Improvements in or connected with Piston Valves, applicable also to Pistons, Plungers, and other like Mechanisms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, ith Aug., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Piston Valves, applicable also
to Pistons, Plungers, and other like Mechanisms.
1, THOMAS DOWNIE, of 33, Trinity Road, Bootle, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This invention has mainly reference to those kinds of valves commonly termed
"piston-valves," but at the same time it is applicable, in whole or in part, to pistons
of engines and other machines, and also to plungers and equivalently operating
mechanisms. I will, however, in this Specification describe a piston valve according
to the invention, such as is usually employed in steam engines for controlling the
ingress and egress of steam to and from the cylinder or cylinders thereof.
A piston with improvements according to my invention applied thereto consists as
follows: The valve at the parts which work over and serve to close or cover the
ports of the valve case, and control the supply of steam to and from them, is pro-
vided with packing rings, and these rings are of divided or split form, but of such a
construction that they have no spring outwardly, or little spring. At the point or
points at which they are divided to split "cod-pieces" are provided to make the
necessary joint. Now in piston valves, particularly of large size, it is found very
advantageous, in order to preserve them and avoid injury and great wear to them-
selves and the valve casing, to have the packing rings fixed in position, and immu-
table so long as the means by which they are held in position are in the proper
condition; and 1, also. so arrange and use my packing rings; but according to my
invention I provide means by which the diameter of the rings may be adjusted to
the exact size required, and then set and fixed. Thus when the ring has been fixed
in its containing parts, used, and become worn and not "tight," it may be adjusted
by operating upon the means of adjustment just above specified, and again made
tight." .e. to the requisite degree; and 1 preferably so construct the ring and
valve that the adjustment may be made while the valve is in its case, and the ring in
its seat or position, so that by merely removing the "junk-ring," cap, or other like
or equivalent part, the adjusting means may be actuated; or the adjustment may be
made from without, so that no parts would require removing.
t;
The means of adjustment consists of a ring also split or divided-disposed within
and adapted to bear upon the inner side of the main ring and having wedge and
screw or like or equivalent device for expanding it, or for both expanding and con-
tracting it, said device being preferably of such a nature, or provided with a locking
device, that the "set" or adjustment cannot of itself become altered. The expanding
device or incans is preferably disposed on the opposite side of the split or division of
the main ring. In lieu of the inner ring, however, the means of expanding or
contracting it may be applied to the main ring itself.
The ring is placed in position in its containing parts of the valve, and is fixed or
jammed firmly in position by a "junk-ring," caps, or covers, or other suitable means,
and constitutes, as it were, an integral part of the valve, and having no independent
movement.
When the ring is used in or in connection with a piston, plunger, or the like, the
ring may or may not be fixed or jammed in position as described; if not, it will be
capable of lateral movement in the ordinary manner.
Dated this 6th day of November 1889.
THOMAS
DOWNIE.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Applicant's Agents.

page_text: "
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Piston Valves, applicable also
to Pistons, Plungers, and other like Mechanisms.
I, THOMAS DOWNIE, of 33 Trinity Road, Bootle, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to he particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention has mainly reference to those kinds of valves commonly termed
"piston-valves," but at the same time it is applicable, in whole or in part, to pistons
of engines and other machines, and also to plungers and equivalently operating
mechanisms. I will, however, in this Specification describe a piston valve according
to the invention, such as is usually employed in steam engines for controlling the
ingress and egress of steam to and from the cylinder or cylinders thereof.
A piston-valve with improvements according to my invention applied thereto
consists as follows:-The valve at the parts which work over and serve to close
or cover the ports of the valve case, and control the supply of steam to and from
them. is provided with packing rings, and these rings are of divided or split form,
but of such a construction that they have no spring outwardly, or little if any.
At the point or points at which they are divided to split "cod-pieces" are pro-
vided to make the necessary joint. Now in piston valves, particularly of large
size, it is found very advantageous, in order to preserve them and avoid injury
and great wear to themselves and the valve casing, to have the packing rings
fixed in position, and immutable so long as the means by which they are held in
position are in the proper condition, and I, also, so arrange and use my packing
rings; but according to my invention I provide means by which the diameter of
the rings may be adjusted to the exact size required, and then set and fixed.
Thus when the ring has been fixed in its containing parts, used, and become worn
and not " tight," it may be adjusted by operating upon the means of adjustment just
above specified, and again made" tight," ie. to the requisite degree; and I
preferably so construct the ring and valve that the adjustment may be made while
the valve is in its case, and the ring in its soat or position, so that by merely
removing the "junk-ring," cap, or other like or equivalent part, the adjusting means
may be actuated; or the adjustment may be made from without, so that no parts
would require removing.
The means of adjustment consists of a ring also split or divided-disposed
within and adapted to hear upon the inner side of the main ring and having wedge
and screw or like or equivalent device for expanding it, or for both expanding
and contracting it, said device being preferably of such a nature, or provided with
a locking device, that the " set" or adjustment cannot of itself become altered.
The expanding device or means is preferably disposed on the opposite sides of the
split or division of the main ring. In lieu of the inner ring, however, the means of
expanding or contracting it may be applied to the main ring itself.
The ring is placed in position in its containing parts of the valve, and is fixed or
jammed firmly in position by a "junk-ring," caps, or covers, or other suitable means,
and constitutes, as it were, an integral part of the valve and having no independent
movement.
When the ring is used in or in connection with a piston, plunger, or the like, the
ring may or may not be fixed or jammed in position as described; if not, it will
be capable of lateral movement in the ordinary manner.
In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention I show two forms of piston
valve packing according to my invention, that illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 being a
compound one comprising an outer and inner ring, whilst that shewn in Figures 6 to 9
is of the single ring type.

page_text: In these drawings the same letters and figures of reference are used to denote the
same or like parts wherever they occur.
In the first arrangement Figure 1 is a general plan of the ring, and Figure 2 is a
cross section showing a part of the piston valve and the ring. Figure 3 is a plan to an
enlarged scale showing the means of adjusting the ring. Figure 4 is an elevation of
same viewed from the inside, and Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of it.
In the second arrangement illustrated by Figures 6 to 9 Figure 6 is a general plan
of the ring. Figures 7 and 8 are elevations showing the means of adjustment view
from the outside and inside respectively and Figure 9 is a view showing it in cross.
section.
With reference in the first instance to Figures 1 to 5 A designates the metal of
the piston valve of which A' is the "junk-ring"; a is the outer ring or packing
ring proper; b is the inner ring in connection with which the means of adjustment
is arranged and by which such adjustment is imparted to the outer ring a; care
the wedge devices, and d the screw, constructed and adapted to operate samo; e are
the locking bars or distance pieces by which the outward extension of the ring b
is limited and held when set; and is a "cod-piece" disposed at the side of the
ring opposite the wedges by which the split end of the ring a is covered and a.
steam tight joint at that part effected.
The wedges are provided with projecting strips or flanges c¹ between which
the centre portion of the locking bars e lie and by which they are moved to and
fro when the wedges are moved; and the bars e are provided at their ends with
claws which take over the inwardly projecting flanges 61 formed on the inner
ring b. The ring is split at 6. The bearing edges of the wedges care inclined
and their inclinations correspond with the direction of inclination of the flanges b',.
as shown most clearly in Figure 4.
The action of the adjusting devices is as follows:-To expand the ring a, the
screwd is turned in such a direction as to draw the two wedges c closer together;
by this action the inclined edges of the wedges press upon the inner inclined
surfaces of the flanges and press them apart, thereby expanding the ring b;
and as the ring outside of the ring bears upon the inner side of the ring a, the
expansion of it causes the ring a to be expanded.
The adjustment so made is a fixed one, as the ring is provented from being
pressed inwards by the wedges c and from being pressed outwards (from whatever
cause such pressure or tendency to expand outwards may be due) by the jaws e¹
of the locking bars e.
It will now be plainly seen, how, by working the screw d, the size of the ring a
may be adjusted or set to the exact size required and locked positively to that
size; and it will also now be plain, how, by merely raising or removing the junk
or analogous ring A', or cover, of a piston-valve or piston, this adjustment may be
effected while the rings are in position, and the wear, caused by use and work of
the ring, and the cylinder in which it works, made up whenever required, and the
ring made to fit the cylinder exactly to the degree desired.
In the arrangement of single ring shewn in Figures 6 to 9, the wedges c are
5 made of double formation one part being of greater width than the other, the
larger one being on the inner side, and adapted to work in connection with the flanges 6'
(which in this case are formed in the ring a), and the other the smaller part (see
Figure 8) being adapted to work in connection with the edges of the ring a at
the point at which it is split these edges being inclined to a corresponding angle
corresponding with the bearing edges of the flanges b. At this point at the top
and bottom rim of the ring cod pieces are provided as shewn.
When applied to a piston valve this ring is fitted therein in the usual way-
such as that referred to in the description of the packing shewn in Figures 1 to 5,
and the action of the adjustment is also obviously similar. With the exception of
the differences of construction above specified or referred to, the construction,
operation, and effect of this ring is the same as that specified with reference to
Figures 1 to 5.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to he understood
that this invention, as regards the means for adjusting the ring and locking it, is
not confined to the particular construction of devices set forth with reference to
the drawings, as one wedge may be used for the purpose in lieu of two, or it may
be modified in other ways without departing from the mode of effecting the ends
for which it is employed; and I declare that what I claim as my invention is:
:-
1. In a piston-valve, piston, plunger, or the like, a packing comprising an inner
ring, such as b, and an outer ring, such as a, the inner one being provided with
means for varying or adjusting its diameter, and setting or fixing such adjustment ;
for the purposes sot forth.
2. In a piston-valve, piston, plunger, or the like a packing comprising a ring,
such as a, provided with means adapted to operate after the manner described for
varying or adjusting its diameter and setting or fixing such adjustinent; for the
purposes set forth.
3. In a piston-valve, piston, plunger, or like packing, the combination of an
outer ring a, an inner ring b, a wedge or wedges c in connection with said ring b,
and means for locking said ring 6 when adjusted; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. In a piston-valve, piston, plunger, or like packing, the combination of a
ring a, a wedge or wedges c in connection with said outer ring a, and means for
locking said ring when adjusted; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. The herein described means for adjusting the packing rings of piston-valves,
pistons, plungers, or the like, consisting of the wedges c, c, and screw bolt d,
arranged and adapted to operate in connection with a ring such as a or b, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
6. The herein described means for adjusting the packing rings of piston-valves,
pistons, plungers, or the like, consisting of the wedges cc, screw bolt d, and locking
bars e, e, arranged and adapted to operate in connection with a ring such as a or b
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. The piston-valve packing consisting of the rings a and b, wedges c, c, bolt d,
and locking bars e, e, set forth with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings
for the purposes specified.
8. The piston-valve packing consisting of the ring a, wedges c, c, bolt d, and
locking bars, e, set forth with reference to Figures 6 to 9 of the drawings for
the purposes specified.
Dated this 6th day of August 1890