IMPROVED METALLIC RINGS FOR PISTONS
Year: 1885

page_text: I GEORGE DIXON of 1 Frederick St Nuttal Lane Ramsbottom in the County of
Lancashire Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVED METALLIC RINGS FOR PISTONS to be as follows:-
The face of the piston or a portion of it is turned less in diameter than the
cylinder The space so formed between the piston & the cylinder extending to one
or both of the outer edges of the piston. The elastic rings occupy this space &
projections are formed upon them & accurately turned to fit corresponding grooves
in the piston
The projections may be either at right angles to the axis of the
piston or may form a square threaded screw. In the former case the projections
are proportioned so that the ringe may be sprung into place a sufficient number of
projections being formed to hold the rings in place & prevent the steam &c from
passing The rings are split so that their elasticity may press them against the
Bides of the cylinder. The steam &c is prevented from passing at the joints by.
suitable stopping pieces. Springs may be employed to press against the inner
surface of the rings to aid their elasticity.
The rings may be made of iron, steel or any of the alloys of copper or other
mixtures of metals & are applicable to the pistons of steam gas air water or other
cylinders.
Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings accompanying this specification show the form of
the rings with projections at right angles to the axis of the piston. Stopping
pieces for preventing the passage of steam &c at the joint of the rings are shown
at a figs. 2 & 3 springs b fig. 2 are employed to keep the stopping pieces pressed
against the side of the cylinder.
Improved stopping pieces are shown in figs. 5, 6 & 8. They are made in the
form of a ring & are split & made to press against the inner surface of the rings.
The portion crossing the joint of the rings is thickened so as to press against the
side of the cylinder as shown at a fig. 5. The stopping pieces may be made
sufficiently strong to aid the elasticity of the rings.
Fig. 4 shows the application of a spiral spring to the inner surface of the rings
to aid their elasticity. Springs may be used designed to press both against the
inuer surface of the rings & the face of the piston so as to keep the latter steady.
Fig. 10 shows a piston in which a portion of the face is left in contact with the
cylinder This form will be chiefly applicable to vertical cylinders. The part left

page_text: "
in contact with the cylinder may also be in the centre of the face of the piston the
rings being in two sections.
Figs. 9, 10, 11 show the form of rings in which the projections form a square
threaded screw.
As the rings can be screwed upon the piston they do not need to
be sprung into place & consequently this form of rings is particularly applicable to
pistons of small diameter. The stopping pieces may be similar to those shown in
fige. 2 & 3.
A portion of the screw upon the rings or piston may be cut away & a spiral
spring corresponding with the screw substituted to aid the elasticity of the rings.
In the drawings the rings are shown in one piece but they may also be made in
sections.
The wearing surface of the rings may be increased by extending them beyond
the piston as shown by the dotted lines at b fig. 4. This will be an advantage
in large low pressure cylinders where the pistons are unavoidably heavy. The
steam &c will press freely upon the exposed portion of the rings & help to keep
them in contact with the cylinder.

page_text: I GEORGE DIXON Mechanical Engineer of Tanners House Ramsbottom Lancashire
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED METALLIC RINGS FOR
PISTONS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is 1 to dispense with the loose junk plate usually
employed.
2. The rings may work into the bellmouth at each end of the cylinder so
that no shoulders are formed as the latter wears.
The face of the piston or a portion of it is turned less in diameter than the
cylinder The space so formed between the cylinder & the piston extends to
one or both of the outer edges of the piston. The elastic rings occupy this space &
projections are formed upon them & accurately turned to fit corresponding grooves
in the pisto The projections may be either at right angles to the axis of the
piston or may form a square threaded screw. A sufficient number of projections
are formed to hold the rings in place & prevent the steam from passing. The
rings are split so that their elasticity presses them against the sides of the cylinder.
The steam is prevented from passing at the joints by suitable stopping pieces.
I employ springs to press against the inner surface of the rings to aid their
elasticity.
The rings may be made of iron, steel, or any of the alloys of copper or other
mixtures of metal & are applicable to the pistons or buckets of steam, gas, air,
water or other cylinders.
Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings which accompanied the provisional specification
show the form of the rings with projections at right angles to the axis of the
piston. Stopping pieces for preventing the steam from passing at the joints are
shown at a figs. 2 & 3, springs b fig. 2 may be employed to keep the stopping pieces
pressed against the side of the cylinder These stopping pieces may also be placed
at the outer edges of the rings & dovetailed into the piston to keep them in place.
Other forms of stopping pieces are shown in figs. 5, 6 & 8. They are made in the
form of a ring & are split & made to press against the inner surface of the rings.
The portion crossing the joint of the rings is thickened so as to press against the
sides of the cylinder as shown at a fig. 5. These stopping pieces may be made of
sufficient strength to serve as springs. Fig. 4 shows the application of a spiral
spring for aiding the elasticity of the rings. Springs may also be applied designed
to press radially against the piston & the inner surface of the rings so as to keep
the former steady when the rings are worn.
Figs. 9, 10, 11 show a piston in which the projections for engaging with the
rings form a square threaded screw. This form is particularly applicable to pistons
of small diameter.
A portion of the screw upon the rings or piston may be cut away & a spiral
spring inserted corresponding with the pitch of the screw.

page_text: In the drawings the rings are shown in one piece but they may also be made in
sections A portion of the piston may be left in contact with the bore of the
cylinder as shown in fig. 7. The part so left may also be in the centre of the face
of the piston, the rings being in two sections. The wearing surface of the rings
may be increased by extending them beyond the piston as shown by the dotted
lines at 6 fig. 4.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is performed I declare that what I claim is
1. The elastic metallic rings as shown upon the drawings & described in this
specification or any mere modification of the same.