Shock proof engine overspeed control

Claim 2

In combination with an internal combustion engine including rotating shaft means, an engine overspeed control mechanism comprising, in combination: engine shutdown means effective to halt engine operation when tripped; first and second flyweights on the shaft means biased radially inward but adapted to move radially outward with increasing engine speed, the first flyweight only being adapted to trip the engine shutdown means when the engine reaches a limit speed; a first link having one end attached to the first flyweight for outward movement therewith; a second link having one end connected to the second flyweight for outward movement therewith, the second link having a first portion engaging the first link at normal engine speeds such that first flyweight movement sufficient to trip the engine shutdown means is prevented, the second link further having a second portion brought into engagement with the first link just before the engine limit speed is reached, the second portion allowing first link and flyweight movement sufficient to trip the engine shutdown means, the First and second flyweights being circumferentially separated so that the outward movements of each have no substantial components in a common direction, whereby a unidirectional shock cannot move both flyweights simultaneously outward.

Claim 3

In combination with an internal combustion engine including rotating shaft means, an engine overspeed control mechanism comprising, in combination: engine shutdown means effective to halt engine operation when tripped; first and second flyweights on the shaft means biased radially inward but adapted to move radially outward with increasing engine speed, the first flyweight only being adapted to trip the engine shutdown means when the engine reaches a limit speed; a first link having one end attached to the first flyweight for outward movement therewith, the first link further having an opening therethrough; a second link at a substantially right angle to the first link, the second link having one end attached to the second flyweight and a tapered portion projecting through the opening of the first link to limit outward movement thereof according to the thickness of the tapered portion; the tapered portion being adapted to narrow in the opening to allow greater outward first flyweight movement as the second link moves outwardly with increasing engine speed, first flyweight movement sufficient to trip the engine shutdown means being permitted at a speed just below the engine limiting speed, the first and second flyweights being circumferentially separated so that the outward movements of each are in substantially opposite directions.

Claim 4

In combination with an internal combustion engine including rotating shaft means, an engine overspeed control mechanism comprising, in combination: engine shutdown means effective to halt engine operation when tripped; first and second flyweights on the shaft means biased radially inward but adapted to move radially outward with increasing engine speed, the first flyweight only being adapted to trip the engine shutdown means when the engine reaches a limit speed; a first link having one end attached to the first flyweight for outward movement therewith, the first link further having an opening therethrough; a second link at a substantially right angle to the first link, the second link having one end attached to the second flyweight and a tapered portion projecting through the opening of the first link to limit outward movement thereof according to the thickness of the tapered portion; the tapered portion being adapted to narrow in the opening to allow greater outward first flyweight movement as the second link moves outwardly with increasing engine speed, first flyweight movement sufficient to trip the engine shutdown means being permitted at a speed just below the engine limiting speed, the first and second flyweights being circumferentially separated so that the outward movements of each are in substantially opposite directions.

Claim 5

In an overspeed control mechanism for an internal combustion engine having shaft means rotatable therewith, the overspeed control mechanism including means to shutdown engine operation when tripped: a first flyweight on the shaft means spaced from the axis thereof; biasing means opposing radial outward movement of the first flyweight, the first flyweight being adapted to move outward against the biasing means with increasing engine speed and trip the engine shutdown means when the engine reaches an engine limit speed; a first link having one end attached to the first flyweight for outward movement therewith, the other end of the first link projecting through an opening in the shaft means and including an opening therethrough on the far side of the shaft means opening; a second flyweight on the shaft means spaced from the axis thereof, the second flyweight being approximately diametrically opposite the first flyweight; a second link having one end attached to the second flyweight for co-movement therewith, the second link further having a narrow portion at its other end, a tapering portion adjacent the narrow portion and a wide portion adjacent the tapering portion, the second link being oriented at a generally right angle with respect to the first link with the other end of the second link projecting through the first link opening so that the portion of the second link within the opening determines the maximum outward movement of the first flyweight, the second link being positioned such that outward movement of the first flyweight sufficient to trip the engine shutdown means is prevented until engine speed reaches a speed just below the engine limit speed; a nut threadably mounted on the second link; and a coil spring surrounding the second link, the coil spring being compressed between the nut and the shaft means to bias the second flyweight inward.

Claim 6

In an overspeed control mechanism for an internal combustion engine having shaft means rotatable therewith, the overspeed control mechanism including means to shutdown engine operation when tripped: a first flyweight on the shaft means spaced from the axis thereof; biasing means opposing radial outward movement of the first flyweight, the first flyweight being adapted to move outward against the biasing means with increasing engine speed and trip the engine shutdown means when the engine reaches an engine limit speed; a first link having one end attached to the first flyweight for outward movement therewith, the other end of the first link projecting through an opening in the shaft means and including an opening therethrough on the far side of the shaft means opening; a second flyweight on the shaft means spaced from the axis thereof, the second flyweight being approximately diametrically opposite the first flyweight; a second link having one end attached to the second flyweight for co-movement therewith, the second link further having a narrow portion at its other end, a tapering portion adjacent the narrow portion and a wide portion adjacent the tapering portion, the second link being oriented at a generally right angle with respect to the first link with the other end of the second link projecting through the first link opening so that the portion of the second link within the opening determines the maximum outward movement of the first flyweight, the second link being positioned such that outward movement of the first flyweight sufficient to trip the engine shutdown means is prevented until engine speed reaches a speed just below the engine limit speed; a nut threadably mounted on the second link; and a coil spring surrounding the second link, the coil spring being compressed between the nut and the shaft means to bias the second flyweight inward.