Electronic Analogue Computer Study of Non-Linear Effects in a Class of Hydraulic Servomechanisms

Abstract

An electronic analogue is first described, of a system comprising a prime mover controlled by a non-linear flyweight governor using a non-linear hydraulic jack/valve servomechanism as a power amplifier to operate the prime mover energy supply control valve. The governor non-linearity is due to static and Coulomb friction. When dimensionless equations of motion are used for the various components in the system, the analogue is representative of a type of control system often encountered in mechanical engineering. It is shown that the presence of static friction in the governor, of magnitude greater than the Coulomb friction, has a de-stabilizing eifect and limit cycling of the system in the autonomous and non-autonomous conditions, caused by governor friction, is examined.