IMPROVEMENTS IN PISTONS FOR STEAM OR OTHER CYLINDERS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Parker, of Wakefield Road, Bradford, in the
County of York, Foreman Moulder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PISTONS FOR STEAM OR OTHER CYLINDERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Parker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th February 1878.
JOHN PARKER, of Wakefield Road, Bradford, in the County of York, Foreman
Moulder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PISTONS FOR STEAM OR OTHER CYLINDERS."
The object of my Invention is to form the packing rings of pistons for steam or
other cylinders in such a manner that the friction between the circumference of the
rings and the side of the cylinder is greatly reduced, the rings are so formed that
the flat surfaces of the same fit tight and adjust themselves against the flange of
the piston and the junk ring, preventing the knocking of the packing rings
at the ends of the stroke, and the escape of the steam through the piston in
consequence of the packing rings becoming slack between the piston flange and
junk ring.
I accomplish my object in the following manner-I form the packing rings of
the ordinary section; the edges or joint between the two rings are formed with a
number of inclined planes, which correspond in the inclination and number with
each other, and when put together, the thickness or depth of the two rings are
parallel; the number and inclination of these planes may be varied according to
the diameter of the cylinder to which the rings are to be applied.
The circumference of the packing rings is kept tight against the face or side of the
cylinder by means of an ordinary spring, and in order to keep the flat faces of the
packing rings steam-tight against the piston flange and junk ring, I fix springs to the
packing rings in such a manner that each ring is moved round in the opposite direc-
tion to each other until the inclined planes are brought tightly together, and by
these means the rings are kept rigid and steam-tight against the piston flange and
מ.

page_text: junk ring, and thus the knocking of the packing rings at the ends of the stroke is
prevented.
At the same time the diameter of the rings is more elastic and easily expanded,
and does not require such a strong spring as is commonly used to press the same
out larger against the side of the cylinder to keep the steam from passing, thereby
reducing the friction of the rings against the side of the cylinder, which will be a
means of the rings lasting a much longer time, and requiring in proportion
to the decrease of friction a less amount of tallow or oil to keep the cylinder
lubricated.
1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Parker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th August
1878.
JOHN PARKER, of Wakefield Road, Bradford, in the County of York, Foreman
Moulder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PISTONS FOR STEAM OR OTHER CYLINDERS."
The object of my Invention is to form the packing rings of pistons for steam or
other cylinders in such a manner that the friction between the circumference of
the rings and the side of the cylinder is greatly reduced, and to form the rings so
that the flat surfaces of the same fit tightly and adjust themselves against the
flanges of the piston and junk ring, and prevent the knocking of the packing rings
at the ends of the stroke, and the escape of steam passing through the piston
in consequence of the packing rings becoming slack between the piston flange and
junk ring.
I accomplish my object in the following manner:-I form the packing rings
of the ordinary section, the edges or joints between the two rings are formed
with a number of inclined planes, which correspond with each other in the
inclination and number, and when put together the thickness or depth between
the flat faces of the two rings are parallel; the number and angle of inclination of
these planes may be varied according to the diameter of the cylinder to which the
rings are to be applied.
The circumferences of the packing rings are kept tightly against the surface or
side of the cylinder by means of an ordinary spring, and in order to keep the flat
surfaces of the packing rings steam-tight against the piston flange and junk ring, I
fix one or more springs to each packing ring in such a manner that each ring is
moved round in the opposite direction to each other, until the before-named inclined
planes are brought tightly together, thus by these means the rings are kept rigid
and steam-tight between the piston and flange and junk ring, and the knocking of
the packing rings at the ends of the stroke is prevented.
By the formation of packing rings as described the same are more elastic and
easily expanded, and do not require such a strong spring as is commonly used to
press or expand the same against the surface of the cylinder in order to keep the

page_text: steam from passing, thereby the friction of the rings against the cylinder is reduced,
which will be the means of the rings wearing a greater length of time, and requiring
in proportion to the decrease of friction a less amount of tallow or oil to keep the
cylinder lubricated.
In order to enable my improvements to be better understood, I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 represents a section of a piston with my improvements added.
Figure 2 is a plan of a piston with the junk ring removed, shewing the spiral
springs for regulating the packing rings.
Figure 3 is a side view of a piston, shewing the inclined planes.
Figure 4 is a plan of one of the packing rings, shewing the number of inclined
planes in the ring.
Figure 5 is a plan of a piston with the junk ring removed, shewing the spiral
spring attached to both rings for keeping the flat faces of the rings steam-tight
against the piston flange and junk ring.
In all the Figures similar letters of reference represent similar parts.
The letter A indicates the body of a piston, and B the junk ring, which is secured
to the body in the ordinary manner; the packing rings C and D are fitted between
the flange A¹ and junk ring B; inside the packing rings I place an ordinary spiral
spring E for expanding the diameter of the packing rings to the surface of the
cylinder. In order that the flat surfaces C¹ and D' of the packing rings may fit
tight against the piston flange and junk ring, so that the same may be steam-tight
and free from knocking at the ends of the stroke of the piston, I cut a number of
inclined planes F in each ring; these inclined planes correspond with each other in
number and inclination, and when put together the flat surfaces C¹ and D¹ are
paralled.
To the body of the piston, I fix one or more springs G; these springs are in con-
nection with the packing rings, and secured thereto by means of studs C² and D³,
the springs G are elongated, and the tension is regulated by nuts G¹, and by the
springs contracting the packing rings are caused to slide in opposite directions,
partly round the cylinder; thus the inclined planes F travel on each other,
and press the flat surfaces C and D' tight against the piston flange and junk
ring.
In order to regulate the packing rings by means of one spring I dispense with
the snugs on the piston body, and connect each end of the spiral spring G to the
studs C and D that are secured to the rings; and thus by the spring G contracting
the packing rings are actuated in the manner before described.
By securing one end of flat springs to the body of the piston, and the other ends
of the same, pressing against the before-mentioned studs C and D, the tension of
the springs will cause the packing rings to partly revolve round the cylinder for the
purposes herein-before described.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is
or may be carried into effect, I would have it distinctly understood that I do not
claim as my Invention the spiral spring used for expanding the diameter of the
packing rings to the surface of the cylinder, but that what I believe to be new and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The formation of piston packing rings for steam or other cylinders with a number
of straight or curved inclined planes, which when the rings are placed together, the
faces of the rings that fit against the piston flange and junk ring will be parallel,
substantially as herein-before described.
The arrangement and combination of packing rings having inclined planes cut on
one face, with one or more spiral or flat springs fitted to the body of the piston and
to the packing rings, for the purpose of causing the packing rings to move in
opposite directions partly round the cylinder, to bring the flat faces of the
rings tight against the piston flange and junk ring, substantially as herein-before
described.

page_text: The arrangement of one or more spiral springs in combination with the packing
rings, for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Parker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed and sealed in the
presence of
JOHN WAUGH,
29, Tyrrel Street,
Bradford.
JOHN PARKER. (L.S.)