Early style Judson Steam Throttling Governor.

[Lester Bowman]

A bit of progress... showing how the top pieces fit together in harmony. Two done, five more to go. Then time to move on to the valves.

 

[Maltesehunter]

Looking great, Lester!!!

 

[Lester Bowman]

I wanted to "test fit" the valve arrangement as the top portion of these governors are basically finished. I made a lap just to smooth the bores a bit. It feels like I have about .0015 clearance between valve and bore so hopefully this is enough to prevent seizing from running under steam temperature.

I wanted to incorporate a feature to allow valve float which the pics clearly show. The original version of the early design had the " key " which engages the internal keyway machined on the valve itself. They improved this designed switching to using the retainer pin as a key. Valve works axially only as this keyed element prevents valve rotation within the bore.

Valve works perfectly ! With a sigh of relief I now need to make six more assemblies

 

[Lester Bowman]

More information from Robert Lang's excellent link to the American Antiquarian Society.

 

[Robert Lang]

This site tends to reduce the attached pictures too much sometimes.
Here they are larger.

Rob

 

[Robert Lang]

Last two.

Rob

 

[Lester Bowman]

I have finished final assembly on four of these steam governors. The other three are waiting to be fitted. These governors work beautifully ! Smooth like a sewing machine I am glad to be nearly finished !

 

[Maltesehunter]

They look wonderful! It would be nice to see a cut away of one of these governors, so one can see the position of the valve in relation the to the flyball movement. I'm not exactly sure why the valve has those four prongs... can you explain please, Lester. I see the core in the valve body is relatively simple - no crazy cut outs or ports. Thanks, Jake

 

[Lester Bowman]

Best I can do Jake. Here is a poor pic of a sectioned Judson valve. The Valve prongs simply engage with the bottom seat to keep axial valve alignment. The " cutout" portions form the actual valve opening.

The idea behind it is this. Steam enters pressurizing the bottom chamber. It then enters the central hole through the center of the valve via the bottom pressurized chamber. It then pressurizes the top chamber with approximately the same steam pressure as the bottom chamber. This results in equilibrium of pressures on both end of the valve.

This was an early form of balancing the valve within the governor body stabilizing valve function.

 

[Maltesehunter]

Best I can do Jake. Here is a poor pic of a sectioned Judson valve. The Valve prongs simply engage with the bottom seat to keep axial valve alignment. The " cutout" portions form the actual valve opening.

The idea behind it is this. Steam enters pressurizing the bottom chamber. It then enters the central hole through the center of the valve via the bottom pressurized chamber. It then pressurizes the top chamber with approximately the same steam pressure as the bottom chamber. This results in equilibrium of pressures on both end of the valve.

This was an early form of balancing the valve within the governor body stabilizing valve function.

I understand clearly now. Perfect explanation and the drawing helps - thank you!. I may tackle making a governor some day, a first generation Judson... but only one... not multiples for my larger box bed steam engine. Jake

 

[Lester Bowman]

Jake, it would be nice if you could post some pics of the first generation Judson steam governor to this thread.

 

[Lester Bowman]

All seven finished and working properly. The pulley's still need machining but what I'll do on those will be leaving them semi finished. Steam governor's need a properly sized drive pulley to work properly plus need to be either round belt or flat.. crowned or flanged.

The center pic shows the next governor project which I posted previously. It is the early pattern but with updated spool valve which is much simpler to fit and machine. All my pics of Greg Johnson's earlier governor I copied are on my old lap top which unfortunately died... unlike these Judson's which live forever.

Last update will be be one of these mounted to one of my steam engine's.. which was the genesis of this project

Last pic again shows Greg's governor which I copied.

 

[Maltesehunter]

This is the earliest generation Judson, combined-valve governor. Jake

 

[Robert Lang]

This is the earliest generation Judson, combined-valve governor. Jake

This must be on the George Goulding steam engine.

Rob

 

[Robert Lang]

I like your drawings Lester.
You must have taken drafting classes.
I took them for two years. I was going to be a draftsman.
I love blueprints of machines. My kind of art.

Rob

 

[Lester Bowman]

Thanks Rob !
All four years in High school I took mechanical drawing while everyone else took architectural design. I had a great old school Instructor Mr. Dixon. He took a special interest in me as he was more of an Engineer than a house designer. After three years ( and sometimes taking two classes a day ) I came to the end of the course material.

In my Senior year I again took two classes and Mr. Dixon turned me loose on whatever I wanted to do. Dad had a little antique vertical steam engine with a piston valve and intricate cylinder design. I took that engine too class and through disassembly and measuring each component I reversed engineered it onto vellum. I think I ended up with four sheets of drawings. He was quite pleased I was able to do that after what he had taught me.

Dad taught me the fundamentals when I was just a kid. Never had any problem except one which I learned the hard way. That was in the Vocational Industrial Club of America competition where the project made was graded and a winner took the medal. I machined a mirror image of Fly Cutter shown on the print failing miserably. I learned to pay attention too those little arrows on the center lines.

Nowadays I usually just rough draw things out but will still use a board on General Arrangement drawings. Funny you should mention it.. I was just sharing these thoughts with a friend recently.. not having thought of Mr. Dixon in decades. Thanks for the " like ".. nobody ever complemented me on my drawing before Les.

 

[Lester Bowman]

All finished and some have already moved on to their good home's. These pics show the engine which inspired the original idea as it needed a governor this size. Pics show the installation although the drive needs a bit of cosmetic " antiquing " .

I appreciate this Forum allowing me to share this project with all. Now.. onto the next project !