IMPROVEMENTS IN PISTON-PACKINGS.
Year: 1879

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PISTON-PACKINGS.' A communication from abroad by Samuel Augustus
Youse, of Sutter Creek, in the County of Amador, and State of California,
United States of America,
Sealed the 12th December 1879, and dated the 14th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex;
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PISTON-PACKINGS." [A communication from
abroad by Samuel Augustus Youse, of Sutter Creek, in the County of Amador, and
State of California, United States of America.]
'
This Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of engine-pistons in
which the packing is effected by the action of steam under pressure, which is allowed
to enter the interior of the piston at each stroke, and thus force the rings out to a
bearing; and it consists in a novel combination and arrangement of a series of
three part external expansible rings upon an interior centrally flanged body, which
is in turn supported upon or surrounds the spider. This body has circular grooves
surrounding it centrally beneath each broad-ring, and these grooves receive steam
through passages from each end of the cylinder, so that the rings upon that side of
the central flange only will be expanded by the action of the steam during the
portion of the stroke from that end of the cylinder.
The Invention further relates to the employment of a spring at the bottom of the
piston of a horizontal cylinder, whereby the piston head and follower are prevented
from falling upon the side of the cylinder when running without steam, and thus
wearing it out of true.
The packing rings are each composed of three parts, viz., a broad ring, which fits
the body of the piston, and two rings, which are fitted upon the outside of the said
ring. Each of these rings is made in a single piece with one cut, so as to make
them elastic. The body of the piston has grooves turned in it upon each side of its
central flange; these grooves lie beneath the centre of the broad rings, and holes
are drilled so that the grooves will connect with similar grooves which are formed

page_text: in the edges of the body of the piston. When the follower is in position the latter
grooves-will-lie.against the head and follower of the piston respectively. The head
and follower are provided with holes, through which steam is admitted-to-the-
grooves, and thence to the face of the body of the piston. The ends where the rings
are cut are made to break joint, so as not to leak steam; and as the broad-ring
has its centre over the-groove-the pressure will be central, and there will be no side
pressure by reason of the steam being admitted beneath one side or the other of
the ring. Being admitted centrally, it will be distributed equally outward
from the groove, which is of advantage in steadying the rings and equalizing the
pressure.
The central flange of the piston body fills the cylinder like the piston head
and follower, and the rings are thus held in place, one set upon each side of this
flange.
Steam being admitted to the cylinder, it will enter the small holes upon that side
of the piston, and passing through the groove on the edge of the body will enter
the groove at the side of the flange, thus expanding the rings upon that side of the
flange, while the rings upon the opposite side will remain loose. The reverse action
takes place upon the return of the piston.
The interior rings have each a pin projecting from them, and the double outer
rings have each a groove which fits the pin, and thus prevents the rings from
changing their position.
In order to support the weight of the piston and prevent its dropping upon the
side of the cylinder, where it will wear the cylinder out of true when running
without steam, I employ a single adjustable spring, which is fitted within the spider,
and serves to keep the piston head and follower up by its elastic ends resting upon
the body of the piston..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
January 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PISTON PACKINGS." A communication from
abroad by Samuel Augustus Youse, of Sutter Creek, in the County of Amador, and
State of California, United States of America.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of engine pistons in
which the packing is effected by the action of steam under pressure, which is allowed
to enter the interior of the piston at each stroke, and thus force the rings out to
a bearing; and it consists in a novel combination and arrangement of a series of
three part external expansible rings upon an interior centrally flanged body, which is
in turn supported upon or surrounds the spider. This body has circular grooves sur-
rounding it centrally beneath each broad ring, and these grooves receive steam
through passages from each end of the cylinder, so that the rings upon that side of
the central flange only will be expanded by the action of the steam during the
portion of the stroke from that end of the cylinder.
The Invention further relates to the employment of a spring at the bottom of the
piston when moving horizontally, whereby the piston head and follower are pre-
vented from falling upon the side of the cylinder when running without steam, and
thus wearing it out of true; and in certain details of construction, which will be more
fully explained by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a
view showing one set of rings in position; Figure 2 is a vertical section; Figures 3
and are details.
A is the piston head, B the spider, and C is the body of the piston, which is pro.
vided with a central flange D; and E is the follower, which when bolted on retains
the parts in position. The rings are each composed of three parts, viz., a broad
ring F, which fits the body of the piston, and two outer rings G, which are fitted
upon the outside of the ring F. Each of these rings is made in a single piece with
one cut, so as to make them elastic.
The body C has grooves H turned in it upon each side of the central flange D;
these grooves lie beneath the centre of the rings F, and holes I are drilled so that
the grooves H will connect with similar grooves J, which are formed in the edges
of the part C. When the follower is in position these grooves J will lie against the
head A and follower E respectively. Holes K through the head A and follower E
admit steam to the grooves J, and from these the 'holes I admit it to the grooves H
in the face of the body C. The ends where the rings are cut are made to break
joint, so as not to leak steam; and as the ring F has its centre over the groove H,
the pressure will be central, and there will be no side pressure by reason of the
steam being admitted beneath one side or other of the ring. Being admitted cen-
trally, it will be distributed equally outward from the groove, which is of advantage
in steadying the rings and equalizing the pressure. The flange D fills the cylinder
like the piston head and follower, and the rings are thus held in place, one set upon
each side of this flange.
Steam being admitted to the cylinder, it will enter the small holes K upon that
side of the piston, and passing through the channel J will enter the holes I and
grooves H, thus expanding the rings upon that side of the flange, while the rings
upon the opposite side will remain loose. The reverse action takes place upon the
return of the piston. Both rings F are provided with a pin M (see Figure 4), which
projects therefrom into a groove in each of the double outer rings, thus preventing
the rings from changing their position. In order to support the weight of the piston
and prevent its dropping upon the side of the cylinder, where it will wear the
cylinder out of true when running without steam, I employ a single adjustable

page_text: spring L, which is fitted within the spider, and serves to keep the piston head and
follower-up-by-its-elastic-ends-resting-upon-the-body_C, as shown in Figure_1._
By this construction I am enabled to simplify the steam packing, economize the
steam-employed by means of the grooves, produce a pressure outwardly from the
Fcentre of the rings, which equalizes the pressure and the wear, provide an improved
compound ring, and reduce the wear of the piston and cylinder to a minimum.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I would observe that I do not clain broadly the employment of steam
packing through the medium of rings, nor do I claim a packing ring composed of
two or more parts, or two or more sets of rings upon the piston face, as I am
aware that such a construction is shown in previous Patents, but what I do
claim as the Invention to be protected by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,
-
1st. In an expansible piston-packing, the body C provided with grooves J, H,
connecting ports I, and flange D, in combination with the split rings G, G, F, and
head A and follower E, each provided with ports K, substantially as set forth.
2nd. In expansible piston packings, the spring L combined with the spider B,
body C, and follower E, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.