Improvements in the Construction of Double-action Springs for Expanding the Rings of Steam-engine Pistons and the like Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Double-action Springs for
Expanding the Rings of Steam-engine Pistons and the like
Purposes.
WILLIAM CHARLES LOCKWOOD 451 Intake Road, The Park, Sheffield Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object certain Improvements in the formation or
construction of double action springs for the pistons of steam engines and the like
purposes. The characteristic or essential feature in the formation or construction of
these springs for the pistons of steam engines and the like purposes, consists in
bending, overlapping, coiling or twisting, strands or rods of round steel or other
suitable metal or material in such a manner so as to form double action springs
each and every alternate part being formed or made seperate and distinct one from
another.
I will now proceed to describe more in detail the manner in which the same is
to be or may be carried into practical effect. In the first place I take a round rod
or bar of steel or other suitable metal or material and coil or hend the same
backward and forward untill suitable and sufficient bends are obtained to suit the
requirements of any particular case, for convenience these bends shall be termed
or styled vertical action links, on the ends of each of the vertical action links
shall be turned or fitted with an eylet or coupling joint. I then proceed to take a
bar of steel or other suitable material corresponding to the aforesaid vertical links
and by preference lighter in section or strength so as to give out an efficient elastic
pressure on the walls of the cylinder, and bend coil twist, or overlap the same
backward and forward in an opposite direction to the aforesaid vertical action
links, and for convenience will term or style these horizontal action coils or bends,
each end of these horizontal coils or bends shall be turned or fitted with eylets
or couplings corresponding with the eylets or couplings on the aforesaid vertical
action links. In completeing or forming my improved spring for actual use I
employ the vertical action links and the horizontal coils or bends alternately 'one
with another and connect or couple the same together with suitable spring coupling
forks or plates, the virtical action links I prefer to make wider than the space
between the two flanges of the piston rings so that in actual use the vertical links
shall continue under compression by which means the steam and dirt or other
impurities will be prevented from getting to the interior of the pistons of steam
engines, the horizontal action bends are made sufficiently narrow so as to prevent
the same comeing under compression between the flanges of the piston rings by
which means the horizontal action bends are entirely free to 'exert their elastic
pressure on the walls of the cylinder, the advantages of arrangeing a double action
spring according to my Invention will be at once apparant, I am enabled to make
the vertical action links extra strong thereby preventing rattleing or escape of steam
between piston faces, at the same time the horizontal action coils or bends may
be made extra light thus giveing out perfect elasticity to suit the requirements of
any particular pressure without in any way interfereing with the vertical action
links. Should any one of the numerious parts of the complete spring loose their
action or break through any cause such part may be taken out immediately and
replaced at a very moderate cost, thus avoideing the serious delay that would otherwise
occur in makeing a complete new spring, an advantage much to be desired is the very
limited space my improved spring occupys when in position this being of considerable
importance in connection with high steam pressures.
Dated this orthofT..1.. 1000

page_text: f
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Double-action Springs for
Expanding the Rings of Steam-engine Pistons and the like
Purposes.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES LOCKWOOD of 451 Intake Road, The Park, Sheffield,
Engineer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object certain improvements in the formation or construc-
tion of double-action springs for the pistons of steam engines, and the like purposes.
The essential feature in the construction of these springs consists in forming them of
separate and distinct links, such links differing in expansive strength as well as in the
direction of their action, and in their being connected by a special form of coupling.
I will now describe in detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which my invention is carried into practical effect.
To form the vertical-action links, indicated in the drawing by a, Fig. 3, I take a rod
or har of steel or other suitable material and bend or coil the same backwards and
forwards until suitable and sufficient bends are obtained, taking care that at each end
of the link there shall be formed a vertical eye or loop as shewn by b, Figs 2 and 3.
To form the horizontal-action links I take a similar rod, bar, or wire, by preference
rather lighter in sectional strength, and bend, coil, twist or overlap the same in a
direction at right angles to that of the aforesaid vertical-action links, and I cause it to
terminate also in an eye or loop at each end as described in the case of the vertical-
action links. These horizontal-action links are shewn by c, Figs. 2 and 3. In com-
pleting my improved spring for actual use I employ the vertical-action links a, and
the horizontal-action links c, alternately, and connect them together by suitable spring
coupling-forks, formed by bending a steel tape or wire having at one end a loop or
eye e, and at the other end a couple of lugs or hooks f, f, as shewn in Fig. 4.
The horizontal links c, I prefer to construct smaller in width or diameter than
the space between the flanges g, of the piston rings, so that they shall be free to
expand and contract as required, and can exert their elastic pressure through the
piston rings, on the walls of the cylinder.
The vertical links a, I prefer to make of such size as to be subject to compression
by the two flanges g, of the piston rings, whereby the steam, dirt, and other impurities
will be prevented from entering the interior of the piston.
In Fig. 1, I have shewn a sectional elevation of a piston with my improved
spring in place, and in Fig. 2 I shew a plan of the same. Fig. 3 shews an enlarged
plan view of a portion of the interior of the packing rings, with the alternate
vertical-action links a, and the coiled horizontal-action links c, in their place and
connected by the coupling forks d. The links c, can if preferred be bent like the
links a, and need not be coiled as shewn.
It will be seen that my method of constructing the spring has several advantages.
I am enabled thereby to make the vertical-action links extra strong, and thus prevent
rattling or escape of steam between the piston faces, while at the same time the
horizontal-action links can be as light as required, to allow of perfect elasticity at any
particular pressure. Again in case of fracture of any portion of the spring, or of failure
to act properly through weakness or inequality of temper or any other cause, the
part at fault can be at once removed and replaced at very moderate cost, thus
avoiding the serious delay caused by having to wait while a new spring is being
manufactured.
Another advantage of some importance, especiilly when working with high steam
pressures, is the very limited space my improved spring occupies in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
(1) In a spring for piston rings and similar purposes the construction of a double-

page_text: action spring packing of separate parts, having alternately vertical-action and
horizontal-action, as herein explained and set forth.
(2) In a spring for piston rings and similar purposes the combination of separate
parts or links of unequal strength, connected by spring coupling forks or their
mechanical equivalents, as herein explained and set forth.
Dated this 21st day of March 1890.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.