IMPROVEMENTS IN PISTONS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Ellis, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PISTONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Ellis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1877.
THOMAS ELLIS, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Machinist.
IN PISTONS."
"6
IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention relates to certain improvements in pistons for steam engines, water,
engines, pumps, and other similar purposes, and has for its object simplicity of con-
struction combined with economy in the manufacture.
In carrying out my Invention in the construction of an ordinary steam engine
piston, for example, I provide a piston block with a cover, and a pair of rings of
suitable material. The inside surface of each ring has a bevilled face so formed that
when the two rings are placed together in the proper position the bevilled faces
form an internal Vor Y shaped annular groove. I then take a solid ring of any
suitable metal, and of a smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the aforesaid
rings, and I secure by screws, rivets, or other similar means a number of springs
(the number varying with the diameter of the piston) to the exterior of the ring.
The springs are made at the loose end of a shape approximating to that of the bowl
of a spoon, the convex side being outwards, or the end may be formed or fitted with
a knob or button. The springs being secured to the ring it is pressed into its place,
and the convex ends of the springs then engage with or press against the bevilled
faces of the rings, and exert a pressure both outwards and also up and down.
In lieu of employing "single" springs, or springs secured to the ring by one end,
I sometimes prefer to use-a-"-double-spring, or one having two. convex ends, such
spring, which is of a shape approximating to that of a flattened.U, being secured to
the ring through the centre. The ring with its springs is not fixed or secured to
the piston block, but is entirely self-adjusting.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Ellis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th November
1877.
THOMAS ELLIS, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Machinist.
IN PISTONS."
" IMPROVEMENTS
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in pistons for steam engines,
water engines, pumps, and other similar purposes, whereby simplicity of construc-
tion, combined with economy in the manufacture, are obtained, and it consists in
the employment in the body of the piston of a loose self-adjusting ring carrying a
number of springs of one of the forms herein-after referred to, the outer extremities
of which bear and act against the inner sides of the ordinary or other suitable
packing rings, all substantially as herein-after described, reference being had to the
Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a vertical section of a piston constructed
according to my said Invention; Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same; and
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 are details of various modifications of springs herein-after
referred to.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A is the body of the piston recessed at a for the reception of the ordinary packing
rings B, B, which are bevelled on their inner faces so as to form together a V shaped
annular recess, and of a loose ring C carrying a suitable number of springs D, D,
attached thereto by rivets b, screws, or similar means, the outer ends c of which
springs bear and act against the bevelled inner surface of the rings B, B. The
springs D, D, are either constructed single, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, or
double, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6, and their ends care either made of a shape
approximating to that of the bowl of a spoon (the convex side being outwards), as
indicated in Figures 1, 2, and 5, or they may be formed or fitted with a knob, stud,
or button, as represented in Figures 3, 4, and 6.
When double springs are employed they are attached at b' (see Figures 5 and 6)
to the ring C, so that both their ends cact against the inner side of the rings B, B.
In constructing the piston the body A with its rings B, B, having been prepared,
the ring C, fitted with its springs D, D, is forced into its place, the ends e of the
springs D, D, engaging with or acting against the bevelled faces of the rings B, B,
so as to exert pressure both outwards and upwards and downwards, and a cover E
is then placed over the piston in the usual manner.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, constructing pistons with a loose self-adjusting ring carrying
springs which bear and act against the inner sides of the packing rings, the whole
being arranged and combined so as to operate substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Ellis, have to this my Specification set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, One thousand eight