An Improved Metallic Packing for Steam Cylinder Pistons
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 4th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Dec., 1888
An Improved Metallic Packing for Steam Cylinder Pistons.
I, JEFFERSON PATTEN, a citizen of the United States of America and a resident of
Brooklyn in the State of New York, engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "AN IMPROVED METALLIC PACKING FOR STEAM CYLINDER 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, which is disclosed in the following description and
claims, is to provide a perfectly steam tight metallic packing for the pistons of steam
cylinders by constructing the metallic rings forming the packing and combining them
with the piston beat in such a manner that the steam in the cylinder will be admitted
under the packing rings, which will be pressed outward against the inner surface of
the cylinder, and thereby ensure a close fit and steam tight connection between the
packing and the cylinder, while at the same time allowing for the easy movements of
the piston.
To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my improvement, I will
proceed to describe its construction and operation by the aid of the accompanying
drawings, in which like letters of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever
found throughout the several views, and in which-
Figure 1, is a central vertical section of a piston provided with my improved pack-
ing ring and Figs. 2, and 3, are face and side views, respectively, of the ring.
In the drawings, a, is the piston head; b, the piston or bull ring; c, the piston
shaft, and d, the plate or follower, which is secured to the head a, and by which the
Di Q77

page_text: is
piston ring b. and packing rings e, are held in place. The outer rim of the head
cut away, as shown, in such a manner as to leave a flange d', on one side, and within
or upon this cut away portion is placed the ring b.
The ring, is provided with circumferential grooves or recesses b¹, which extend a
determined distance below the outer surface or edge of the flange d', and the
follower d, when these parts are in position. The ring e, which forms the principle
feature of my invention, is substantially rectangular in cross section, and is provided
on one of its front or pressure sides and on the inner face or side with corrugations,
as shown, the corrugations on the outer or pressure side and those on the inner face
or side being in communication or coincident. At a point, as for example at e¹, the
ring e, is cut, and one end thereof is provided with a tongue, h, which is secured
thereto by rivets, as shown, and the other end movably fits within a groove, h,
formed in the opposite end of the ring. The ring e, may be made of any metallic
substance preferred, and the tongue 1, should be made of some metal having a higher
degree of expansion under the influence of heat than the material of which the ring
is composed. This is not, however, absolutely necessary, as it is evident that the
parts may be made of the same material and operate successfully. The outer edges
of the packing ring may also be slightly bevelled, as shown in Fig. 1, if desired,
and thus the friction surface be reduced.
My invention is not limited to the means herein shown and described for uniting
the ends of the packing ring, as any form of connection, including the well known
lap joints, may be employed, if preferred.
The packing rings e, should be made of such thickness that they will be held closely
and firmly by the flanged, and the follower d, when the latter is in place. With
this construction the friction surface on the front or pressure side of the packing ring
is reduced by means of the corrugations formed thereon. The corrugations on the
under or inner face of the ring, coincident with the corrugations on the side thereof,
increase the elasticity of the ring, and also the surface area of the inner face of the
ring, upon which the steam acts to cause the expansion thereof, whereby greater force
to press the ring against the cylinder is obtained, and I am enabled to employ a ring
with much less impinging surface and still have a perfectly steam tight fit between the
cylinder and ring.
The operation is as follows: When the piston is making its forward or upstroke in
the direction of arrow i, the live steam rushes through the corrugations at m, on
the side of the ring e, down and into the corrugations on the under or inner face
thereof, and its expansive force operating in said corrugation and upon the entire
inner face causes the ring to expand and forces it outward against the surface of the
cylinder, thus securing a perfectly steam tight packing. On the reverse stroke of the
piston in the direction of arrow k, the operation is the same. The steam is forced into
the corrugations at n, and passing into the corrugations on the under or inner face of
this ring causes its expansion as in the first instance, and this operation or action of the
parts is repeated as long as the engine is running.
I am aware that steam has been employed to cause the expansion of the piston
packing rings in steam cylinders by admitting the steam under the ring in various
ways, that this has been done where two rings were used by causing the steam to press
out the upper ring on the downstroke and the lower ring on the upstroke of the engine,
and also by causing the steam to operate upon and expand both of the rings at once,
and do not claim, broadly, such construction. It is evident, however, that corrugations
might be formed upon the inner surface of the flange d', and the follower d, and upon
the bottom of the grooves or recesses b, and the packing ring made with plain surfaces
without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-
1. As an article of manufacture, a packing ring for steam pistons, having its oute
or pressure side provided with corrugations, whereby steam is admitted beneath the
ring, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 2. As an article of manufacture, a packing ring for steam pistons, having its outer
or pressure side and its inner face provided with communicating or coincident corru-
gations, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination, with a steam pistou provided with grooves or recesses, as b, of
a packing ring having its outer or pressure side radially corrugated, substantially as
shown and described.
4. The combination, with a steam piston having grooves or recesses, as b, of a pack-
ing ring having its outer or pressure side and its inner or under face provided with
coincident or communicating corrugations, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination, with a steam piston having grooves or recesses, as 6, of a
packing ring, as e, and corrugations for admitting steam at the side of and under the
ring, substantially as shown and described.
6. A packing ring for steam cylinder pistons, cut as shown, provided with a tongue
fixed to one end thereof and moving in a groove or recess formed in the other end,
the tongue being formed of a metal having a higher degree of expansion under the
influence of heat than that of which the ring is composed.
7. The combination, with a steam piston, having grooves or recesses, as b¹, of a
packing ring, as e, the inner face of which is corrugated and means for admitting
steam to said corrugations.
Signed at the City of New York this 20th day of July A.D. 1888.