IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC METALLIC PACKINGS FOR PISTONS, STUFFING-BOXES, PUMP PLUNGERS, AND SIMILAR AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wills, of Sheffield, in the County of York, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC METALLIC PACKINGS FOR PISTONS,
STUFFING-BOXES, PUMP PLUNGERS, AND SIMILAR AND OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wills at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1880.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC
JAMES WILLS, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
METALLIC PACKINGS FOR PISTONS, STUFFING-BOXES, PUMP PLUNGERS, AND SIMILAR
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements in elastic metallic packings for pistons,
stuffing-boxes, pump plungers, and similar and other purposes.
This Invention consists in so forming the elastic packing that it will have a
three-fold action, that is to say, when in use in a piston it exerts pressure simul-
taneously outwards towards the cylinder, and upwards and downwards (in the case
of a vertical cylinder, or sideways (in the case of a horizontal cylinder) towards the
piston block and cover.
The improved elastic packing or packing ring consists of a bar or rod of steel (or
other suitable material) bent into the form of a series of S hooks, the straight
portions of the said hooks being set at an angle greater or less than a right angle,
for instance, at an angle of sixty or forty five degrees.
As a modification of the above described elastic ring the S hooks above described
may be separate one from another, and be joined by suitable couplings, or an elastic
packing ring may be made up partly of a bar or rod bent as firstly above described,
and partly of separate S hooks joined together in any suitable manner.
The packing rings above described may be flat in cross section, or they may be
curved or angular or of any suitable form in cross section.
The Shooks composing the above described packings or packing rings may be
of uniform or varying length.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Wills in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th July
1880.
JAMES WILLS, of Sheffield, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC
METALLIC PACKINGS FOR PISTONS, STUFFING BOXES, PUMP PLUNGERS, AND SIMILAR
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention consists in an improved form of elastic metallic packing ring,
which has a threefold action, that is to say, when in use in a piston it exerts
pressure simultaneously outwards towards the cylinder and towards the cover and
piston block.
The improved elastic packing ring consists of a bar or rod of steel (or other
suitable material) bent into the form of a series of S hooks, the straight portions of
the S hooks being set at an angle greater or less than a right angle (for instance,
at an angle of sixty degrees, or at angle of forty five degrees, as found advisable in
practice).
As a modification of the above described elastic ring the S hooks above described
may be separate one from another, and be joined by suitable couplings, or a ring
may be made up partly of a bar or rod bent as above firstly described, and partly
of separate S hooks joined together in any suitable manner. The improved ring
may be used with any ordinary packing rings.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 is an external view in elevation
of part of my improved elastic packing ring, as made of steel; and Fig. 2 is a
transverse section, as taken through the line Y, Z, (Fig. 1) and looking from left to
right; Fig. 3 is an internal view in elevation of part of the said ring; and Fig. 4
is a transverse section, as taken through the line W, X, (Fig. 3) and looking from
left to right; Fig. 5 is a plan of part of the said ring. A, A, A, show a simple
form of coupling for securing together the ends of the ring or the parts thereof. Fig. 6
is a sectional elevation of a complete piston fitted with one of my improved rings.
B is the piston block; C, the cover; D and E, two ordinary piston rings; and F,
my improved elastic spring ring.
Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show transverse sections of forms to which my improved elastic
spring ring can be bent, instead of being straight in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2
and Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 shows a part of the ring as first bent into the improved form, and before
being set to its ultimate shape.
Owing to the improved form of my elastic spring ring it is (so to say) self
contained, and has a three-fold action. The ring is made (practically) the same
diameter externally as the piston rings. In fitting the spring ring F into the
piston, as shown in Fig. 6, the piston ring D is first placed in position, the improved
ring F is then placed next, and the piston ring E next thereto, and lastly the piston
cover C, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the piston block B, and as the
cover C is screwed or otherwise forced up to the piston block B the improved
elastic ring F is forced behind the rings D and E, thus reducing it in diameter and
width at the same time, by which the three-fold action (outwards and sideways) is
attained. Owing to the improved form of the elastic spring ring E a wide bearing
is obtained for it on the piston rings D and E, as shown at G and H (Fig. 6).
Having now clearly described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and specified in what manner the same is to be or may be performed
and carried into practical effect, I claim as novel and original and secured to me by
the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent,-
Improvements in elastic metallic packing rings for pistons (etcetera) made of a
rod or rods of steel or other suitable material, the said rod or rods being bent into
the form of a series of S hooks, the straight parts of which are set at an angle

page_text: greater or less than a right angle, and the said packing ring being so formed that
it is capable of exerting pressure outwards and sideways simultaneously, as described
in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wills, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
JAMES WILLS. (L.S.)