Improved Means and Apparatus for Packing Pistons, Pipe Connections, and Throttle Valves.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 11th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Packing Pistons, Pipe
Connections, and Throttle Valves.
We, JAMES MARK BARR, of the Sports Club, St. James' Square, London, Electrical
Engineer, and CHARLES EDMUND STANLEY PHILLIPS, of Castle House, Shooters
Hill, Kent, Gentleman, 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:-
According to our invention we employ as a packing for pistons, pipe connections
and throttle valves, a layer of mercury or other suitable liquid, which is maintained
by centrifugal force against the walls of a revolving cylinder or chamber, the
piston pipe flange or throttle valve being arranged to penetrate with its periphery
partially through the said layer of liquid, but without coming in contact with the
walls of the cylinder or chamber.
By this means a gas tight fit is effected between cylinder or chamber and the
piston, pipe-flange, or valve, while these are free to work in the said layer of liquid,
with comparatively little frictional resistance, the gascous pressure which the
packing so formed is enabled to withstand being dependent upon the specific
gravity of the liquid, and the degree of centrifugal force to which it is subjected.
Our said invention can be carried out in a variety of ways according to the
purpose to which it is applied.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing shews by way of example a vertical section
of a cylinder and piston, suitable for a gas pump, operating according to our
invention.
The cylinder C which is rotated at a rapid speed by any well known means,
contains a body of mercury or other liquid H, which by the action of centrifugal
force due to the speed of rotation, is caused to apply itself as a cylindrical layer to
the inner surface of the cylinder.
The piston P is of such a diameter that its periphery penetrates into the layer
of liquid but without coming in contact with the surface of the cylinder, so that
the periphery of the piston being entirely surrounded by the liquid, it can be
worked up and down in the cylinder, as an ordinary pump piston with gas tight
closure, the gaseous pressure up to which such closure can be maintained being
dependent upon the specific gravity of the liquid and the speed of rotation.
Thus if the liquid employed be mercury and a comparatively moderate speed of
rotation be employed, the pump can be readily employed for producing a more or
less perfect vacuum.
The pump would of course be provided with suitable inlet and outlet valves,
which are not shewn as they form no part of our present invention.
Fig. 2 shews a vertical section through a pipe connection, constructed and
operating according to our invention.
In this case the chamber C is fixed to or formed on a tube T' and, with the latter
receives rapid rotary motion, so that the body of liquid H is, as before, applied
in a cylindrical layer to the inner periphery of the chamber; T is a tube which

page_text: may either be stationary or be rotated at a speed different from or in the contrary
direction to that of tube T", its axis being either in line with that of tube T¹ or
slightly displaced therefrom. P is a disc or flange fixed to or formed on the end
of the tube T with its plane at right angles to the axis of the latter, and with a
hole through its centre into which, by preference, projects an extension tube T
on T. The periphery of the disc or flange l' projects, as before, into the layer of
liquid H without coming in contact with the surface of the chamber C.
By this means a gas-tight connection is made between the two tubes that will
withstand a degree of pressure dependent as before stated, upon the nature of the
liquid employed, and the speed of rotation of the chamber C. At the same time
the said connection will serve as an articulated joint allowing a certain amount of
displacement of the two tubes relatively to each other.
Fig. 3 shows a vertical section through a throttle valve chamber and throttle
valve constructed according to our invention. C is again a cylindrical chamber
fixed to the pipe T and revolving therewith at a high speed. H is the body of
liquid applied by centrifugal force to the inner surface of the chamber and P is a
throttle valve, the periphery, of which penetrates into the layer of liquid without
coming into contact with the surface of the chamber, and which is pivotted to a
suitable fixed support S, and can be turned by a rod R out of the position shewn,
in which it shuts off the communication between the pipe T and the open end of
the chamber, into the dotted position in which it allows such communcation.
According to the purpose to which this apparatus is to be employed, the chamber C
may either open into the atmosphere or into a chamber or tube, with which it may
be connected by a sealing device similar to that shewn at Fig. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. A liquid packing for cylinder pistons, pipe connections and throttle valves,
consisting of a layer of mercury or other suitable liquid maintained by centrifugal
force against the inner periphery of a revolving cylinder or chamber, into which
layer the periphery of a piston, pipe flange, or throttle valve projects without
coning in contact with the surface of the cylinder or chamber, substantially as
described.
2. The combination of a rotating chamber containing mercury or other suitable
liquid massed by the agency of centrifugal force in a layer against the inner wall
of the chamber, and a piston, pipe flange, or throttle valve, the periphery of which
is adapted to project into the said layer of liquid without coming in contact with
the walls of the chamber, substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for producing a liquid seal for pistons, pipe connections and
throttle valves, constructed and operating as herein described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of September 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.