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Governor

Governor

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That's "governer"...
Thad
Sun 04-08-2007
Heh.. Speed limiter. Governor. Connected to the machine's output (be it a belt, gear box, etc., it would turn faster, causing the balls to spin. The balls would lift up (due to centrifugal force) and create drag on the engine, causing it to slow. Usually they were adjustable, so that you could have the engine 'settle' at a certain speed.
Foxtrot_Xray
Mon 04-09-2007
Well, close... :-)

The governer doesn't create drag on the engine to regulate speed... That would be one wussy steam engine! It's connected to the throttle. As it goes faster, the balls swing out, which turns the throttle down. As it slows down, the balls fall back down, which turns the throttle up. An ingenius simple feedback system, works marvelously. (Nowadays they'd use a microchip and sensors to do it, and it would be broken all the time...)
Thad
Mon 04-09-2007
Thanks for the heads up, I updated the title :-)
Motts
Mon 04-09-2007
How ever it's spelled it's an awesome pic!
Ozark Gypsy
Mon 04-09-2007
I can just picture you dealing with the volunteer to get inside. Great gallery sir
Big ED
Tue 04-10-2007
Guys Guys....how soon we forget...its a soap dispenser!!
DaveWilly
Thu 04-12-2007
This looks like a piece of art that should be in a New York... art... type place... um... gallery, that's it.

'allo g'vnah, 'ow ya keep'n?
Felyne
Thu 04-12-2007
Yes Yes, a soap despenser with BALLS!!!
WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE
Nevermore
Wed 04-25-2007
Thad is absolutely correct in his description of the governer. The shaft spun and as the weights moved up or down the throttle would open or close. easy mechanism
Robcat
Thu 05-31-2007
Just like to point out that this is the origin of the phrase "going balls-out." When the machine was spinning at full speed, the balls would be flung as far out as the linkage would permit.
matt
Sat 06-09-2007
Yes, that is also correct.......it comes from steam locomotive engineers......when the "balls" were straight out......the engineer would tell his conductor or brakeman that "we're runnin balls-out".........meaning full throttle. It's been adopted by just about every gear-head in the world !! And, it has nothing to do with male anatomy !!!
cruizer
Thu 06-21-2007
great pic of a fly ball governer
jen
Thu 11-08-2007
Been about 6 months since I've been here (Thanks for the new pics, Motts!), but DaveWilly owes me a new monitor due to the Dr. Pepper I just spewed from the soap dispenser crack!

Seriously, wonderful pictures. Glad to be back.
subcoolman
Wed 12-19-2007
These were also used in lighthouses. Simple and very effective control mechanism. Screw all that though, it is a beautiful photo.
Jack_
Fri 09-19-2008
This is where the other term," running balls to the wall" came from. but yes it is a fly ball governor for throttle control on a steam engine.
lambert
Sat 09-27-2008
thanks for the language info, guys! I love finding origins for commonly-used terms just as much as I love perusing these galleries.
kittymao
Thu 07-09-2009

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