Newest project--A Flyball Governor

[Brian Rupnow]

This will be my interpretation of a Muncaster flyball governor.

 

[crankshafter]

Brian.
Your my man :big: when will it be finished and up running? With your progress I assume to morrow night ;D.
:bow: CS

 

[ChooChooMike]

Geeeeez, Brian, you are sure one productive guy !! Keep going !!

 

[tel]

;D ;D ;D I see you've allowed for a spring!

 

[Bernd]

Brian,

Do you actually plan on controlling the speed of the engine with the governor or is it just cosmetic? I'm interested to see if this will work on a model. Reason I ask is I just got a book from Lindsay about Steam Engine Governors and from what I've read so far there's quite a bit of math involved in designing one to fit a particular engine.

regards,
Bernd

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Brian,

Do you actually plan on controlling the speed of the engine with the governor or is it just cosmetic? I'm interested to see if this will work on a model. Reason I ask is I just got a book from Lindsay about Steam Engine Governors and from what I've read so far there's quite a bit of math involved in designing one to fit a particular engine.

regards,
Bernd

I do indeed plan on using it to control the speed of the engine,

 

[kvom]

In looking at the plan and dredging up recollections of college physics, it seems that the main issue is balancing the weight of the balls with the strength of the spring, plus regulating the linkage to the throttle.

Obviously the throttle should be completely closed when the balls are fully extended horizontally and open when the balls are at the lowest position.

 

[Brian Rupnow]

I think I'll start with this peice

View attachment Part3.PDF

 

[Tin Falcon]

there's quite a bit of math involved in designing one to fit a particular engine.

I was thinking the same thing. Not that i am worried about brian and the math.
Don Sandler has working ones of that type on several of his engines the governor is only about the size of an American 1 cent piece.
Tin

 

[crankshafter]

Brian.
Looking great.
Oh my... wish I have had a tiny bit of your CAD- skills :
CS

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Chuck F has just volunteered me a couple of brass balls. Thanks a million, Chuck. ---The brass monkey is safe again for a while.---Brian

 

[tel]

Brian.
Looking great.
Oh my... wish I have had a tiny bit of your CAD- skills :
CS

I agree CS, brilliant work - he just doesn't like drawing springs

 

[mklotz]

The math is pretty straightforward...

http://www.hep.princeton.edu/~mcdonald/examples/governor.pdf

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Man, this thing is going to be tiny. I got this far with the top peice, and had to quit because I don't have a 3/32" reamer, nor the drill that goes with it. I will buy one tomorrow. The extra long stem on the bottom is just there to give me something to hold onto in my mill. I started out with a peice of 1/2" cold rolled round rod.

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Looks like this peice will be next---


View attachment Part5-MODIFIED.PDF

 

[compound driver 2]

Brian I wouldnt worry about a reamed fit on the govenor. in truth your going to need a bit of slop to let it work. A reamed fit will be too close.

 

[Powder keg]

I'm with Compound Driver. I always make things to tight and have to rework everything, most of the time;o)

Wes

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Brian I wouldnt worry about a reamed fit on the govenor. in truth your going to need a bit of slop to let it work. A reamed fit will be too close.

I machine to two sizes--#1--Too damn tight and #2--Too damn sloppy loose!!!! At least with #1 I can play with it a little bit and make it fit and/or slide. With option #2, its away to the scrap bin.

 

[compound driver 2]

Plus 5 thou and your on the right track for the bore.

 

[kvom]

I took a look at Marv's referenced link on the math. The gist is that given a governor with a given mass and arm length plus the rotational speed, you can calculate the angle the arms will make relative to the shaft. The discussion ignores the presence of a spring or any frictional effects.

What was interesting to my mind was the fact that the balls should theorectically oscillate slightly up and down like a pendulum, rather than attaining a stable equilibrium. In reality I am sure that friction would quickly damp out this osciallation.