US Patent: 20,894
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| Governor for steam-engines
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Patentee:
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| Charles T. Porter (exact or similar names) - New York, NY |
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Patent Dates:
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| Granted: |
Jul. 13, 1858 |
| Reissue Information: |
| Reissued as RE740 (Jun. 21, 1859) |
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Jeff Joslin
Vintage Machinery entry for Ormerod, Grierson & Co.
Patent model at Smithsonian
Vintage Machinery entry for Charles. T. Porter; Porter-Allen Engine Co.
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Description: |
| This important refinement of the Watt governor uses smaller weights plus a "counterpoise" that mostly counteracts the force of the rotating weights. These two features combine to allow the governor to spin much faster than would a tradition Watt governor. The faster-spinning governor experienced relatively less friction, and the higher speed increases the change in force created by a change in speed, enabling the governor to more precisely regulate the speed.The 1866-02-16 British publication The Mechanics' Magazine had an illustrated ad for "Porter's governor for stationary engines". The illustrated governor differs in appearance from this patent drawing but it contains the key features of this Porter governor patent, i.e., smaller weights plus a counterpoise mechanism.The patent model survives and is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution: see link.A biography of Charles Talbot Porter in the November 1924 International Steam Engineer (Volume XLVI Number 5 pages 419-422) says that his improved governor was motivated by an earlier invention of an improved stone-dressing machine; the steam engine he was using had a rhythmic speed variation which led to a wavy surface in the stone, which considerably diminished the effectiveness of his stone dresser. His solution was to reduce the weight of the balls from 36 to 1 lb., and increased its speed from 50 to 300 RPM. The article further described how Porter manufactured his governor at a shop on 13th street in New York. Finally, the article notes that Porter's governor was successful for several years but was eventually rendered obsolete once compound steam engines became dominant, as Porter's governor was not suitable for multistage engines. |
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