Governor arrangement

A governor arrangement comprising a plurality of weights pivotable with respect to and rotatable with a rotatable shaft, the weights being arranged to engage a washer which is interposed between the weights and a thrust sleeve such that pivotal movement of the weights results in axial movement of the washer and the thrust sleeve, bearing means to promote rotary motion between the washer and the thrust sleeve, and a drive arrangement to promote rotational movement of the washer with the shaft upon commencement of rotation of the shaft, the drive arrangement ceasing to act to promote rotational movement of the washer upon the speed of rotation of the shaft exceeding a predetermined speed, the drive arrangement comprising a surface associated with and arranged to rotate with the shaft, the washer being biased, in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the shaft, into engagement with the surface when the shaft is stationary and when the shaft rotates at a speed which is less than the lowest speed at which movement of the weights causes axial movement of the thrust sleeve, said surface comprising abutment means extending radially from the shaft to prevent engagement between the washer and the weights at speeds below said lowest shaft speed, the washer being lifted from engagement with said surface by the weights when the speed of rotation of the shaft exceeds the predetermined speed to disengage the drive arrangement.