Centripetal/Mechanical Governors

By Aaron ZhouID#: 20193983

Objective: To convey an understanding of the basic concept of centripetal governors

What Is It?

• A centripetal governor is a mechanical feedback device for maintaining a particular revolution rate of a machine.

“Negative feedback is a type of feedback, during which a system responds so as to reverse the direction of change. Since this

process tends to keep things constant, it is stabilize and attempts to maintain homeostasis. When a change of variable occurs within a stable negative feedback control system, the system will attempt

to establish equilibrium” - www.wikipedia.org

• Common applications…

• Extends life, gives engine a load, prevents overspeeding and engine failure.

James Watt (1736-1819)

Picture taken from http://www.katharinen.ingolstadt.de/physiker/watt.gif

• Scottish engineer and inventor

• Interest in steam engines

• Work on steam engines and improvements to older models at University of Glasgow

• The Watt Governor

How It Works

•Governor uses 2 methods

-Butterfly valve

-Totally fuel air mixture cut-off

•Maintain a near constant speed whatever the load or fuel supply conditions

Picture taken from :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linkage_(mechanical)

Demonstation

•System at rest

•Begins to rotate•Governor at work

•Equilibrium established

Pictures taken from:

www.physics.montana.edu/ demonstrations/video/...

DissectionWhy Is It Made Of Plastic?• Metal is a conductor, cuts magnetic flux of the materials within engine

• Metals prone to creep and crack propagation

•Absorbs shock from engine resonant vibrations

References

• www.wikipedia.org• www.howstuffworks.com• http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/

encyclopedia/c/ce/centrifugal_force.htm