IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE PISTONS AND PISTON RODS OF STEAM HAMMERS AND PILE DRIVERS, THE PARTS-IN IMMEDIATE CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Nasmyth, of Patricroft, in the County.
of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS, IN
THE PISTONS AND PISTON RODS OF STEAM HAMMERS AND PILE DRIVERS,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Nasmyth at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 29th October 1853.
.
I, JAMES NASMYTH; of Patricroft, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PISTONS AND PISTON RODS OF STEAM HAMMERS AND PILE
DRIVERS, AND IN THE PARTS-IN IMMEDIATE CONNECTION THEREWITH," to-be-
as follows':
A
As it is sometimes desirable to withdraw the piston rod of steam
.hammers and pile drivers up through the bottom of the cylinder, my
improvements consist in constructing the moveable and fixed glands
through which the piston rod works in two or more pieces, for the-pur-
pose of being able to draw the knob at the end of the piston rod (by

page_text: which the hammer is connected with it) through the hole in the cylinder
bottom. Secondly, in an improved mode of constructing the packing
ring of the pistons of steam hammers and pile drivers, namely, by
giving to the packing ring a triangular section, and placing it in the
piston, in such manner that the upward motion of the piston tends to
make a steam-tight joint, and the downward motion relieves the joint,
thereby facilitating the descent of the hammer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Nasmyth in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES NASMYTH, of Patricroft, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Nasmyth, Her special license
that I, the said James Nasmyth, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Nasmyth, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PISTONS AND PISTON RODS OF STEAM HAMMERS AND PILE DRIVERS, AND
IN THE PARTS IN IMMEDIATE CONNECTION THERE WITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Nasmyth, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Nasmyth, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say:
My Invention consists, firstly, in constructing the piston rod glands
of steam hammers and pile drivers in two or more pieces, for the pur-
pose of allowing the knob at the lower end of such piston rod, or the
projection to which the piston is secured, to pass through the hole in the
cylinder bottom. Secondly, in improved modes of connecting pistons
to the piston rods of steam hammers and pile drivers. Thirdly, in
making the piston, piston rod, and knob at the lower end thereof, in
one piece. And, lastly, in an improved packing ring for the pistons
of steam hammers and pile drivers.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by
me, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, represents an elevation of a steam hammer, to which my
improvements are applied. a, is the framing; b, the hammer head or
block; c, the cylinder; and d, the cylinder bottom. These parts are
constructed in the usual manner. c, is the piston, which may be
packed according to any of the methods now in use, or with my im-
proved packing ring f, which will be explained hereafter. g, is the
piston rod, to which the piston is attached, in the following manuer
The upper part of the piston rod at g' is made considerably more in
diameter than the body of the rod, and the space between g' and g" is
turned conical. The upper end of the piston rod, previous to rivetting
the piston on it, is cylindrical, as shewn by dotted lines. The piston
having been accurately bored out, is placed upon the conical part be-
tween g' and g², and the upper end of the rod is then hammered until
it fills up the space between g and g³; by this means the piston is so
securely fastened to the piston rod that no injurious effect is produced
upon them by the violent concussive action to which these parts of

page_text: steam hammers are subjecter when at work; whereas when the piston
is connected to the piston rod by any of the usual methods, it frequently
gets loose. At the lower extremity of the piston rod is forged .the knob
g, which bears upon the plate h, and serves to connect the rod, to the
hammer head, as in steam; hammers now in use. The packing ring i is
tightened on
the knob g by the wedge keys j.;. but as both, extremities
of the piston rod are forged solid with the 'rod, and are more in diameter
than the part on which the ring i fits, it is evident that this ring must be
put together in two halves, as shewn in the perspective view, Figure
For the same reason, the stuffing box.gland ring k, and gland', must
also be put together in two parts, as,shewn in. tlie perspective views,
Figures 3 and 4. The gland is furnished with a tennon or dowell, so
that when the halves are clasped together around. the piston rod, they
act simultaneously on being screwed up. by the ordinary tightening
screws. Figure 5, is a detached view of a. piston and piston-rod,
shewing another, mode of fastening them together. Figure 6, repre-
sents the piston and piston rod forged together, aś. has been done before
in steam hammers. Figures 7 and 8, are two sections drawn full size
of my improved packing ring f, for the pistons of steam hammers and
pile drivers. Figure 9, is a perspective view of the same. The packing
ring is triangular in section, and may be cut in two, so as to be: able to
get it into the recess of the solid-piston. The sharp-angle of the triangle
is placed downwards, so that the upward motion of the piston. has a
tendency to bring the packing ring against the interior of the cylinder,
or into the proper position for forming a steam-tight joint, as shewn in
Figure 7 whereas when the piston descends the friction of the ring
against the interior of the cylinder draws the ring into the. position
shewn in Figure 8, thereby relieving the joint, and allowing the. piston
to descend freely. I have only shewn and described my improvements
as applied to a steam hammer, as their construction is the. same when
applied to pile drivers.
...
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the details herein set forth, as the same may be varied without
departing from the peculiar character of my Invention; but what I do

page_text: claim is, first, constructing the piston rod stuffing box glands of steam
hammers and pile drivers in two or more pieces, in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described. Secondly, the improvements in
connecting pistons to their piston rods, as shewn in Figures 1 and 5.
Thirdly, making the piston, piston rod, and knob marked g', in one
piece, as shewn in Figure 6. And, lastly, the improved packing ring
for the pistons of steam hammers and pile drivers, as shewn and de-
scribed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Nasmyth, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JAMES NASMYTH. (L.B.)