Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Mar., 1887.
I RICHARD TONGE of Alderley Edge in the County of Chester, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the pistons of all types of engines but more particularly to
the pistons which work in horizontal cylinders that is to say in cylinders having
horizontal axes or otherwise having their axes inclined from the vertical. In such
cases the piston rings bear more forcibly upon the lower part of the inner surface
of the cylinder especially when the said rings and the parts of the piston which are
in frictional contact with such rings have become much worn. This bearing down-
ward of the rings has the effect of wearing the lower part of the cylinder to a greater
extent than the other parts, the object of my invention being to remedy this defect.
To this end I support the rings by means of turned edges which are formed upon the
piston block and the junk ring or of projecting rings applied thereto or by means of
studs or segmental or other shaped projections so that the downward or dropping
movements of the rings are limited or so that the rings are kept in suitably concentric
positions. In one construction the piston block and the junk ring are each turned.
with a projecting annular edge which fits inside the ring or the inside of the flange
upon the ring so that when the piston is in a vertical position the rings are kept in a
position about concentric with the axis of the piston. When supporting rings or
segments are applied to the piston block and junk ring they may in some cases be
mounted upon studs at the part of the piston which is the upper part when the piston
is at work so that the said supporting rings or segments have an amount of self-
adjusting freedom of movement. In some cases I may employ the said supporting
rings, segments or parts in connection with corrugated or suitably shaped springs.
which help to keep the piston rings in concentric positions and are applied in addition
to the ordinary spring or springs.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.

page_text: I RICHARD TONGE of Alderley Edge in the County of Chester, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
accompanying drawings :-
My Invention relates to the pistons of all types of engines but more particularly
to the pistons which work in horizontal cylinders that is to say in cylinders having
horizontal axes or otherwise having their axes inclined from the vertical. In such
cases the piston rings bear more forcibly upon the lower part of the inner surface of
the cylinder especially when the said rings and the parts of the piston which are in
frictional contact with such rings have become much worn. This bearing downward
of the rings and piston has the effect of wearing the lower part of the cylinder to a
greater extent than the other parts the object of my invention being to remedy this
defect. To this end I support the rings by means of turned edges which are formed
upon the piston block and the junk ring or of projecting rings applied thereto or by
means of studs or segmental or other shaped projections so that the downward or
dropping movements of the rings or of the piston are limited or so that the rings are
kept in suitably concentric positions.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I will now pro-
ceed more particularly to describe the same reference being had to the annexed two
sheets of illustrative drawings. Fig. 1 of the said drawings is a section of my
improved piston and Fig. 2 a face view of the piston block, the junk ring or cover
being removed to show the parts more clearly. In the said Figs. the piston is com-
posed of two parts, the piston block A and the junk ring B. The piston when put
together has a recess or groove C which contains the packing spring D which forces
the packing rings E outward and apart as is well understood. In some cases and
especially when the piston is employed in horizontal or diagonal engines the packing
rings E have a tendency to fall toward the lower side of the piston or the piston block
is allowed to drop into contact with the cylinder with the result that the lower side of
the cylinder is frequently worn more quickly than the upper side. To prevent this
tendency and to support the rings E in a position truly concentric with the axis of
the piston I form ledges or steps F on the opposite sides of the groove C which
receive the spring and rings. The enlarged upper portion of the groove C admits the
rings E the lower edges of the rings resting on the steps or ledges F as clearly shown
at Fig. 1. These steps or ledges F may extend entirely around the groove or they
may exist only at the parts where the supporting contact with the rings is actually
required. Instead of a ledge, a series of pins or studs might be inserted in the sides
of the groove C so as to support the rings-the said pins or studs being pitched at a
suitable distance apart so as to give the necessary support. Instead of the turned
ledge I might support the packing rings concentrically by means of separate stools
porters, studs, or segmental or other shaped projections and I might make the said

page_text: supports adjustable so that as the packing rings wear from contact with the cylinder
the supports can be re-adjusted so as to remain in contact with the rings. Fig. 3
sheet 2 of the drawings is a section and Fig. 4 a view at right angles to Fig. 3 of
such a separate and adjustable stool for supporting the packing rings concentrically
with the piston. The piston block A and junk ring B are secured together by screws G
and recesses are formed in the bottom of the groove Cinto which I place any desired
number of the stools H. The upper edges of the stools H, present supporting ledges
of suitable length to the rings E, which rest on the stools and are thereby maintained
concentrically with relation to the piston. To adjust the stool H, in the event of the
rings becoming worn and so being lifted away from the ledges by the spring D or
allowing the piston block to bear directly upon the bottom of the cylinder I interpose
one or any suitable number of loose strips I, I between each stool and the bottom of
the recess made to receive it. By this means the stool is raised to the required extent
and the necessary contact with the rings maintained. In some cases the recess to
hold the stool might be made deeper and a spring or springs be interposed between
the stool and the bottom of the recess so as to make the stool follow up the rings and
adjust itself automatically thereto. Any suitable number of the stools H may be
used in the circumference of the piston. Fig. 5 shows another method of hanging the
packing rings upon adjustable supports J screwed excentrically to the side of the
groove, so that when it is desired to raise the supporting point of the part J, the
screw K is loosened and the part J rotated in the direction of the arrow to the required
extent, after which it is again fixed in position by the pinching screw L. When a
ring or series of studs N is used to maintain the packing rings E concentrically as
shown at Fig. 6 the wear of the rings E may be taken up from time to time by
slipping thin hollow sleeves M over the studs N. Under modifications of my invention,
separate rings, either solid or capable of expansion may be used to constitute the
supporting shoulders or ledges for the packing rings and in conjunction with such
expanding supporting rings I may use corrugated or other springs to take up the wear
of the packing rings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
(1) In metallic pistons supporting the packing rings in a position concentric with
the axis of the piston by means of steps or ledges or rings, or upon studs, projections
or supports formed in or on or applied to the piston for the purposes and substantially
in the manner hereinbefore described and shown in the annexed drawings.
(2) In metallic pistons supporting the packing rings in the indicated manner by
means of stools or upon segments cams studs or parts capable of adjustment or
supported upon springs so as to maintain their supporting contact with the rings as the
rings become worn, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.