IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING-PACKING FOR PISTONS AND OTHER SIMILAR USES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lockwood, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
"
Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
SPRING-PACKING FOR PISTONS AND OTHER SIMILAR USES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lockwood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1881.
WILLIAM LOCKWOOD, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING-PACKING FOR PISTONS AND
OTHER SIMILAR USES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of compound or
double-action spring packing for pistons and other similar uses, and it is designed.
to render a more perfect means of rendering pistons of steam, air, and other engines,
and pumps, and other apparatus or appliances, perfectly tight.
The improved piston-packing or spring is simple in construction, and will be
found more efficient in action than any other piston-packing heretofore in use.
The improved packing or spring may be made of one or more pieces or sections,
and may be made of steel or of any other suitable metal or material of a round,
oval, square, or other convenient section, and the peculiarity of its formation
consists in its having continuous straight parts or wide extending bearing parts
alternately formed on its upper and lower bearing edges, these straight parts or
bearing surfaces being united by vertical S or double curvilinear parts, which
ensure the vertical action of the spring.
These straight parts of the spring bear upon the usual packing-rings of the
piston and afford a very large amount of bearing surface, and this constitutes the
characteristic feature of my present Invention. In all other spring-packing the
bearing surface is usually of a pointed or lineal description, which is liable to
quickly wear away and destroy the efficiency of the spring.
The ends of the improved spring are or may be jointed together by means of a
plate and screws or bolts, and which fastenings may be altered and regulated
according to the tension required on the spring, the ends of the spring being
Battened to receive or accommodate the joining plate, or being twisted inwards for
the bolt or other equivalent appliance which is provided for the longitudinal
adjustment or compensation of the spring.
The tongue-piece or glat for the packing-rings, and at the full depth of the rings
at the inner side, so that it cannot possibly get out of its place.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Lockwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th May
1882.
WILLIAM LOCKWOOD, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRING-PACKING FOR PISTONS AND
OTHER SIMILAR USES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of compound
or double-action spring-packing for pistons and other similar uses, the object of
the Invention being to provide means of rendering the pistons of steam, air, and
other engines and pumps, and of other apparatus or appliances, perfectly tight.
The improved piston-packing or spring is simple in construction and more efficient
in action than any other piston-packing hitherto used. The principle of its
construction is illustrated on the accompanying Drawings in various modifications,
according to which the peculiarity of its construction is shown as consisting in its
having longitudinally extended, straight, or equivalent wide extending bearing
parts 1 alternately formed on its upper and lower bearing edges, these parts 1 being
united by vertical S or equivalent double curvilinear parts 2 which ensure the
vertical action of the spring.
Each part 1 in bearing upon its one of the usual packing_rings 3-of-the-piston
has a longitudinally extended bearing surface thereupon, and this constitutes the
characteristic feature of my present Invention, as in all existing spring-packing the
bearing surface is usually of a pointed or transverse lineal description, and is liable
to quickly wear away and destroy the even bearing and efficiency of the spring in
distending the rings 3.
It is not absolutely necessary that the parts 1 should be straight, as they are
shown on the accompanying Drawings (though I prefer that they should be so),
for they may each be slightly concave or slightly convex, though preferably to no
greater extent than will permit of the compression of the packing-rings 3, reducing
each of them to a straight or approximately straight line. Likewise it is not
absolutely necessary that the uniting parts 2 should be of a vertical $ shape
(though I prefer that they should be so), for the double curves of each uniting
part 2 may be separated and united by a short intermediary part, either parallel
with the parts 1 or inclined thereto.
The improved packing or spring may be made of one or more pieces or sections,
and may be made of steel or of any other suitable metal or material of a round,
oval, square, or other desired or suitable section, and according to any suitable
method, and by any suitable means which will give the herein described peculiar
conformation.
The ends of the improved spring, or of the parts or sections thereof, are or may
be jointed together by means of a plate 4 and screws or bolts 5, and which will
allow of any desired regulation, according to the tension required on the spring,
the ends of the spring or of its parts or sections being flattened to receive or
accommodate the joining plate 4, or being twisted inwards for the bolt or other
equivalent appliance provided for the longitudinal adjustment or compensation of
the spring. Or I use a joining plate 6 recessed at opposite sides or edges for the
reception of projecting ends of the spring, as shown in the detached view Fig. 5,
and as I require to extend the spring I let any suitable packing into the
recesses 7 so as to cause the spring to be extended and to be of a larger
diameter.
Fig. 3 represents a cross-section of the rings 3 of a piston fitted with the above
formation of spring; Fig. 4 represents a similar sectional view shewing the spring

page_text: as having also been laterally curved or bent to the inner conformation of the
recesses within the piston rings.
8 represents the improved tongue-piece or glut which I let in over the joints of
the packing rings, making it of the full depth of the rings at the inner side, so
that it cannot possibly get out of place. It is shown in plan, side view, and cross-
section in Figures 6.
Figure 1 represents a straight length of the improved packing or spring before
being bent to the diameter required, and Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the spring
in position within the piston-ring.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be carried into practical effect,
I would remark in conclusion that what I claim as the improvements constituting
the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent
are,―
1. The bereinbefore described improved and peculiar construction of double
action spring packing for pistons and other similar uses, the same consisting in
the formation of the spring with extended straight or equivalent wide extending
longitudinal bearing parts alternately formed on its upper and lower bearing edges,
these extended bearing parts being united by vertical S or equivalent double
curvilinear parts, and which improved construction ensures the desired vertical
action and radial distension of the piston rings in a thoroughly efficient manner.
2. The improved and peculiar formation of the tongue piece or glut for uniting
the joints of the piston rings, substantially as herein before described and as
illustrated on the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lockwood, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
WILLIAM LOCKWOOD. (L.S.)