IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PISTONS OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO FORCE PUMPS AND LIFTING PUMPS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joel Watts, of Dover Cottage, Sleaford Street,
Battersea Fields, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PISTONS OF STEAM AND OTHER
ENGINES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO FORCE PUMPS AND LIFTING PUMPS."
Sealed the 6th October 1853, and dated the 18th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joel Watts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th April 1853.
I, JOEL WATTS, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PISTONS OF STEAM AND
OTHER ENGINES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO FORCE PUMPS AND LIFTING PUMPS,"
to be as follows:--
This Invention consists in the use and application of steam to the
rings or segments of rings of metallic pistons, such as are used in
the cylinders of steam and other engines. Hitherto these rings have
been acted upon by metallic springs for forcing them outwards; but by
this Invention it is proposed to employ the elastic force of steam in lieu
of such said metallic springs and pistons constructed according to this

page_text: Invention are alike applicable to the cylinders of forcing and lifting
pumps generally. But in order to explain and ascertain the nature of
this Invention more fully, reference must be had to the illustrative
drawing hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of
reference marked thereon, as follows.
structed according to this Invention. Figure 2, is a partial transverse
and vertical section thereof taken through the line A, B, at Figure 1.
Figure 3, is an elevation, and Figure 4, an edge view of a portion
of one of the rings hereafter referred to, shewing the mode of connect-
ing together the segments thereof. At each of these Figures the same
letters of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts.
A, A, mark castings, with bosses B, B, formed thereon, which have
holes formed therein for the reception of screws C, C, as shewn at
Figure 2, at which Figure it will be seen that said castings are formed
with a conical shaped projection or rim D, D, and holes a, a, a, com-
municating with the external surface of said rim. E, E, is a circular
piece of metal for cutting off the communication between the cast-
ings A, A. G, G, are metallic curved segments composing rings,
which are connected together by metal tongues F, one of which is
shewn at Figures 2, 3, 4; these tongues allow the segments to expand,
and at the same time keep the joint steam-tight at such part. I, is a
ring having square holes formed therein, which pass over the heads of
the bolts or screws C, C, to prevent them from coming unscrewed when
the piston is in action. K, K, are pins for connecting the ring I, to the
under side of the piston by means of the split pins b, b, shewn at Figure 1.
L, L, is the piston rod, which is connected to the piston by forming the
rod larger at the part z, than the other part of said rod, as exhibited
at Figure 2. The effect of this arrangement is as follows:-Assuming
the several parts to be connected together, as exhibited at Figure 2,
and the piston to be placed within the cylinder of a steam engine, and
steam admitted to the under side of the piston, it will appear manifest

page_text: that the steam will enter the holes a, and in its endeavour to escape
therefrom will exert pressure against the segment and rim D, which
last-mentioned part forms an abutment for the steam to act against,
whilst the segments G, being non-resisting, are forcibly pressed against
the cylinder, whereby a perfectly steam-tight packing is obtained, with
but a trifling amount of rubbing surface or friction, as the rings G, are
never both in action at the same time, but are alternately acted upon
according as the steam is admitted either at the top side of the piston
or the bottom side thereof; and it is this mode of arranging and
combining together the several parts which constitutes this Invention
of improvements in pistons.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joel Watts, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 18th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOEL WATTS, of Sleaford Street, Battersea Fields, in the County of
Surry, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Joel Watts, Her special licence that
I, the said Joel Watts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Joel Watts, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF PISTONS OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO FORCE PUMPS
AND LIFTING PUMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Joel Watts, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-

page_text: tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joel Watts, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Invention consists in the use and application of steam or other
elastic fluid to the rings or segments of rings of metallic pistons, such as
are used in the cylinders of steam and other engines. The mode
hitherto practised in the construction of pistons fitted with metallic
packings for keeping the rings or-segments of rings distended, has been
to employ metallic springs for that purpose; and, the object and in-
tention of my said Invention is to dispense with the use of such said
springs, and to employ, in lieu thereof, the elastic force of steam or
other fluid, by which I reduce the friction of the piston against the
cylinder as it slides therein; and pistons constructed according to my
said Invention are alike applicable to the cylinders or barrels of lifting
or forcing pumps generally, the fluid to be raised or forced being em-
ployed for the same purpose as the steam in the piston above men-
tioned, that of keeping the metallic rings or packing in forced contact
with the cylinder or barrel in which the piston works.
"
And in order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible,
I now proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for
carrying my said Invention into practical effect, reference being had to
the illustrative drawing hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures
and letters of reference marked thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, exhibits a plan view of the under side of a piston con-
structed according to my said Invention. Figure 2, is a partial trans-
verse and vertical section thereof, taken through the line A, B, at
Figure 1. Figure 3, is an elevation, and Figure 4, an edge view of a
portion of one of the rings herein-after referred to, shewing the mode
of connecting together the segments thereof. Figure 5, is a partial

page_text: transverse and vertical section of a piston in which the steam is
allowed to act upon the ends of the rings instead of the inner circum-
ference thereof, as in the arrangement exhibited at .Figures 1, 2, 3, 4:
Figure 6, is a transverse section taken through the line A, B, at
Figure 5. Figure 7, is an elevation of the metallic ring or packing,
exhibiting the mode of keeping the divided portion steam-tight:
Figure 8, exhibits detached parts herein-after referred to. Figures
9, 10, 11, 12, are partial sections of pistons, exhibiting different modes
of constructing and arranging the metallic rings or packings, and
chambers into which the steam or other elastic fluid is admitted, for
forcing the same outwards. At each of the foregoing figures I-employ
similar letters of reference to denote, corresponding parts, in so far as
such parts appear or can be seen at each of the figures respectively.
At Figures 1, and 2, A, A, mark castings having bosses B, B, formed
thereon, with holes therein, for the reception of screws C, C, as shewn
at Figure 2, at which figure it will be seen that said castings are
formed with a conical-shaped projection or rim D, D, and holes a, a,
communicating with the internal surface of said rim. E, E, is a circular
piece of metal for cutting off the communication between the castings
A, A. G, G, are metallic curved segments composing rings, which are
connected together by metal tongues H, one of which is shewn at
Figures 3, 4; these tongues allow the segments to expand, and at the
sanie time keep the joint steam-tight at such part. I, is a ring having
square holes formed therein, which pass over the heads of the bolts or
screws C, C, to prevent them from coming unscrewed when the piston
is in action. K, K, are pins for connecting the rings I, to the under
side of the piston by means of split pins b, b, shewn at Figure 1.
L, L, is the piston rod, which is connected to the piston by forming
the rod larger at the part Z, than the other part of said rod, as
exhibited at Figure 2. The effect of this arrangement is as follows:-
Assuming the several parts to be connected together, as exhibited at
Figure 2, and the piston to be placed within the cylinder of a steam
engine, and steam admitted to the under side of the piston, it will
appear manifest that the steam will enter the holes a, a, and in its en-
deavour to escape therefrom will exert pressure against the segments

page_text: and rim D, which last-mentioned part forms an abutment for the steam
to act against, whilst the segments G, being non-resisting, are forcibly
pressed against the cylinder, whereby a perfectly steam-tight packing is
obtained, with but a trifling amount of rubbing surface or friction, since
the rings G, are never both in action at the same time, but are alter-
nately acted upon according as the steam is admitted either at the top
side of the piston, or the bottom side.thereof. And as regards the
construction of the piston exhibited at Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, it differs from
that lastly above described in the following respects; that is to say, I
form the metallic packing or ring G, of one piece of metal, divided at a,
and of the shape exhibited at Figures 5, and 7; and into the opening b',
thereof, I fit and place two castings c¹, and c', (shewn also in elevation at
Figure 8); and finally I fit and place in said opening another casting d¹,
and I form openings c', through the top and bottom of the piston for
establishing a communication with the steam chamber or space formed
by the castings c', d', when placed within the ring G, and held between
the top and bottom balves A, A, of the piston. And as regards the
construction of the modified forms of construction of the pistons,
exhibited partially at Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, it is as follows:-At
Figure 9, A, A, marks an endless ring of cast iron, formed with a pro-
jection or fillet B, around the same; C, C, mark the top and bottom
plates of the piston, which may be connected to the piston-rod in any
convenient manner: the plates C, C, have grooves or recesses a, a,
turned therein, into which fit the ends of the casting A, which is
turned true at such parts, as also that part of the fillet B, which fits
into a corresponding recess formed in the rings D, D, which rings are
cut or divided obliquely, and fitted with a tongue in a similar manner
to that before mentioned, and referred to in respect of Figures 5, 6, 7, 8.
The effect of the arrangement lastly above described and represented at
Figure 9, is as follows:-When the piston is in use the steam or other
fluid enters through one or other of the openings b, b, at Figure 9, into
the space c, and taking its abutment against the ring A, which is un-
yielding, exerts its pressure upon the one or other of the rings or seg-
ments D, D, and thereby forces it outwards. The arrangements
exhibited at Figures 10, 11, 12, are mere modifications of the form of

page_text: construction lastly above described and exhibited at Figure 9, the same
principle of construction pervading all of them.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be and may be performed, I desire it to be dis-
tinctly understood that I do not claim the exclusive use of any of the
separate parts above mentioned and referred to, except in so far as the
same may be employed in combination, and for the purposes of my said
Invention; which I hereby declare to consist in, and I claim as of my
Invention of, "Improvements in the construction of pistons of steam and
other engines, applicable also to force pumps and lifting pumps," the
mode set forth of constructing metallic pistons, and the use and appli-
cation thereto of steam or other clastic fluid to the rings or segments
of rings of said metallic pistons, in lieu of metallic springs, for the
purpose of forcing said rings or segments outwards, as hercin-before
particularly described and represented by the illustrative drawings liere-
unto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joel Watts, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
0
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Patent Agent,
JOEL WATTS. (L.S.)
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.