Speed governor with fuel rate control

Claim 2

In apparatus for controlling the rate of energy input to a prime mover, the combination comprising a. means for producing a first signal representing an adjustable set point speed, b. means for producing a second signal representing the actual speed of the prime mover, c. means, including an integrator and responsive to said first and second signals, for producing a command signal which normally varies as the time integral of the difference between said first and second signals, d. means responsive to said command signal for supplying energy to the prime mover at a rate precisely proportional to that command signal, e. means for producing a third signal representing a limit value of the rate of energy supply, f. means for producing a clamp signal whenever said command signal is beyond the limit represented by said third signal, and g. means for supplying said clamp signal to the input of said means (c) to override said first and second signals and restore said command signal to within the limit value, whereby the actual rate of energy supply to the prime mover is held at or within the limit value.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means (d) includes d1. means responsive to an input signal for transferring fuel to said prime mover at a rate generally proportional to that signal, d2. means for producing a feedback signal precisely proportional to the actual rate of fuel transfer. d3. means for algebraically combining said command signal and said feedback signal to produce an energizing signal which varies as the time integral of the difference therebetween, and d4. means for supplying said energizing signal as an input signal to said means (d1).

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein i. said means (d1) is a controllable speed motor receiving an input signal and driving a constant displacement pump supplying fuel from a source to the prime mover, ii. said means (d2) is a speed-sensing transducer responsive to the speed of said motor and pump, and iii. said means (d3) is an integrating operational amplifier having as its opposed polarity inputs said command signal and the feedback signal produced by said transducer, and producing at its output said energizing signal.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said means (c) includes c1. an integrating amplifier having first and second algebraic summing inputs through which said first and second signals are applied in opposed relation to a summing junction, c2. the output of said integrating amplifier thereby being said command signal, and c3. said integrating amplifier having said clamp signal applied to its summing junction to restore the command signal to said limit value whenever the clamp signal exists.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of said means (e) for producing a plurality of said third signals each representing a different liMit value for the rate of energy supply, a plurality of said means (f) for producing a plurality of said clamp signals when said command signal is respectively beyond the limit represented by a corresponding one of said third signals, and means for supplying all of said clamp signals to said means (c), so that the presence of any one clamp signal restores said command signal to the corresponding limit value.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said prime mover is a rotary reacton engine having a fuel burner, a compressor discharging air into said burner, and a turbine with blades driven by the discharge from the burner, and in that said means (e) includes e1. means responsive to said first control signal for producing said third signal as a predetermined arbitrary function of the engine speed which represents either the maximum safe fuel rate for any speed to avoid burning of the turbine blades or the minimum safe fuel rate for any speed to avoid extinguishment of the burner.

Claim 8

In a speed governing system for a prime mover, the combination comprising a. means for producing a first signal representing an adjustable set point speed, b. means for producing a second signal representing the actual speed of the prime mover, c. an algebraic summing, integrating amplifier having first and second inputs leading to a summing junction and respectively receiving said first and second signals in opposed relation, whereby the output of said amplifier is a command signal which normally varies as the time integral of the difference between the first and second signals, d. means coupled to receive said command signal for supplying energy to the prime mover at a rate which is precisely proportional to that command signal, e. means for producing a third signal representing a limit value of the rate of energy supply, f. means for continuously comparing said command signal and said third signal to produce a constant signal of predetermined magnitude only when the command signal is beyond the limit represented by the third signal, and g. means coupling the output of said comparing means to said summing junction to clamp the effective input of said ingrating amplifier to the value of said constant signal when the latter exists, and h. said constant signal having a polarity to cause the command signal to decrease or increase when the limit value represented by said third signal is an upper or lower limit.

Claim 9

In a speed governing system for a prime mover, the combination comprising a. means for producing a first signal representing an adjustable set point speed, b. means for producing a second signal representing the actual speed of the prime mover, c. an algebraic summing, integrating amplifier having first and second inputs leading to a summing junction and respectively receiving said first and second signals in opposed relation, whereby the output of said amplifier is a command signal which normally varies as the time integral of the difference between the first and second signals, d. means coupled to receive said command signal for supplying energy to the prime mover at a rate which is precisely proportional to that command signal, e. means for producing a third signal representing a limit value of the rate of energy supply, f. means for continuously comparing said command signal and said third signal to produce a constant signal of predetermined magnitude only when the command signal is beyond the limit represented by the third signal, and g. means coupling the output of said comparing means to said summing junction to clamp the effective input of said ingrating amplifier to the value of said constant signal when the latter exists, and h. said constant signal having a polarity to cause the command signal to decrease or increase when the limit value represented by said third signal is an upper or lower limit.