Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology

Diploma in Mechanical Engineering,

Engine Technology; Governors
25/09/2023
By Edward Ongeri
Governors

These are mainly classified into Three types according to its construction, and working principle
too

• Mechanical Governor or Centrifugal Governors

• Hydraulic Governor, and
• Pneumatic Governor

Mechanical Governor or Centrifugal Governor

Mechanical Governor also called as Centrifugal Governor. In this type, mainly the centrifugal
force and variations in speed are responsible for managing the operations of automobile governor.
As we know the concept of Centrifugal Force, which means whenever the body is rotating, the
force that developed will move outward direction of the axis. This is mostly utilizing governor due
to the wide range of applications and is most easily employed when the mass balance is required
in the automobile engine operation.
Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering,
Engine Technology; Governors
25/09/2023
By Edward Ongeri
Construction of Mechanical Governor:

The Construction of a Centrifugal Governor is simple and easy to understand. To perform the
governor operation, it requires few parts. They are

• Spindle
• Arms
• Supporting Links
• Bell Cranks
• Fly Balls
• Sleeve

These whole parts will be combined in such way that they can work according to the principle.

This type of governor contains masses known as Governor Balls that revolve at a distance from
the axis of a shaft and are powered by the engine crankshaft via adequate gearing, which is Bevel
Gearing.

The Balls are linked to the Arms by two balls of each and equal mass. These balls are linked by a
mix of dead weight and a spring.

The Spindle Axis is attached to the Sleeve and is powered by a bevel gear mechanism that is linked
to the Crankshaft, due to which the bevel gearing rotates and further the centrifugal or mechanical
governor too.

The Throttle Valve is connected to the sleeves and is controlled by the engines speed change. As
the load raises, the velocity of the ball and the governor, which is geared with the crankshaft
decreases.

Working of Mechanical Governor

As said, the Centrifugal Governor work by balancing centrifugal force on rotating balls with an
equal and opposing Radial Force.
Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering,
Engine Technology; Governors
25/09/2023
By Edward Ongeri
When the strain on the engine is reduced, the engine and governor speed up. As a result, the
centrifugal force acting on the balls rises and the balls move radially outwards direction, due to
which the valve in the carburetor will open and supplies more fuel to the automobile engine.

The balls spin with the spindles, creating a centrifugal force in the inward direction, which is
commonly referred to as the governing force. The variation in speed and centrifugal force supplied
by the balls determines the regulating action. When the throttle valve of Carburetor opens, the flow
of fluid rises, boosting the engine’s speed.

Then the governor sleeve transmits the ball inward and upward movement to the throttle valve,
which controls the quantity of gasoline given to the engine. When the shaft begins to rotate, the
item begins to revolve around it and moves away from it owing to the action of centrifugal force,
which activates the throttle valve.

Hydraulic Governor

Hydraulic Governor is one of the types of governor. Alike a Mechanical type, Hydraulic Governor
is an all-speed governor, which means that the governor is in control during the entire rack and not
directly by the accelerator to the supply to maintain the speed, regardless of the power that needs
from moment to moment.
Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering,
Engine Technology; Governors
25/09/2023
By Edward Ongeri
Construction of Hydraulic Governor

The Construction of Hydraulic Governor is not as easy as the Mechanical Governor due to the
number of components involvement and its working principle. The construction of hydraulic type
of governor consists

• Speeder Spring
• Fly Weights
• Oil Inlet
• Oil Outlet
• Servo Piston
• Hydraulic Oil
• Pilot Valve
You can see how the parts are constructed in the above image.

The balanced mechanism of a hydraulic governor is connected to a control valve rather than the
fuel that control racks directly, as in a mechanical governor.

This valve is in charge of directing hydraulic fluid, which regulates the fuel racks and, as a result,
the engine’s power or speed decreases and increases. Due to the increasing flow of fuel, greater
force is created and vice versa.

Working of Hydraulic Governor

The operational agent in a mechanical governor is the centrifugal force, but in the Hydraulic
Governor, the pressure differential of the Hydraulic across an orifice is the operational agent in the
Carburetor.

In a hydraulic governor to pass the oil flow from a positive oil pump is operated by an Engine. The
pressure differential varies in proportion to the square of the engine speed. At equilibrium, it is
governed by the driver’s foot pressure on the accelerator pedal.

Hydraulic governors remove the drive’s strong mechanical forces bearing loads and potential
torsional vibrations. As a result, they outperform mechanical governors.
Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering,
Engine Technology; Governors
25/09/2023
By Edward Ongeri
Once the load is increased, the Flyweights will lift the spindle and allows the hydraulic to flow
into the piston.

Now, the piston will move upwards and allows the throttle valve in the carburetor to open, which
allows the more fuel to supply to the engine. Due to which the engine receives more fuel supply
and able to overcome the load and increases the speed of the whole vehicle.

Pneumatic Governor

A Pneumatic governor, also known as flap valve governor is often employed to control fuel
injection of an IC engine. Pneumatic Governor is an all-speed type of governor. It regulates an
engine’s whole speed range. The Venturi effect governs the operation of these automobile
governors. They respond to the velocity of air in the engine’s intake manifold.

Construction of Pneumatic Governor

The pneumatic governor is composed of two major components.

Venturi Section Attached To The Air Intake Manifold – This portion monitors the airflow velocity
and generates a vacuum based on it. It has a butterfly valve attached to the accelerator pedal.
Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering,
Engine Technology; Governors
25/09/2023
By Edward Ongeri
Diaphragm Unit Installed On The Fuel Injection Line – A diaphragm device installed on the end
of the fuel pump can manage the fuel delivery based on the rise or decrease in vacuum created by
the Venturi Unit. A spring is attached to one side of the diaphragm, while a control rod is attached
to the other.

Other than these two major components, there are other different parts like

• Diaphragm Unit
• Diaphragm
• Diaphragm Spring
• And Few others

The Pneumatic Governor is directly connected to the Carburetor. Whenever the load is increased
and there is requirement of more fuel supply; the pneumatic governor creates the vacuum and able
to open the throttle valve. Due to which the valve opens and allows the more fuel to supply into
the injector or engine.

Working of Pneumatic Governor

The velocity of airflow in an engine’s intake manifold varies with engine speed. When the engine
is stopped, the spring pushes against the diaphragm, keeping the fuel supply entirely open, that is
maximum fuel supply position. When the engine is operating, the vacuum generated determines
the location of the diaphragm and hence the fuel delivery.

As the engine speed increases, the load on the engine lowers. The bigger the air intake, the greater
the engine speed. This raises the suction generated by the Venturi section installed on the intake
manifolds.

The vacuum formed in the venturi portion drew the diaphragm and control rod together, which
leads to immediate cut off of the gasoline supply. This reduction in fuel supply gradually reduces
an engine’s speed.

When a motor vehicle’s accelerator pedal is pressed, the butterfly valve opens, allowing more air
to flow through it. It does, however, reduce airflow via the auxiliary venturi device, which controls
Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering,
Engine Technology; Governors
25/09/2023
By Edward Ongeri
fuel delivery that results in more fuel supply. Likewise, depressing the accelerator closes the
butterfly valve while increasing airflow via the venturi unit which results in less fuel supply.