Chris's Porter Governor Build

This morning I started in on the bearing ring that sits in the recess in the lower spinner (must be a better name?) and transfers vertical motion to the lever arm. I turned up a bronze ring to fit in the recess, with a slightly larger OD than the spinner. Then turned a brass outer ring to hold the bronze bearing pieces, and drilled/tapped holes to hold them together. A pair of larger pivot holes were also drilled/tapped into that outer ring. Finally, cut the bronze ring into two halves so things could be assembled:

With the halves inserted into the recess, the outer ring was slid down over them, and all screwed together:

The larger screws shown in the picture do not go throught the bronze ring, just the brass. I will replace those two screws with shoulder bolts that will hold the lever arms. The ring assembly spins freely on the spinner. Well, the spinner spins and the ring will stay fixed! 

At this point I think I'll get started on the flyball arms, so I can see things moving on the model sooner...

Hi Chris,

I'm a member of the Homemadetools forum.  I noticed today that their bots have already picked up on your ongoing project.

https://buildthreads.com/thread/128009?utm_source=hmtemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newbuildposts&utm_content=198945#196815

I don't know how you feel about what their reporting of other's work but my personal feeling is that the more people who can see and appreciate your incredible work, the better.  At least Jon, the owner of the site, is rigorous about crediting the author of work he publicizes.

In fact, Jon did the same with some of my work a long time ago and that's how I found the site, joined, and have contributed a lot more directly.

Quote from: mklotzHi Chris,

I'm a member of the Homemadetools forum.  I noticed today that their bots have already picked up on your ongoing project.

https://buildthreads.com/thread/128009?utm_source=hmtemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newbuildposts&utm_content=198945#196815

I don't know how you feel about what their reporting of other's work but my personal feeling is that the more people who can see and appreciate your incredible work, the better.  At least Jon, the owner of the site, is rigorous about crediting the author of work he publicizes.

In fact, Jon did the same with some of my work a long time ago and that's how I found the site, joined, and have contributed a lot more directly.

I think its nice, they give full reference and  link to the site here. Looks like they linked several of my builds. Thanks for the reference to that site, I'll  do a little browsing of what else they have. 

re the popcorn load vs lightning - I told the gnomes in the crew on the Jimmy that the tie rods on the steering were rated as lightning rods too....   ..... so far so good. Hopefully no    >BOOM<     

Quote from: cnr6400

re the popcorn load vs lightning - I told the gnomes in the crew on the Jimmy that the tie rods on the steering were rated as lightning rods too.... ..... so far so good. Hopefully no    >BOOM<     

Hope there was a truck of butter next to it too... 

Started in on the flyball arm yokes this morning. Was about to lay out how to mill them out of flat stock, when I realized that it would be easier to turn the shapes on round bar and cut them apart. So, did that!  Turned up the yoke pieces, and cut the halves apart:

The cut ends were milled flat, also a flat in the center of the arc on the outside, and drilled for pins to hold the pieces together for soldering.

The rings at the ends of the yokes, where the pivots go through, will be cut from some round bar. To keep everything aligned across the yokes, I'll attach lengths of the drilled round bar across the yokes, solder them, then cut the centers out. First I milled flats on the roundbar to get a tight joint with the yoke ends, then drilled for 1/8" locating pins.

Next I'll get the round bars cut to length and drilled, make the locating pins, and get things soldered up. I'll do the lengths of rod for the arms themselves after that, so I can check the lengths of things first.

A little more playtime in the shop this afternoon, got the bars for the pivot rings cut to rough length and drilled on the ends, then cut a batch of pins for the solder joints:

All four yokes are ready for soldering. The two middle yokes go around the flyballs and connect the upper/lower arms. The upper two yokes nest into each other over the upper pivot on the center spindle.
Let the yokes about yokes begin! 

Off to a great start!

Quote from: Rledoux313Off to a great start!

Thanks!   

Yesterday afternoon the yokes were soldered to the cross rods and cleaned up,

and this morning I got the arms cut to length and the ends turned to fit into the holes in the yokes,

Just took them out to solder the arms on, letting those cool down before they take another bath in the pickle solution. We are off to the local pond with the submarines! 
Next on the arms will be to cut away the centers of the cross rods on the yokes, make up the pivot rods/shoulder bolts for them, and finally make the flyballs themselves. On the original patent model they used steel for the flyballs, I'm wondering if it might look more interesting with brass ones? Though the soldering would discolor the brass somewhat... 

Chris, could you use one of the permanent Loctite's or some J&B Weld on the brass balls? They likely won't be going 100 mph very often (unless the Elves get into the Elfstiner keg that is)!!!

Or ... could they be threaded???

Tom

Those shop elf water skiing handles look great Chris!....oh walt...   

Just kidding, progress looks excellent. 

Quote from: wagnmkrChris, could you use one of the permanent Loctite's or some J&B Weld on the brass balls? They likely won't be going 100 mph very often (unless the Elves get into the Elfstiner keg that is)!!!

Or ... could they be threaded???

Tom

Good point, some retaing compound would do the trick! 

Quote from: cnr6400 Those shop elf water skiing handles look great Chris!....oh walt...   

Just kidding, progress looks excellent. 

Just back from the pond, fun day with the boats!


I was thinking they might be lawn rollers for elf-lawns...  or elf-rollers..