degree of eccentricity as may be pre- 

 ferred. The axis R should be made less tight into its socket, and to fasten 

 them by screwing a nut on the end of the axis. The lever handle K should 

 have some adequate means of holding it fast in any requisite position. And 

 whereas the motion so given to cell //, in turning it with its axis R by the 

 lever handle K, as aforesaid, would derange the position of the wheel D in 

 respect to the glaring of its teeth in spiral threads of endless screw E, the 

 cross axis F of that screw ; and if the spur wheel G must be allowed to 

 to rise and fall in its bearings, but it will be retained at its proper distance 

 from the cross axis I of the other spur wheel N by means of two levers rr, 

 formed by bearings for the cross axis F, which hearings will rise or fall freely 

 with it, but will always keep it horizontal. Also, the endless screw E is fitted 

 upon iti said cross axis F with feathers or keys, so as to be capable of sliding 

 along that axis F, end-ways thereon, but so as to be compelled to go round 

 therewith, and the place the endless screw will occupy in lengthening of its 

 said cross axis F is regulated by two bearings 1 1, which are Utted on axis F, 

 80 as to include the screw between those bearings, 1 1, as projected from the 

 collar, PS, fitted around the outer circumference of the «ell // and are 

 collars made on two halves united by screws x j:'^ the said circumference is 

 concentric with the interior of the cell//, and consequently with the wheel 

 D ; wherefore when the cell// is turned round by the lever K, the collar 

 vv, by its projections 1 1, will cause the endless screw E to rise or fall, 

 together with the axis F, or move sideways along that axis with such com- 

 pound motion ; t will always preserve proper contact of its spiral threads 

 with the wheel D, for turning the same round, as aforesaid. Claim first : for 

 improvements in steam engines, which have hollowed piston rods and con- 

 necting rods in the hollow thereof; of making such hollow piston rods ex- 

 tend both ways form the piston, and passing through stuffing boxes in both 

 ends of cylinder, in order to obtain an equal surface of piston for receiving 

 pressure of steam, and impelling piston in both directions in cylinder, up, 

 down, back, and forwards, at same time obtaining secure guidance of the 

 piston in such motion, in consequence of long hollow piston rod sliding 

 through stuffing boxes at both ends of the cylinder, also rendering joint at 

 inner end of connecting rod accessible within the hollow piston rod; but no 

 claim is made to extending of piston rod each way from the piston, and 

 guiding such long piston rod by passing through stuffing boxes in both ends 

 of cylinder, when that is done for the mere purpose of the guidance of the 

 piston in its motion within the cylinder ; hut claim is only made when the 

 long piston rod, which is so guided, ia hollow, for the purpose of receiving 

 the connecting rod within the hollow, as before described. Secondly, ia 

 improvements in disposing the valves of horizontal double-acting air-pumps, 

 with the lower or foot valve directing beneath the upper or discharge valve, 

 and holding the valve seats for both those valves fast in the proper place, 

 and ^Iso guiding the valves in their rising and falling motions by means of 

 oue forced upright spiodle. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN GOVERNORS OF STEAM ENGINES. 

 Charles Wiliiam Siemens, of Finsbury.square, Middlesex, engineer, 

 for " Improvements in steam engines and in regulating the power and velocity 

 of machines for communicating power." — Granted December 24, 1845 ; 

 Enrolled June 24, 1846. See Engraving, Plate XII. 



The first part of this invention consists in some further improvements in 

 the chronometric governor, a patent for which was granted to Mr. Joseph 

 Woods, of Barge-yard Chambers, Bucklersbury, April 18th, 1844. 



Figs. 1 and 2 represent the improved chronometric governor, which is 

 generally applied to steam engines. The differential velocity between the 

 engine and a revolving pendulum P is obtained by means of three bevil- 

 wheels. A, B, and C. The wheel A is firmly connected with the arm or 

 crank E of the pendulum by means of the upright shaft K, and revolves 

 always in concert with the pendulum. Tlie under wheel B is fixed to the 

 pulley D, which is driven by the engine with its uncertain velocity and in 

 contrary direction to the motion of A. Both these wheels move in gear 

 with the third bevil-wheel C, which runs perfectly free on its axis, and is 

 also permitted to travel round the perpendicular socket d. It is obvious that 

 whenever A and B revolve in contrary directions, but with equal velocity, C 

 will also revolve on its axis, but will not change its angular position, while 

 any difference in velocity between A and B will cause C to follow the direc- 

 tion of the faster wheel, which will at once alter the supply of steam, the 

 double arm m being attached to the throttle valve T by means of the lever 

 and connecting rod /. To maintain the motion of the pendulum a constant 

 power is required, resembling that of a falling weight in an ordinary clock. 

 This power is given out by the weight w, which tends to pull the wheel C ' 

 permanently to one side, and this strain being borne equally by the wheels 

 A and B, causes A, and with it the pendulum P, to revolve, while B, which 

 revolves in the contrary direction to A, is constantly engaged to lift W back 

 again in its proper position. In practice, it has been found that the power 

 requisite to maintain the action of the pendulum is much less than that 

 required to effect the movement of the valve, and the inventor now adopts 

 the principle of driving the pendulum with an excess of power, which shall 

 he neutralised by a friction apparatus when not wanted, and shall be allowed 

 to act freely when the governor requires its assistance to move the valve. 

 This is effected as follows : R is a ring of cast iron or other proper material, 

 against which a surface of steel or other material g, revolving with the pen- 

 dulum, is pressed by its short lever, a spring s being placed between the 

 point of the rod and the steel rubber, to let the pressure come on gradually. 

 It is evident that whenever there is an excess of driving weight, which 

 causes divergence in the arc of vibration, the surfaces of the steel rubber 

 and of the fixed ring will be pressed in contact together with a force exactly 

 sufficient to produce the required amount of friction necessary to counter- 

 balance the excess ; and so soon as the pendulum falls back towards a 

 smaller arc of rotation it will reUeve the friction apparatus, and permit an 

 increased supply of power to overcome the resistances of the valve, &c. 

 A second spiral spring t is laid in the groove of the arm F, behind the 

 point of the pendulum, for the purpose of never allowing the latter to drop 

 quite in its perpendicular position, and also to facilitate its starting with the 

 engine. 



There is also described another mode of obtaining the differential velocity 

 between the pendulum and the engine and a governor of a more powerful 

 description, which is calculated to move the gates of water-wheels or the 

 expansion gear of large engines, but the general principle of these governors 

 is the same as we have already described, and we therefore omit them. 



The great advantages of the chronometric governor over Watts's Centri- 

 fugal governor, or others which have hitherto been proposed, are — that the 

 engine must always keep pace with an " independent" pendulum, which will 

 travel only with its proper velocity according to its perpendicular length 

 — no matter whether the engine has to overcome the maximum of her loatl 

 or none at all; and another principal advantage is, that the adjustment of 

 the valve is done at the very instant when the equilibrium between the load 

 anil power of the engine is disturbed ; there is no variation in speed visible, 

 even if the whole amount of load of an engine is suddenly thrown off, an 

 advance of about ji^th part of the revolution of the fiy-wheel being sufficient 

 to shut the throttle valve. 



The patent has been applied to engines at the Steam Flour Mills of Mr. 

 Carpenter, Shad Thames ; at the saw mills of Mr. Rosliug, Southwark-bridge, 

 and Messrs. Ransome and May, Ipswich, and several other places. 



ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS. 



William Young, of Paisley, manufacturer and dyer, and Archibald 

 McNair, of the same town, merchant, for " certain improvements in the 

 construction and tneans of manufacturing apparatus for conducting electri- 

 «7y."— Granted August 4, 1845; Enrolled February 4, 1846. (With En- 

 gravings, Plate XII.J 



This invention of improvements in the construction of apparatus for con- 

 ducting electricity consists of a new and improved method of manufacturing 

 electric conductors. The electric conductors are formed of one or more 

 copper, tin, or other metallic or mixed metallic wires, which may be covered 

 with cotton, woollen, or linen thread, in a manner similar to those termed 

 " bobbin wires," aied in the maoafactare ot caps and b^wisM ; or the wir«« 



Si 



