Improvements in Spring Packing for Pistons and for like Purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1894-Accepted. 2nd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Packing for Pistons and for like
Purposes.
We, EDMUND HOWL, of The Quarries, near Dudley, Engineer, and SILVESTER
WARBURTON, of 28 Newhall Street, Tibbington, Tipton, Engineer, both in the
County of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to the manner in which we construct spring packing
for use on pistons of steam and other motive power engines and for use with pump
and like plungers, for the purpose of making a truly cylindrical and endless spring.
bearing surface, capable of effectually preventing the escape of steam, gas or liquid
past the piston or plunger when working within a cylinder or barrel.
In carrying our invention into effect when constructing our improved packing
rings for use on a piston of a steam or other engine, we form the body of the piston
and the method of attachment to the piston rod, in any well known manner and
within this block or body we cut or provide a circular chamber or deep groove into
which we place our packing rings, while upon one outer surface or face we mount a
cover plate which we attach to the block by bolts, studs, or in any well known
manner for securing the packing material and springs in correct position for
working with the piston.
We make our outer spring ring or circular packing ring of a depth to fit within
the cover and the flange or ledge formed by the lower end of the piston block, the
outer diameter being parallel with the cylinder while the inner diameter we make
tapered for receiving a like tapered inner ring or conical jointing ring which we
place within it when upon the piston. We form our outer ring as an elastic or
endless spring ring by casting with or cutting in a series of grooves or serrations
alternately around the surface of the packing ring so as to cause the ring to be
elastic and to expand when in the cylinder under the strain due to its having been
originally turned to a larger external diameter than that of the bore of the cylinder
within which it is to work, or due to the ring being turned the exact diameter of
the said cylinder compressed by a suitable clamp or clip while turning. The
serrations, piercings or slits within the ring I make either vertical or inclined or in
the form of complete openings or spaces having edges or bands of metal at the
outer edges to preserve continuity in the metal connection and thus to form an
endless ring or band having its elasticity provided by the serrations, corrugations,
grooves or openings cut within its surface.
Within the packing space or piston ring groove we place a second similarly
grooved or serrated inner ring, the grooves being placed so as to divide the spaces
of the grooves in the outer ring, and we make the outer surface of the inner ring
conical in form so as to fit within the tapered inner diameter of the outer packing
ring, so that when wedged down or pressed truly one against the other the steam
will be prevented from passing through from one ring into the other; thus,
although the steam may freely enter and press open the grooves of the outer ring,
it cannot pass into the grooves of the inner wedge ring. We prefer to form our
inner ring with a projecting flange or series of lugs upon which the lower surface
or surfaces of a spring or series of springs may rest, the upper surface or surfaces

page_text: of the springs being arranged so as to bear against the cover plate and thus to
force or wedge down the inner spring truly into its seat. We make our inner ring
with guides or circular projecting ends for fitting within channels cut within the
piston block and the cover plate, so as to ensure it being retained in correct working
position.
We do not always employ projecting lugs or bands on our inner rings for the
springs to rest against, but we sometimes arrange the springs so that they may act
upon the upper or lower surfaces of the inner rings direct; or we dispense entirely
with these supplementary springs and make our packing rings of parallel form to
fit one within the other in the piston groove or grooves.
We do not limit the construction of our piston packing rings to pistons in which
only one ring or groove is provided, but we sometimes place two or more endless
rings in two or more grooves or bands cut or arranged within the piston.
We modify the number, form and configuration of the grooves and the arrange-
ment and thickness of the rings or bands to suit any particular requirement, and
we adapt the same essential features herein before described as applied to a steam
piston, when arranging our rings for packing plungers or pistons of other motive
power engines or machines. An inner parallel ring may be inserted of sufficient
thickness to expand the outer ring sufficiently to allow for wear.
Instead of forming our outer ring from a casting we may construct it by bending
steel or other metal of suitable section and so producing a continuous ring which
we turn up on its surfaces to fit the cylinder and piston.
Dated this 12th day of July 1893.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Spring Packing for Pistons and for like
Purposes.
We, EDMUND HOWL, of The Quarries, near Dudley, Engineer, and SILVESTER
WARBURTON, of 28 Newhall Street, Tibbington, Tipton, Engineer, both in the
County of Stafford, 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 :-
This invention has reference to the manner in which we construct spring packing
for use on pistons of steam and other motive power engines and for use with pump
and like plungers, for the purpose of making a truly cylindrical and endless spring
bearing surface, capable of effectually preventing the escape of steam, gas or liquid
past the piston or plunger when working within a cylinder or barrel.
In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a piston fitted with our packing
springs, and Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
On Sheet 2, Figure 3 is an elevation of a set of our rings, and Figure 4 is a part
plan of the same.
Figure is a detailed sectional elevation showing the outer and inner rings when
-made with their inner surfaces inclined or tapered.
Figure 6 is a similar elevation showing the rings parallel to each other.
Figure 7 is a detailed view showing the rings thinner for the purpose of
permitting them to be drawn over the piston where a sunk ring is not employed.
Figure 8 is a detailed sectional elevation showing our two rings arranged to
work with an ordinary spring.
In carrying our invention into effect when constructing our improved packing
rings for use on a piston of a steam or other engine, we form the body A of the
piston and the method of attachment to the piston rod B, in any well known

page_text: manner, and within this block or body A we cut or provide a circular chamber or
deep groove a, into which we place our packing rings CD, while upon one outer
surface or face we mount a cover plate E which we attach to the block by bolts or
studs F, or by any well known manner for securing the packing material and'
springs in correct position for working with the piston.
We make our outer spring ring or circular packing ring C of a depth to fit.
within the cover E and the flange or ledge A' formed by the lower end of the
piston block, the outer diameter being parallel with the cylinder while the inner
diameter we make parallel or tapered for receiving a like, parallel or tapered inner
ring or jointing ring D which we place within it when upon the piston. We form
our outer ring C as an elastic or endless spring ring by casting it with or cutting
in it a series of grooves or serrations C', alternately around the surface of the
packing ring, so as to cause the ring to be elastic and to expand when in the
cylinder under the strain due to its having been originally turned to a larger
external diameter than that of the bore of the cylinder within which it is to work,.
or due to the ring while being turned the exact diameter of the said cylinder being
compressed by a suitable clamp or clip while turning. The serrations, piercings or
slits CC within the ring I make either vertical or inclined, or in the form of
complete openings or spaces having edges or bands of metal C2 at the outer edges:
to preserve continuity in the metal connection, and thus to form an elastic ring or
band having its elasticity provided by the serrations, corrugations, grooves or
openings cut within its surface.
Within the packing space or piston ring groove we place a second similarly
grooved or serrated inner ring D, the grooves D D' being placed so as to divide
the spaces of the grooves in the outer ring C. We make this inner ring parallel
with the outer one, or we make the outer surface of the inner ring conical in form
as shown in Figure 3, so as to fit within the tapered inner diameter of the outer
packing ring, in order that when they are wedged down or pressed truly one-
against the other the steam will be prevented from passing through from one ring
into the other; thus, although the steam may freely enter and press open the
grooves of the outer ring C, it cannot pass into the grooves of the inner wedge
ring D.
We sometimes form our inner ring as shown in Figure 8 with a projecting
flange D or with a series of lugs upon which the lower surface or surfaces of a
spring or series of springs G may rest, the upper surface or surfaces of the springs.
being arranged so as to bear against the flange A¹ or against the cover plate, and
thus to force or wedge down the inner spring D truly into its seat formed upon the
spring C. We may make our inner ring with guides or circular projecting ends.
for fitting within channels cut within the piston block and the cover plate, so as to
ensure it being retained in correct working position.
We do not always employ projecting lugs or bands on our inner rings for the
springs to rest against, but we sometimes arrange the springs so that they may act
upon the upper or lower surfaces of the inner rings direct; or we dispense entirely
with these supplementary springs and make our packing rings of parallel form as
shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7 to fit one within the other in the piston groove or
grooves a.
We do not limit the construction of our piston packing rings to pistons in which
only one ring or groove is provided, but we sometimes place two or more endless
rings in two or more grooves or bands cut or arranged within the piston.
We modify the number, form and configuration of the grooves, and the arrange-
ment and thickness of the rings or bands to suit any particular requirement, and
we adapt the same essential features herein before described as applied to a steam
piston, when arranging our rings for packing plungers or pistons of other motive.
power engines or machines. An inner parallel ring may be inserted of sufficient.
thickness to expand the outer ring sufficiently to allow for wear.
Instead of forming our outer ring from a casting we may construct it by bending
steel or other metal of suitable section and so produce a continuous ring which we
turn up on its surfaces to fit the cylinder and piston.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a piston or plunger for working in a cylinder or barrel, the arrangement
of a pair of packing rings one within the other to fit or be carried within a recess
or channel provided upon the piston or plunger, the rings, being made elastic by
grooves or alternately formed openings in their bearing surfaces, substantially as
herein before described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction of metallic packing rings for use upon pistons and plungers,
having elasticity provided upon the rings by means of a series of grooves, channels
or openings cut or formed alternately within the bearing surfaces of the rings,
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of a pair of serrated divided or pierced
metallic rings to work upon a piston or plunger, the openings or serrations of the
outer ring being covered by the solid unpieced portion of the inner ring, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein before described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th dow of Anril 1801
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.