Subject Name: Kinematics of Machinery

Subject Code: ME42104

Governors

Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT Patna, India

 Governors
Why Governors???
What is Governor?
The function of a governor is to regulate the mean speed of an engine, when there are variations
in the load e.g. when the load on an engine increases, its speed decreases, therefore it becomes
necessary to increase the supply of working fluid. On the other hand, when the load on the
engine decreases, its speed increases and thus less working fluid is required. The governor
automatically controls the supply of working fluid to the engine with the varying load conditions
and keeps the mean speed within certain limits.
Need of Governor: Function and Working Principle
Working principle

The basic principle of working of governor is that the governor spring and flyweights
are so selected that at any designed engine speed centrifugal force and spring force are
in equilibrium. If the speed increases, the increasing centrifugal force of the flyweights
acts through the system of levers to reduce the delivery of fuel and when the speed
decrease, the control rod moves to step up the fuel delivery rate to increase the speed to
desired level. The governor maintains all speeds automatically including idling and
minimum speed. Governors are often included in the design of the fuel injection pump.
The diesel engine governors should have following certain qualities or characteristics.
A little consideration will show, that when the load increases, the configuration of the
governor changes and a valve is moved to increase the supply of the working fluid ;
conversely, when the load decreases, the engine speed increases and the governor
decreases the supply of working fluid.
Note: Funcion of a flywheel in an engine is entirely different from that of a governor. It
controls the speed variation caused by the fluctuations of the engine turning moment
during each cycle of operation. It does not control the speed variations caused by a
varying load. The varying demand for power is met by the governor regulating the
supply of working fluid.
 Types of Governors

The governors may, broadly, be classified as

1. Centrifugal governors, and
2. Inertia governors.
 Centrifugal Governors

 The centrifugal governors are based on the balancing of centrifugal force on the
rotating balls by an equal and opposite radial force, known as the controlling force*.

 It consists of two balls of equal mass, which are attached to the arms as shown in
Fig. These balls are known as governor balls or fly balls. The balls revolve with a
spindle, which is driven by the engine through bevel gears. The upper ends of the
arms are pivoted to the spindle, so that the balls may rise up or fall down as they
revolve about the vertical axis. The arms are connected by the links to a sleeve,
which is keyed to the spindle. This sleeve revolves with the spindle ; but can slide
up and down. The balls and the sleeve rises when the spindle speed increases, and
falls when the speed decreases. In order to limit the travel of the sleeve in upward
and downward directions, two stops S, S are provided on the spindle. The sleeve is
connected by a bell crank lever to a throttle valve. The supply of the working fluid
decreases when the sleeve rises and increases when it falls.
 When the load on the engine increases, the engine and the governor speed
decreases. This results in the decrease of centrifugal force on the balls. Hence the
balls move inwards and the sleeve moves downwards. The downward movement of
the sleeve operates a throttle valve at the other end of the bell crank lever to increase
the supply of working fluid and thus the engine speed is increased.
In this case, the extra power output is provided to
balance the increased load. When the load on the
engine decreases, the engine and the governor speed
increases, which results in the increase of
centrifugal force on the balls. Thus the balls move
outwards and the sleeve rises upwards. This upward
movement of the sleeve reduces the supply of the
working fluid and hence the speed is decreased. In
this case, the power output is reduced.
Note :When the balls rotate at uniform speed,
controlling force is equal to the centrifugal force and
they balance each other.
 Terms Used in Governors
1. Height of a governor. It is the vertical distance from the centre of the ball to a point where
the axes of the arms (or arms produced) intersect on the spindle axis. It is usually denoted by
h.
2. Equilibrium speed. It is the speed at which the governor balls, arms etc., are in complete
equilibrium and the sleeve does not tend to move upwards or downwards.
3. Mean equilibrium speed. It is the speed at the mean position of the balls or the sleeve.
4. Maximum and minimum equilibrium speeds. The speeds at the maximum and minimum
radius of rotation of the balls, without tending to move either way are known as maximum
and minimum equilibrium speeds respectively.
Note : There can be many equilibrium speeds between the mean and the maximum and the
mean and the minimum equilibrium speeds.
5. Sleeve lift. It is the vertical distance which the sleeve travels due to change in equilibrium
speed
Watt Governor and Porter Governor
Note : We see from the above expression that the height of a governor h, is inversely
proportional to N2. Therefore at high speeds, the value of h is small. At such speeds,
the change in the value of h corresponding to a small change in speed is insufficient to
enable a governor of this type to operate the mechanism to give the necessary change in
the fuel supply. This governor may only work satisfactorily at relatively low speeds i.e.
from 60 to 80 r.p.m.

1. Calculate the vertical height of a Watt governor when it rotates at 60 r.p.m. Also find
the change in vertical height when its speed increases to 61 r.p.m.
Example 2. A Porter governor has equal arms each 250 mm long and pivoted on the
axis of rotation. Each ball has a mass of 5 kg and the mass of the central load on the
sleeve is 25 kg. The radius of rotation of the ball is 150 mm when the governor begins
to lift and 200 mm when the governor is at maximum speed. Find the minimum and
maximum speeds and range of speed of the governor.
The minimum and maximum positions of the governor are shown in Fig. (a) and (b) respectively.
Example 3. The arms of a Porter governor are each 250 mm long and pivoted on the governor
axis. The mass of each ball is 5 kg and the mass of the central sleeve is 30 kg. The radius of
rotation of the balls is 150 mm when the sleeve begins to rise and reaches a value of 200 mm for
maximum speed. Determine the speed range of the governor. If the friction at the sleeve is
equivalent of 20 N of load at the sleeve, determine how the speed range is modified.
Example 4. In an engine governor of the Porter type, the upper and lower arms are 200 mm and
250 mm respectively and pivoted on the axis of rotation. The mass of the central load is 15 kg,
the mass of each ball is 2 kg and friction of the sleeve together with the resistance of the
operating gear is equal to a load of 25 N at the sleeve. If the limiting inclinations of the upper
arms to the vertical are 30° and 40°, find, taking friction into account, range of speed of the
governor.