IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PISTONS AND IN THE SPRINGS THEREOF
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joe Hopkinson of Sheffield in the County of York
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PISTONS AND
IN THE SPRINGS THEREOF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joe Hopkinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th November 1881.
JOE HOPKINSON of Sheffield in the County of York
CONSTRUCTION OF PISTONS AND IN THE SPRINGS THEREOF
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of pistons and to the
springs thereof.
This Invention consists essentially in forming the piston or packing ring or rings
with internal flange or internal flanges, of any convenient shape or size for the
purpose of obtaining strength elasticity and greater bearing surface on or against
the piston block, or block and cover or covers, and in the arrangement of the spring
or springs which may be employed in combination therewith.
In carrying into effect this Invention two shaped packing rings are employed,
so placed in the piston block as to form a double trough into which a series of
helical (or other shaped) springs are inserted for the purpose of tightening the
flanges against the piston block, or block and cover and so make a steam tight
joint. The Hanges of the rings can be slit to give them elasticity and so extend
them against the cylinder radially and springs are employed to make a steam tight
joint between the flanges and the groove of the piston block.
As a modification two or more flanged packing rings (with one or more flanges)
can be employed which are inserted in grooved recesses in the piston block, or they
may be inserted in a grooved ring detached from the piston block, so that the outer
flanges of the packing rings bear against the flat surfaces in the groove of the
block or one may bear against the said groove and the other against the cover

page_text: (if any) of the block or as a further modification a packing ring with one two
three or more internal flanges can be employed the piston block being recessed and
grooved to receive it, or as a further modification two single flanged or L shaped
packing rings may be placed face to face (to form a hollow square) in the groove
of the block or in a recess of the block so as to act against the cover and the block
and springs can be employed therewith to force the packing rings against the
cylinder and against the sides of the groove or groove and cover
The packing rings above described may be made of cast iron, steel or other
suitable material and either in one piece or in segments, and may be steam packed
or used in combination with springs

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Joe Hopkinson in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th June 1882.
JOE HOPKINSON of Sheffield in the County of York. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PISTONS AND IN THE SPRINGS THEREOF.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of pistons and to the
springs thereof.
This Invention consists essentially in forming the piston ring or rings with an
internal flange or internal flanges for the purpose of obtaining greater bearing
surface on or against the piston block, or block and cover, or covers, and in the
arrangement of the spring or springs employed in combination therewith.
In carrying into effect this Invention two packing rings of L shape can be
employed so placed in the piston block as to form a trough into which a series of
helical (or other shaped) springs can be inserted for the purpose of tightening the
flanges against the piston block, or block and cover, and so make a steam tight
joint.
As a modification two or more double flanged packing rings can be employed
which are inserted in grooved recesses in the piston block, or they may be inserted
in a grooved ring detached from the piston block, so that the outer flanges of the
packing rings bear against the flat surfaces in the groove of the block, or one may
bear against the said groove and the other against the cover (if any) of the block,
or as a further modification a packing ring with three internal flanges can be
employed the piston block being recessed and grooved to receive it; or as a further
modification two single flanged or L shaped packing rings may be placed face to
face (to form a hollow, square) in the groove of the block or in a recess of the block
so as to act against the cover and the block and springs can be employed therewith
to force the packing rings against the cylinder and against the sides of the groove
or groove and cover.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation
as taken through the dotted line W X (Fig. 1) and Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in
section (the section being taken on the dotted line Y Z (Fig. 1) of a pair of my
improved packing rings with springs. 'A A' are the flanged piston rings; B B are
the springs which act on the upper flange of the ring A and the lower flange of
the ring A; The upper flange of the ring A¹ is drilled to admit the spring B and
forms a guide for it; The lower flange of the ring A' is slotted or enlarged to
allow for the expansion contraction and working of the rings. The spring B is
flat at each end to hear against the outer flanges of the rings A A¹; C is a
horizontal spring and D D' are stops secured to the rings A A¹ for the purpose of
expanding them laterally, the rings being slit diagonally for the purpose as shown
at E (Fig. 2). F is the piston block and G is the cover, the cover being secured to
the block by bolts H.
•
In Fig. 1 the upper flange of the ring A' is removed above the spring C for the
purpose of showing the form of the stops D D' against which the spring C acts.
Fig. 4 shows a modification in which two packing rings are employed in a piston
without springs the flanges being unequal. Fig. 5 shows a further modification in
which two unequal flanged rings are employed in combination with a loose grooved
ring in which the flanges of the packing rings fit. Fig. 6 is a further modification
in which a packing ring with three Banges is employed the flanges fitting into
corresponding grooves in the piston block. Fig. 7 is a further modification in
which a single unequal flanged packing ring is employed the two flanges fitting

page_text: into corresponding grooves in the piston block. Fig. 8 is a view half in section
and hall in elevation of a solid piston and rod with one double flanged packing ring
fitting into grooves in the piston block. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a piston with
two angled packing rings so placed as to forin a box in which a set of vertical
springs is employed to force the flanges against the top and botton faces of the
recess in the piston and in which a set of horizontal springs is employed to force
the outer ring against the face of the cylinder the springs being retained in position
by guide pins or otherwise. The flanges of the packing rings are or can be slit to
make them more elastic.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature and object of my
said Invention together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect I would remark in conclusion that I claim as
the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent
Firstly
Improvements in the construction of pistons by the combination with the piston
block, or piston block and cover, of flanged packing rings with one, two, or three slit
flanges the said flanges fitting in grooves in the piston block or in a ring fitting into
the piston block the said flanged piston rings being employed without springs as
illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying Drawings
Secondly
Improvements in the construction of pistons and in the springs thereof by the
construction of pistons with two, or more, flanged or trough shaped packing rings
in combination with vertical and horizontal springs substantially as described and
as illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9 of the accompanying Drawings
In witness whereof I the said Joe Hopkinson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two