IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE PACKING OF PISTONS FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE PACKING OF PISTONS FOR STEAM
AND OTHER ENGINES Communicated to him from abroad by John Emory
Bell of Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America, Merchant.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1883.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London, " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
PACKING OF PISTONS FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES [A communication to
him from abroad by John Emory Bell of Baltimore, Maryland, Unites States of
America, Merchant.]
This invention relates to improvements in pistons and piston-packing; and the
object is to produce a more perfect and economical piston packing than has here-
tofore been provided, by which leakage of steam in the cylinder is prevented while
at the same time the piston can be readily centred and will wear evenly on its
entire circumference.
The said invention consists partly in a packing-ring of angular shape, with the
flanged part made much wider or deeper than the annular projecting face, so that
it can wear off entirely before the flange can leave its recess in the piston-head.
It further consists in a packing piece having a tongue which fits into a groove
in the side of the packing ring, while a projecting pin enters a recess in the ring
so that the ring and packing piece must all move together and thus prevent the
main ring from slipping around on the piston, so as to expose the joint.
The piston-head can be made solid for small pistons or with arms, in the ordinary
manner, and the follower may be screwed on to the hub of the piston head, or
secured by bolts tapped into holes. The ordinary bull-ring is provided with a
centring ring which can be adjusted by bolts in the cylinder. On each end of the
bull-ring is arranged a packing-ring which is of angular shape. In the side of

page_text: the ring is a groove and the vertical part is made deeper than the annular or flange
part so that this part can wear off entirely before the vertical part will leave its
place. The rings are cut, and into this cut a packing piece fits. This packing-
piece has a tongue that fits into the groove while a projection or pin enters the cut
so that when the rings are forced out by the steam the packing-pieces must follow
with them, while at the same time the main ring is prevented from slipping around
on the piston so as to expose the joint, and thus all leakage of steam is prevented.
I prefer to place the packing pieces at the upper side of the piston so that the
weight thereof cannot compress the packing-ring, which it will do when the cut
is at the lower side. The angular ring might be made with its vertical side less
in depth, or equal to the thickness of the radial flange, although I prefer to make
it of greater depth. I also prefer to make the ring deeper than it is on its face so
that the steam will force it against the face of the bull-ring, thus giving it a greater
area for the steam to act on, and preventing the steam from forcing it back from
the face of the cylinder.
In adapting this packing to old pistons the packing-piece is inserted in a recess
in the bull-ring with the pin fitting into the slot in the packing-ring to prevent it
from turning

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 5th April
1884.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
PACKING OF PISTONS FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES (A communication to
me from abroad by John Emory Bell of Baltimore Maryland, United States of
America Merchant
This invention relates to improvements in pistons and piston packing; and the
object is to produce a more perfect and economical piston-packing than has here-
tofore been provided by which leakage of steam in the cylinder is prevented, while
at the same time the piston can be readily centred and will wear evenly on its
entire circumference.
The said invention comprises a packing-ring of angular shape, with the flanged
part made much wider or deeper than the annular projecting face, so that it can
wear off entirely before the flange can leave its recess in the piston head-It
further comprises a packing piece having a tongue which fits into a groove in the
side of the packing ring, while a projecting pin enters a recess in the ring, so that
the said ring and packing piece must all move together, and thus prevent the main'
ring from slipping around on the piston, so as to expose the joint all as hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a piston with the follower and packing-ring
removed and showing the packing piece.
Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the same.
Figure 3 shows a side view and section of the packing-ring.
Figure 4 shows a side view and end view of the packing-piece.
Figure 5 shows a modification of the piston.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A indicates the piston-head which can be made solid for small pistons, or with
arms, in the ordinary manner; the follower A¹ may be screwed onto the hub of
the piston-head, or secured by bolts tapped into the holes a. The ordinary bull-
ring B is provided with a centring-ring C, which can be adjusted by bolts c in the
cylinder. On the ends of the bull-ring are arranged packing-rings D D', which are
of angular shape. In the side of each ring is a groove d and the vertical part d' is
made deeper than the annular or flange part d¹¹, so that this part can wear off
entirely before the part will leave its place. The rings are cut as shown at b
Figure 3, and into this cut a packing-piece E fits. This packing-piece has a
tongue e that fits into the groove d, while a projection or pin f enters the part b¹
of the cut b so that when the rings are forced out by the steam the packing-pieces
must follow with them, while at the same time the main ring is prevented from
slipping around on the piston so as to expose the joint, and thus all leakage of
steam is prevented. I prefer to place the packing-pieces at the upper side of the
piston, so that the weight thereof cannot compress the packing-ring which it will
do when the cut is at the lower side. The angular ring might be made with its
vertical side less in depth or equal to the thickness of the radial flange, although I
prefer to make it of greater depth. I also prefer to make the ring deeper than it
is on its face, so that the steam will force it against the face of the bull-ring, thus
giving it a greater area for the steam to act on, and preventing the steam from
forcing it back from the face of the cylinder.
°

page_text: In adapting this packing to old pistons I arrange it as shown in Figure 5.
The packing-piece E is in this instance inserted in a recess in the bull-ring B
with the pin f fitting into the slot b in the packing-ring D to prevent it from
turning.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim.
First In a piston, à packing-ring of angular shape having the vertical part
made of greater depth than the annular flange, and having a groove in its side in
which a packing-piece with a tongue fits, substantially as specified.
Second: In a piston, a packing-ring of angular shape having the part d¹ of
greater depth than the flange d" and a groove d in combination with a packing-
piece E provided with the tongue e and the projection or pin f, as shown, and for
the purpose set forth.
Third: In a piston, the combination of a packing-ring of angular shape, having
the vertical part d' made deeper than the annular flange d" and provided with a
groove d, with a packing-piece E having a tongue e and projections f fitting into
the cut bb¹ substantially as described.
Fourth A piston consisting of the head A, the bull-ring B, the packing-ring C,
the packing-rings D, DI, having the groove d and part d' made deeper than the
flange d¹¹ and the cut b, 61, in combination with the packing-piece E provided with
the tongue e and the projection or pin f, all substantially as specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fourth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
WH RORT LAKE (10)