A NEW METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING, REGULATING, AND SHIFTING THE PACKING OF PISTONS WORKING IN CYLINDERS, AS IN STEAM, AIR, AND WATER ENGINES, AIR AND WATER PUMPS, AND OTHER MACHINES WHILE THE SAME ARE IN MOTION
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Jesse Head Teal at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
April 1872.
I, JESSE HEAD TEAL, Machinist, of Memphis, in the State of
Tennessee, of the United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
CONTROLLING, REGULATING, AND SHIFTING THE PACKING OF PISTONS WORKING IN
CYLINDERS, AS IN STEAM, AIR, AND WATER ENGINES, AIR AND WATER PUMPS,
AND OTHER MACHINES WHILE THE SAME ARE IN MOTION," to be as follows:—
This Invention has relation to the packing of pistons which work in
the cylinders of steam, air, and water engines, air and water
and
pumps,
other machines of like character. Its object is to obtain perfect control
of the packing from the outside of the cylinder in order that the engineer
may adjust, tighten, or loosen the same while the piston is in full
motion.

page_text: the ring in one direction will carry the packing with it, while the
packing will not move with the ring in the opposite direction.
2nd. In providing the piston with pinions connected with the expand-
ing ring and with each other, and adapted to be moved by means of a
rod passing through the cylinder head parallel with the piston rod.
3rd. In providing the rod governing the movement of the pinions
with a weighted arm accurately adjusted to the requirements of the
engine, and adapted to act automitically as a cut-off or governor.
Between the spider or body of the piston and the follower are placed
pinions or segment pinions, one of which is secured to the said body in 1
such a manner that it will have a free rotary movement. The other
pinion is rigidly attached to the rod which passes through the body of
the piston, and is capable of rotation upon its axis: The expanding
ring is provided with studs or teeth on the inside of its ends for engage-
ment with the aforesaid pinions, and with a spring pawl or angular stud 1
on the outer surface for engagement with the ratchet of the packing.
The packing ring or rings should be cut in the usual manner, and
provided on the insido with a series of ratchet teeth, which should
extend the entire length of the inner surface of each ring.
The arrangement of the above mechanism, as well as that for con- 2
necting the weighted arm with the rod, may be varied. For the latter
purpose the said rod is provided with a cross head rigidly attached to
the rod, and arranged to slide on a second rod provided with arms
pivoted to standards in such a manner that it shall have a vibratory
motion only. One arm is extended to receive a weight which is just 2
sufficient to govern automatically the movement of the packing.
By depressing the weighted arm the pinions will be rotated from each
other, expanding the ring and forcing the packing rings against the
cylinder wall. This pressure of the packing against the cylinder wall
will be relieved by raising the said arm, and thus rotating the rod in the a
opposite direction, and the pinions toward each other drawing in the
expanding ring.
Each movement of the expanding ring greater in degree than the
length of a tooth of the inner surface of the packing ring will serve to
rotate the latter to an equivalent extent. It is evident therefore that a
the position of the packing ring will be continually shifting and unequal
wear thereby prevented. If the weighted arm should be raised to a

page_text: sufficient height the packing may be contracted enough for the steam to
"blow through," bringing the engine.instantly to a stand to resume its
motion with equal promptitude on the falling of the regulating arm.
The weighted arm has no longitudinal movement or movement of
› translation, and hence is easily operated, however rapid the movement
of the engine. The weight is designed to be adjustable on the arm,
enabling the leverage to be increased or diminished according to the
rate of speed required.
When this Invention is applied to a locomotive a dead brake may be
secured by using sufficient power on the lever arm to force the packing
up hard against the cylinder wall.