Mechanics of

Machines II MEE32101

LECTURE 9 – GOVERNORS

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Function of governors
The function of governor is to regulate the mean speed of an engine, when there
are variations in the load.
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.

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Types of governors
There are two types of governors,
◦ Centrifugal governors
◦ Inertial governors.

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 Centrifugal governors

Pendulum type Loaded type

Watt Governor Dead weight governors Spring loaded governors

Porter Governor Proell Governor

Hartnell Hartung Wilson-Hartnell Pickering

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Centrifugal governors

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 1. Watt Governor
The watt governor is a conical pendulum with
links attached to a sleeve of negligible mass.
O
Let m = mass of the ball in kg,
w = weight of the ball (N) = mg, T
h
T = tension in the arm (N),
 = Angular velocity of the arm Fc
r = Radius of the path of rotation r

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 1. Watt Governor
The ball is in equilibrium under the action of:
(a)The centrifugal force Fc acting on the ball, O
(b)The tension T in the arm, and
(c)The weight w of the ball . T
h
Taking the moments about point O:
Fc
Fc * h = w * r = m. g. r r
m. 2. r. h = m. g. r or W
h = g/2
h = 9.81/(2πN/60)2 = 895/ N2

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2. Porter Governor
The Wattt governor is only suitable for a speed
range of about 60- 80 rpm, and for higher
speeds it is necessary to add mass M to the O
sleeve.

Wattt governor

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Relation between governor
height h and angular speed of
the balls 
There are two methods to determine the relation between the height of the
governor h and the angular speed of the balls :
(a) Method of resolution of forces, and
(b) Instantaneous centre method.
Here we shall consider the second method only.
 Instantaneous center method
Taking moments about the point I: h = [m. + M. /2 * (1+q)]/ m * [g/(2πN/60)2] P
Fc * BM = w * IM + W/2 * ID h= [m + M/2 * (1+q)]/m * 895/N2
α
Fc = m. g. * IM/ BM + M.g/2 * ID/ BM When the length of the arms are equal to the
length of links and the points P and D lie on T
= m. g.*IM/BM +M.g/2 *(IM + MD)/BM the same vertical line, then: h
r
= m. g. * tan α + M.g/2 * (tanα + tanβ) tanα = tanβ or q = 1:
B
Fc/ tanα = m. g + M.g/2 * (1+ tanβ /tanα) Fc
h= (m +M)/m * g/2
m. 2.r * h/r = m. g + M.g/2 * (1+q) α β
w β
Where: Fc = m. 2.r, tanα = r/h, q= tanβ /tanα
I M D
W/2

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3. Hartnell Governor
h : the compression of the spring when the
radius of rotation changes from r1 to r2 and
S1 to S2: the spring force exerted on the
sleeve changes from r1 to r2.
M: the mass of the sleeve ,
s: stiffness of the spring or the force
required to compress the spring by one mm,
and
1 and 2: the angular speed of the
governor at minimum and maximum radius,
respectively.

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Effort and Power
The effort of a governor is the mean force exerted at the sleeve for a given
change of speed or lift of the sleeve.
There is no force when the governor is running steadily.
When the speed changes, there is resistance at the sleeve which it is assumed that
this resistance is equal to the effort.
The power of a governor is the work done at the sleeve for a given change of
speed.
Power = Mean effort * lift of sleeve

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Sensitiveness and Friction
If the maximum and minimum speeds of a governor are 1 and 2 respectively
and its mean speed is , the sensitivity of the governor is defined as:
Sensitiveness of the governor = / (1 - 2)
If there is a friction force (f ) between the sleeve and spindle, the effective sleeve
load becomes (M.g+f) when the sleeve is rising, and (M.g - f) when the sleeve is
falling.

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Stability of Governors
A governor is said to be stable when there is only one radius of the governor
balls at which the governor is in equilibrium.
For a stable governor, if the equilibrium speed increases, the radius of governor
balls must also increase.
 End
Next Lecture: Gyroscopes

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