Improvements in the Construction of Pistons for Steam or other Fluid Pressure Engines or Pumps..
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 24th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Jan:, 1888
PROVISIONAL DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Pistons for Steam or other
Fluid Pressure Engines or Pumps..
I, GEORGE WILSON MCQUAKER, of Townend Street, Dalry, Ayrshire, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:
This Invention has reference to a new or improved construction of reciprocating
piston for steam engines, and for the cylinders of other fluid motors or pumps, com-
prising certain improvements in the construction of the metallic packing rings and
their fittings, which will make the said pistons fitted with the improvements more
perfect, durable, and reliable than they have been as heretofore constructed.
The nature and novelty of the improvements, according to one arrangement specially
applicable for the pistons of steam engine cylinders consist all as follows:-In making
the piston with its usual two outer packing rings, which work with their outer
circumference fluid-pressure tight against the inner circumferential surface of the
cylinder; that is, with each ring of an L section, so that when put together between
the flange of the piston and the junk-ring they would form a double L, (thus ☐)
in cross section, with an annular channel between the rings on the inside. The inner
rim faces of the rings forming the groove would be turned to a considerable angle
widening out inwards towards the centre body of the piston secured to the piston-rod,
all so far much in a usual manner; but leaving considerable room inside the outer
working or packing rings for the new arrangement of pressing ring and spring fittings
to be hereinafter described. This inner broad single ring would be so shaped and
turned with bevelled outer edges as to fit the angled edges of the inner channel in the
outer piston rings for some distance into their groove. The inner surface of this
pressing ring would be formed with edge rims to give increased bearing surface on
the bevelled edges, but these edges might be checked at intervals to give this inner
pressing ring more elasticity. This inner pressing-out ring would be lighter and more
elastic so as to fit the grooves in and press out the outer packing rings; and it would
be fitted with semicircular retaining joint lugs or projections on the inner edge flanges
at some distance apart, wherever this inner ring is cut through, so as to receive the

page_text: swivelling heads of T-shaped short spindles. The stems of these spindles would fit
into one another telescopically, and have spiral springs mounted on them between the
collars of the T-heads so as to press these asunder to any desired regulated extent,
the regulation of the pressure of the spiral springs being effected by inserting washers
between the collars and the spiral spring, or by fitting screw and jam nuts on one of
the spindles; although this latter is not preferred and thus press out the inner pressing
ring, which in turn would press out the working metallic rings of the piston against
its flange and junk ring and the working circumference of the cylinder. This inner
spring pressing ring might be made either of cast-iron, steel, bronze, or other suitable
metal, which would resist the corrosive action of the steam or other fluid used in the
cylinders and give a highly elastic action to the ring. The outer ordinary working
packing rings of the piston would be cut radially in one place for small sizes of pistons,
but they might be cut in two or three places or segmental parts according to the size
of piston, and have the usual tongue pieces inserted in the face edges of their joints to
prevent steam passing through between them and their securing rim and junk-ring
faces; and the inner pressing ring would be similarly cut in one, two, or more places,
and have the said spiral spring fittings mounted on snugs within and opposite cach
cut part as herein before described, so as to press this ring out and also the outer
working rings. The segments into which the rings are cut would all preferably be
made to break bond with one another; and they might be made to keep their position
in this manner by pins in their circumferential ends inserted into elongated slots in the
centre or solid part of their adjacent rings.
Although T-headed pins have been described for carrying the spiral springs
between the ends of the inner pressing segmental ring; it is to be understood that
plain pins might be used with pressing collars and regulating pressure washers or it
might be screw and jam nuts for tightening up the springs, although the swivelling
T-headed pins are preferred for self-adjustment, either with or without adjusting
washers or screw-nuts for giving more or less force to the spiral springs.
Dated this 30th love of V 1007

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Pistons for Steam or other
Fluid Pressure Engines or Pumps.
I, GEORGE WILSON MCQUAKER, of Townend Street, Dalry, Ayrshire, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention has reference to a new or improved construction of reciprocating
piston for steam engines, and for the cylinders of other fluid motors or pumps,
comprising certain improvements in the construction of the metallic packing rings
and their fittings, which will make the said pistons fitted with the improvements more
perfect, durable, and reliable than they have been as heretofore constructed.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures where shown. Figure 1 is a side
elevation, the lower half being in section, and Figure 2 is an end elevation with the
junk ring A2, and one set of the outer working spring rings a, a, removed, of a
piston A suitable for the cylinders of steam engines, and as fitted with one arrange-
ment of my new or improved inner spring pressing ring B and its fittings. And
Figure 3 is a section of the telescope spring arrangement spindles C, C, for pushing
the inner pressing ring B, out against the working spring rings a, a.
Referring to these Drawings the nature and novelty of my improvements consist all
as follows:-In making the piston A with its usual two outer spring packing rings a, a,
each split at one joint a³ set at opposite sides, and fitted with tongues in the usual
manner, which rings a a work with their outer circumference fluid-pressure tight
against the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder; that is, with each ring a of
an L section, so that when put together between the flange A¹ of the piston Å and
the junk-ring A2, screwed to the piston as usual, they form a double ✓ (thus ☐)
in cross section, with an annular channel at between the rings a on the inside as seen
particularly in the section Figure 1. The inner rim faces of the rings a forming the
groove a² are turned to a considerable angle widening out inwards at a* towards the
centre body of the piston A secured to the piston rod, all so far much in a usual manner,
but leaving considerable room inside the outer working or packing rings a, for the new
arrangement of pressing ring B, and spring fittings to be hereinafter described.
This inner broad single ring B, is so shaped and turned with bevelled outer edges as to
fit the angled edges a² of the inner channel a², in the outer piston rings a, a, for some
distance into their groove. The inner surface of this pressing ring B, is formed with
edge rims 6 to give increased bearing surface on the bevelled edges, but these edges
might be checked or recessed at intervals b¹ to give this inner pressing ring B more
elasticity, as seen particularly in Figure 2. This inner pressing-out ring B, is made
lighter and more elastic so as to fit the grooves in and press out the outer packing
rings a, a; and it is fitted with semicircular retaining joint lugs or projections B¹ on

page_text: the inner edge flanges at some distance apart, wherever this inner ring B is cut through
as shown at B², so as to receive the swivelling heads of T-shaped short spindles C, O¹.
The stems of these spindles C, C, fit into one another telescopically, and have spiral
springs & mounted on caps c¹ between the collars c of the T heads C1, C2, of the
spindles CC so as to press these asunder to any desired regulated extent, according
to the strength of the springs d, as scen particularly in the sectional view of these
spindles CCFigure 3. The regulation of the pressure of the spiral springs don
these spindles is effected by inserting washers between the collars c and the caps c¹ of
the spiral spring d (or it might be by fitting screw and jam nuts on one of the spindles
to tighten up the springs d) and thus press out the different parts B of the inner
pressing ring into which it was cut at B2, by their snugs B₁, which in turn would press
out the working metallic rings a, a, of the piston A, against its flange A¹, and junk
ring A2 and the working circumference of the cylinder. This inner spring pressing
ring B might be made either of brass, cast-iron, steel, bronze or other suitable metal,
which would resist the corrosive action of the steam or other fluid used in the cylinders
and give least friction and a highly elastic action to the ring B. The outer ordinary
working packing rings a a of the piston A would be cut radially in one place as shown
at a³ Figure 2, for small sizes of pistons, but they might be cut in two or three places
or segmental parts according to the size of piston, and have the usual tongue pieces
inserted in the face edges of their joints to prevent steam passing through between
them and their securing rim and junk-ring faces; and the inner pressing ring B
would be similarly cut in one, two, or more places the ring B shown in the Drawings
being cut in three parts and places B2, and have the said spiral spring fittings mounted
on the snugs B, B1, within and opposite each cut part as herein before described, so
as to press the cut parts of this ring B out and also the outer working rings a, a.
The joints a³ of the segments into which the outer spring piston rings a, a, are cut,
would all preferably be made to break bond with one another in a usual manner; and
they might be made to keep their position in this manner by pins in their circum-
ferential ends inserted into elongated slots in the centre or solid part of their adjacent
rings.
Although T-headed spindles C, C, and C₁₁ have been described for carrying the
spiral springs d between the ends of the inner pressing segmental ring B, it is to be
understood that other equivalent tightening devices might be used, such as plain
spindles with pressing collars and regulating pressure washers, or it might be screw
and jam nuts, for tightening up the springs d, although the swivelling T headed
spindles are preferred for self-adjustment, either with or without adjusting washers or
screw nuts for giving more or less force to the spiral springs d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is :-
First. The construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of pistons
and their pressing out spring and ring fittings, for steam or other fluid pressure
engines or pumps, substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The constructing of pistons, with inner pressing out rings B, and their
actuating spindles and springs and d and fittings, substantially as and for the
purposes and advantages herein described, in reference to and shown in the accom-
panying Drawings.