Improvements in and relating to Fluid-tight Packing Rings for Pistons, Reciprocating Rods, Stuffing Boxes, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Cate of Application, 31st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Fluid-tight Packing Rings for
Pistons, Reciprocating Rods, Stuffing Boxes, and the like.
I, JOHN MACKIE, Crofthead, Neilston, Renfrewshire, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to pistons and piston and valve rods for steam or other
fluid pressure engines, pumps, or machines, and has for its object the balancing or
equalising of the pressure of a piston against the walls of a cylinder, and the
metallic packing of piston and valve rods, giving a balanced or equalised pressure
against the rod and reducing the friction to a minimum. It comprises the making
of two or more metallic packing rings of novel construction, superimposed over each
other, which, in the case of cylinders are placed in the usual way between the
flange of the piston head and the junk ring, and in the case of piston or valve rods
may be placed in the ordinary stuffing box, or in a box mounted in the ordinary
stuffing box and taking the place of the ordinary gland.
66
The nature and novelty of my invention is in the construction of the rings, the
leading features of which are:-The rings are made whole, without the usual
gate" or opening being cut in them. They can be compressed or expanded, that
is, with a slight pressure applied by a band around the circumference they can be
squeezed in to a smaller diameter, or by the application of internal pressure they
can be expanded to a larger diameter. There is a reaction contained in the rings
which gives them their balancing or equalising elastic pressure properties. Being
made whole, if compressed, they will react uniformly outwards against the walls of
the cylinder and if expanded will react uniformly inwards against the piston rod or
valve rod.
•
The foregoing novel features of making a metallic ring whole and at the same
time compressible and expansible, I accomplish, by the novel method of its
construction which I now proceed to describe. In applying my invention to the
piston of an ordinary steam engine I make a cast iron or other suitable metal ring
of any desired breadth or thickness, and on the inner or concave side, I cast radial
projecting pieces which are made the same thickness as the ring, and project
inwards to any desired distance. These projecting pieces are cast on at equal
distances from each other all round and of an even number dividing the
ring into 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 or any even number of spaces according to the diameter
of the piston. In every alternate radial projecting piece I cast an oblong opening
or slit running radially but enclosed at both ends by being stopped short of going
through the radial piece at the inner end and the circumference of the ring at the
outer end, and made light enough at their sides to have the requisite elasticity
necessary to give the pressing spring action to the rings as hereinafter described.
The ring with its projecting pieces then turn up to a straight even surface on both
sides and parallel in thickness after which I cut a narrow opening or radial slit
with a saw or other means from the circumference of the ring into the aforesaid
radial openings. The ring I then compress until the narrow openings are closed
the slotted arms yielding to give the necessary elasticity for this compression, and
in which position it is held between face plates and turned to the diameter of the
cylinder in the usual way. It will be seen from the foregoing description that each
ring has thus an open and a solid projecting piece alternately or following each
other all round so that by placing one ring on another, the open elastic parts of the
one can be closed by the solid parts of the other. Two rings thus arranged with a
steady pin inserted to keep them in their relative positions forms a steam tight
packing and such that the steam cannot get into the inside of the piston and in any

page_text: case could only get into the close slotted spring recesses open to the working
circumference.
Although alternate close radial slotted pockets have been described, with the
elastic sides to give the necessary spring to the several divisions of the rings it is to
be understood that these pockets may be formed circumferentially and have the
elastic sides to spring radially by cutting the outer ring through into these close
pockets and having the alternate blocks of the other rings to cover the pockets all
as in the former arrangement, and preferably each ring having a solid ring inside
to which the elastic pockets would be attached to give the necessary elasticity to
the outer acting divisions of the rings.
In applying my improved rings to a piston valve or other reciprocating rod which
requires to work pressure fluid tight, I cast the radial projecting pieces on the
outer or convex side of the ring and after they are turned up on the sides and cut
through the inner bearing ring into the oblong openings as before described, they
are expanded in this case at the slits and bored out in their expanded position to the
diameter of the rod, and two or more rings superimposed on the rod would spring
in and grip the rod enclosed in a circular box through which it passes with pins in
them to keep them in their position with their solid radial parts covering the slotted
radial parts and which may be bolted on with the ordinary glands or gland studs,
to form the packing.
In carrying out my invention I propose to make the rings of cast iron, steel, brass
or phosphor bronze or any of the metals that are the most suitable for the purposes
to which these rings are to be applied.
Dated the 30th December 1891.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co., .
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Fluid-tight Packing Rings for
Pistons, Reciprocating Rods, Stuffing Boxes, and the like.
I, JOHN MACKIE, of Crofthead, Neilson, Renfrewshire, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, that is
to say :-
This invention relates to pistons, and piston and valve rods for steam or other
fluid pressure engines, pumps, or machines, and has for its object the balancing or
equalising of the pressure of a piston against the walls of a cylinder, and the
metallic packing of piston and valve rods, giving a balanced or equalised pressure
against the rod and reducing the friction to a minimum. It comprises the making
of two or more metallic packing rings of novel construction superimposed over each
other, which in the case of cylinders are placed in the usual way between the flange
of the piston head and the junk ring, and in the case of piston or valve rods may
be placed in the ordinary stuffing box, or in a box mounted in the ordinary stuffing
box and taking the place of the ordinary gland.
"
The nature and novelty of my invention is in the construction of the rings, the
leading features of which are,--The rings are made whole or in one piece withou
the usual " gate or opening being cut through them. They can be compressed or
expanded, that is, with a slight pressure applied by a band around the circum-
ference they can be squeezed into a smaller diameter, or by the application of
internal pressure they can be expanded to a larger diameter. There is a re-action
contained in the rings themselves which gives them their balancing or equalising
elastic pressure properties. Being made whole, if compressed they will react
uniformly outwards against the walls of the cylinder and if expanded will re-act
uniformly inwards against the piston rod or valve rod.

page_text: The foregoing novel features of making a metallic ring whole and at the same
time compressible and expansible, I accomplish, by the novel method of its con-
struction which I now proceed to describe.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a piston A A, as fitted with two fluid tight
packing rings a, a, in accordance with one arrangement of my improvements.
Figure 2 is a plan view of same with the junk ring A' of the piston removed, and
showing the upper packing ring a.
Figures 3 and 4 on Sheet 2 are views of a piston A, A, corresponding to
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1 showing a modified construction of the piston packing
rings a, a, from that illustrated in the former figures and more applicable for large
sizes of rings and pistons. While
Figure 5 on Sheet 1 shows a sectional elevation of a cylinder end cover B and
piston reciprocating rod A' with a hollow cylindrical turned metallic stuffing box
and outer gland C, C', as fitted with an arrangement of my improved packing
rings a, a. And
Figure 6 is a sectional plan view through the stuffing box and packing rings.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1.-In applying my invention to the
piston of an ordinary steam engine, of which is the piston attached to its rod A³,
and A', the junk ring secured by screw bolts A" in a usual manner, I make a cast
iron or other suitable metal ring a of any desired breadth or thickness for inserting
between the flange A and junk ring A¹ of the piston, and on the inner or concave
side, I cast radial projecting pieces a', a', which are made the same thickness as the
ring a and project inwards to any desired distance. These projecting pieces a¹ a²
are cast on at equal distances from each other all round and of an even number
dividing the ring into 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or any even number of spaces according
to the diameter of the piston. In every alternate radial projecting piece a', I cast
or otherwise form an oblong opening or slot all running radially, but enclosed at
both ends by being stopped short of going through the radial piece a¹ at the inner
end and the circumference of the ring a at the outer end, and made light enough at
the sides a¹ of the slot a¹¹, to have the requisite elasticity necessary to give the
pressing spring action to the rings as hereinafter described. The ring a with its
projecting pieces a¹, a', I then turn up to a straight even surface on both sides and
parallel in thickness, after which I cut a narrow opening or radial slit at a® by a
saw or other means through the circumference of the ring a into each of the
aforesaid radial openings all.
The ring
a I then compress until the narrow
openings a are closed, the slotted arms a yielding to give the necessary elasticity
for this compression, and in which position it is held between face plates and
turned to the diameter of the cylinder in a usual way. It will be seen from the
foregoing description that each ring a has thus an open and a solid projecting
piece a¹ and a² alternately or following each other all round, so that by placing one
ring on another, the open elastic parts a' all of the one can be closed by the solid
parts a' of the other. Two rings thus arranged as shown in Figure 1, with a
steadying pin inserted to keep them in their relative positions, form a steam tight
packing and such that the steam cannot get into the inside of the piston A, and in
any case could only get into the close slotted spring recesses all open to the
working circumference.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 on Sheet 2, in this arrangement, each ring part a
is made broader or deeper than the inward projecting slotted spring or elastic
parts a¹ and is turned parallel on each side with its adjacent bearing edges
narrower, and its outer edges made broader with a flange at a', where it bears on
the inner turned surfaces of the rim or flange of the piston and of the junk ring.
The solid projecting in parts a² of the former arrangement are dispensed with,
and the projecting in parts a¹ of the two rings a are not placed over each other,

page_text: but alternate with each other. Each ring a has a parallel shallow or annular
groove c turned in the centre of its flange part at where it bears on the rim flange
and junk ring of the piston, and the ring a is cut through at a³ from the outer
circumference into the slots a" as in the former arrangement, and has a parallel
radial slotted part cut out at c¹ over the recesses a of the same depth as the
groove c, and a cross tongue piece is fitted in the groove c and recess c¹ over
each slit a extending to the outer circumference a to prevent leakage from this
through the slits a³ into the openings a" as shown in Figure 4, and in enlarged
plan and edge section Figure 4 screwed by one arm of the tongue at cin
the groove c, so as to allow of the free springing of the ring at each slotted
part a', and prevent steam or pressure fluid passing beyond the rims A or A' of
the piston in through the slots as to the interior of the piston, and a pin b may
be fitted as in the former arrangement for keeping the rings in their relative
position. Both rings a, a, are formed with a number of round holes opposite
each other at d between the recessed arms a, a¹', of the two rings, reaching from
the flange at of the one ring to that of the other, for the insertion of a helical
or spiral spring d¹ within each duplex recess, so that this spring pushes the
flanges a of the two rings, with their tongue pieces e against the inner turned
surface of the flanges A, A', of the piston, and so prevent steam entering the
piston at these parts, as shown particularly on the right hand side of Figure 3.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6 on Sheet 1.-In applying my improved rings to a
piston or other reciprocating rod A which requires to work pressure fluid tight, I
form or cast the spring and solid radial projecting pieces a¹, a³, on the outer or
convex side of the ring a and after they are turned up on the sides and cut through
the inner bearing ring at a into the oblong openings all as before described, in
reference to Figures 1 and 2, they are expanded in this case at the slits a³ by the
insertion of wedges or temporary metal strips, and bored out while in their
expanded position to the diameter of the rod A; and two or more rings a super-
imposed over each other on the rod A³, would be inserted into the stuffing box C, C',
between its turned bottom C and gland C¹ and spring in and grip the rod A², a
pin being inserted to keep the rings in their superimposed position with their
solid radial parts a², covering the slotted radial parts a', a", within the stuffing box
which would be lubricated in an ordinary manner.
Although alternate close radial slotted pockets a¹ all have been described, with
the elastic sides to give the necessary spring to the several divisions of the rings a
it is to be understood that these pockets may be formed circumferentially and have
the elastic sides to spring radially by cutting the outer ring a through into these
close pockets and having the alternate blocks a² of the other rings to cover the
pockets all as in the former arrangements Figures 1 and and 5 and 6, and pre-
ferably each ring having a solid ring inside to which the elastic pockets would
be attached to give the necessary elasticity to the outer acting divisions of the
rings.
In carrying out my invention I propose to make the rings of cast iron, steel,
brass, or phosphor bronze, or any of the metals that are the most suitable for the
purposes to which these rings are to be applied.
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
olaim is :-
:-
First. The forming of fluid-tight packing rings for pistons all in one piece
with a series of inwardly projecting spring ribs or pieces on their inner edge
or circumference, and having a slotted pocket space in any or all of these pro-
jections, closed at the inner end but open at the outer circumference, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described, in reference to and by way of application
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. The combination and use of two or more fluid-tight spring packing rings
for pistons formed as described in Claim 1, and fitted to each other and to the

page_text: piston, substantially as and for the purposes herein described in reference to, and by
way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. The casting or forming of fluid-tight packing rings all in one piece for
reciprocating rods, stuffing boxes, and the like, with a series of outwardly projecting
spring ribs or pieces on their outer circumference and having a slotted pocket space
in any or all of the radial projections closed at the outer end, but open at the inner
ring circumference, substantially as and for the purposes herein described in
reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The combination and use of two or more fluid-tight spring packing
rings for reciprocating rods, stuffing boxes and the like formed as described in
Claim 3, and fitted in stuffing boxes and connected together, substantially as
herein described in reference to and by way of application shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated the noth Contraha 1905
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.