PROPULSION I: GOVERNOR

• Sebastian Oñate Salazar

• Carlos Alberto Montoya Duque
 WHAT IS A GOVERNOR?
Is a device used to control propeller speed and Blade angle through the
oil extraction/sending from the Blade hub [1,2].

Source: Aviation Maintenance Handbook–Powerplant (FAA-H-8083-32) Vol 2.

GENERAL PARTS OF GOVERNOR

Source: http://www.propellergovernor.com/design-description/
 FUNDAMENTAL FORCES

1. Centrifugal twisting moment.

2. Propeller-governor oil on the propeller piston side.
3. Propeller blade flyweights.
4. Air pressure against the propeller piston.
5. Large springs.
6. Centrifugal twisting force.
7. Aerodynamic twisting force
 HOW DOES A GOVERNOR WORK?
Pilot valve moves to the right or to the left allowing or stoping the
flow of the oil then creating a decreasing or increasing of pressure
wich produces a change in the propeller pitch.

Source: Modulo 17, Hélices (Paraninfo) [2].

 HOW DOES A GOVERNOR WORK?
Flyweights act like a speed sensor, which is based on the
centrifugal effect. When flyweights open; pitch increase, when
they are closed; pitch decrease.

Source: Modulo 17, Hélices (Paraninfo) [2].

HOW DOES A GOVERNOR WORK?

Source: https://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to-fly/aircraft-systems/how-a-constant-speed-prop-works/
HOW DOES A GOVERNOR WORK?

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKfQ6f6R82Y
MATERIAL
 TYPES OF GOVERNOR
1 – STANDARD PROPELLER GOVERNORS (RECIPROCATING ENGINES)

2 – DUAL PRESSURE REVERSING PROPELLER GOVERNORS

3 – TURBINE ENGINE CONSTANT SPEED REVERSING PROPELLER GOVERNORS

4 – OVERSPEED GOVERNORS

5 – OTHER PROPELLER CONTROL SYSTEM UNITS

 CONDITIONS
Underspeed Condition: Occurs when the
engine is operating below the rpm set by the
pilot. In this condition, the flyweights tilt
inward because there is not enough
centrifugal force on the flyweights to
overcome the force of the speeder spring.
The pilot valve, forced down by the speeder
spring, meters oil flow to decrease propeller
pitch and raise engine rpm. To maintain a
constant speed, the governor senses the
decrease in speed and increases oil flow to
the propeller, moving the blades to a lower
pitch and allowing them to maintain the Source: https://mccauley.txtav.com/-
/media/mccauley/files/mccauleytechguide.ashx?la=en&hash=FCF71880DA8067
same speed [1]. 2E0A29939FCF2DE86897F5C3D7
 CONDITIONS
Onspeed Condition: When the engine is
operating at the rpm set by the pilot. the
centrifugal force acting on the flyweights is
balanced by the speeder spring, and the
pilot valve is neither directing oil to nor from
the propeller hydraulic cylinder. In this
condition the forces of the governor
flyweights and the tension on the speeder
spring are equal; the propeller blades are
not moving or changing pitch [1].
Source: https://mccauley.txtav.com/-
/media/mccauley/files/mccauleytechguide.ashx?la=en&hash=FCF71880DA8067
2E0A29939FCF2DE86897F5C3D7
 CONDITIONS
Overspeed Condition: When the engine is
operating above the rpm set by the pilot. In
this condition, the centrifugal force acting on
the flyweights is greater than the speeder
spring force. The flyweights tilt outward and
raise the pilot valve. The flyweights move
outward against the force of the speeder
spring, raising the pilot valve. This opens the
propeller-governor metering port, allowing
governor oil flow from the propeller piston
allowing counterweights on the blades to
Source: https://mccauley.txtav.com/-
increase pitch and slow the engine [1]. /media/mccauley/files/mccauleytechguide.ashx?la=en&hash=FCF71880DA8067
2E0A29939FCF2DE86897F5C3D7
 REFERENCES
[1] FAA, “Aviation Maintenance Handbook–Powerplant (FAA-H-8083-32) Vol
2,” Aviation Maintenance Handbook–Powerplant (FAA-H-8083-32), 2012.

[2] J. Lopez, MODULO 17 HELICES. Paraninfo, 2012. [Online].

Available:https://books.google.com.co/books?id=K1BCSTx2JF4C8

[3] "Governors - MT-Propeller", Mt-propeller.com, 2019. [Online]. Available:

https://www.mt-propeller.com/en/entw/pro_gov.htm. [Accessed: 21- Oct-
2019].