Centripetal/Mechanical
Governors
By Aaron Zhou
ID#: 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)
• Scottish engineer and inventor
• Interest in steam engines
• Work on steam engines and
improvements to older models at
University of Glasgow
Picture taken from
http://www.katharinen.ingolstadt.de/physiker/
watt.gif
• 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
Pictures taken from:
www.physics.montana.edu/
demonstrations/video/...
• Begins to rotate
• Governor at work
• Equilibrium established
Dissection
Why 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/encyclope
dia/c/ce/centrifugal_force.htm