Improvements in or connected with Piston Rings, especially applicable to High Pressure Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Piston Rings, especially
applicable to High Pressure Engines.
I, WILLIAM BUCKLEY, of Patent Piston Works, Millsands, Sheffield, in the
County of York, 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 :-
The aim of this my invention, being to relieve, or partially remove the pressure
exerted by the steam or other motive force, acting upon the back or inside of the
piston rings, and thus forcing the said rings to impinge unduly against the cylinder
side, I attain by constructing the said rings having a section similar in configuration
to those shewn on accompanying sheet of drawings, in the various views
modifications of which, same letters of reference apply to and iudicate similar parts
or details.
or
By referring to the same it will be seen that Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4, are cross
sections of pairs of rings, having annular grooves recesses, or sets off, on the outer
periphery of the said rings.
In constructing rings as shewn by Figure 1 I form them having on their outer
periphery one or more grooves B, of any desired shape and size, which said groove
or grooves may be continued around the whole external circumference of the ring A,
or if considered advantageous, may be determined at any required point.
Figure 2 illustrates a section of a pair of rings having, in lieu of the before
mentioned grooves, an annular set off or step C, formed on and in the periphery of
ring A, thus constituting or forming a groove of the size and configuration required,
when a pair of rings are placed together in position.
In the section shewn by Figure 3, the annular set off or step C, is placed on the
outer edges of ring A, towards the flanges Z of piston, block, thus forming, when
in combination with the flanges Z, two grooves or recessed portions, extending or
continuing over the whole or any desired portion of the outer circumference of
rings.
Figure 4 is a modification of the section shewn by Figure 1, the groove or
grooves B, being of angular, or if desired concave shape, the edges of which
disappear or determine on periphery of said rings A.
Instead of forming an annular groove or grooves on the external diameter of the
ring, as in the before described methods, I may construct the rings, having on their
outer circumference, parallel, and in line with, the axis of the said rings any
approved number of grooves, recesses, or indentations, of suitable configuration
and size D, having an opening towards either the inner or outer edges of the rings,
or both combined, as illustrated by the cross section and plan and numbered
Figure 5.
Figure 6 shews a cross section and plan of a modified form of the foregoing, in
which the grooves or recesses D, are placed parallel, with each other, but only
partially across in a diagonal direction, the face or external periphery of the said
rings A. These grooves or recesses D may be made to run or open out towards
the inner or outer edges of rings A, or both combined, as before mentioned.
Figure 7 illustrates a section of a pair of rings A, having on their outer
periphery, circular, rectangular, or any other approved shape, recesses of requisite
number and size E, which may be connected with each other, or opened to the
edges of ring A, by small grooves E', or if considered advantageous, by small holes
formed through towards the inside of ring. The annular grooves B, previously

page_text: described may be connected with the internal space between rings A, and block Y,
by the same or similar means if considered necessary.
Figure 8 illustrates a sectional view of a pair of rings A, provided with
removable covers F, on the flanges A', of the rings A, the outer edge or periphery
of which constitutes the surface or portion which comes in contact with the cylinder,
the intervening space between the said cover rings F, on the external circumference
of rings A, forming an equivalent to the groove or grooves B.
If considered requisite or advantageous to do so, an additional annular and
central ring may be inserted between the rings A, which may also have a bearing
surface against the cylinder body.
Figure 9, shews a further method I may adopt in constructing piston rings. By
it I make two annular shaped rings having the wider edge outwards, and between
the said rings G, at right angles with the same I place a third ring H, which also
acts as a distance piece, the outer diameter of which forms the bottom of the
annular groove or recess B.
By providing the rings A, with the removable cover rings F, the wearing parts
may be readily renewed when required, without replacing the whole of the
rings.
Where the removable cover rings F, are applied a combination of metals or
materials may be used, if desired, in the formation of the said rings.
It will be seen that by allowing steam or other motive force to percolate freely
into and through the grooves, recesses or openings formed between the rings A,
and cylinder body, the internal pressure between rings A, and piston block Y,
acting in an outward direction upon the said rings is thereby neutralized to a
corresponding extent with the available area of said grooves or recesses. The
action of the springs together with the steam or other pressure on the inside of the
rings, in the direction of the flanges Z, is increased proportionately, thus further
counteracting, by friction between the rings and flanges Z, the pressure of steam
or other motive force on the effective area of rings, in an outward direction.
I do not confiue myself to the examples or illustrations on drawings but which
will be found sufficient to illustrate the principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. Piston rings provided with and having on their outer periphery, grooves or
recesses, of any approved configuration sectional or otherwise, substantially as
shewn on the drawings, as and for the purpose or purposes herein described.
2nd. Piston rings constructed with one or more parts, of suitable material, or
combination of such, and of approved section, substantially as shewn on drawings
and herein fully described.
3rd. Piston rings having or capable of having steam or other motive force
(entering the grooves from the space between rings and block, or from the steam
side of piston) acting upon any approved area of the outer periphery of the said
rings, for the purpose of neutralizing to a corresponding extent the internal pressure,
in an outward direction on the said rings, as herein described.
4th. Piston rings having a reduced area on the periphery, in contact with the
cylinder, with or without an increased frictional surface between said rings and
piston block flanges, the said surface being operated upon by the spring or springs,
steam or other motive force, or both combined, on the inside of said rings as
herein described.
Dated this Fourth day of A1 1004