IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTING THE METALLIC PACKING RINGS OF STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE REQUIRED PRESSURE IN INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF LEAKAGE, AND IN FACILITATING THE REPAIR AND RENEWAL OF CERTAIN PARTS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David John Morgan, of No. 105, Rothsay Terrace, Bute
Docks, Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTING THE METALLIC PACKING RINGS OF STEAM
AND OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE REQUIRED
PRESSURE IN INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF LEAKAGE, AND IN FACILITATING
THE REPAIR AND RENEWAL OF CERTAIN PARTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David John Morgan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th March 1878.
DAVID JOHN MORGAN, of No. 105, Rothsay Terrace, Bute Docks, Cardiff, in
the County of Glamorgan, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTING THE
METALLIC PACKING RINGS OF STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, SO AS
TO MAINTAIN THE REQUIRED PRESSURE IN INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF
LEAKAGE, AND IN FACILITATING THE REPAIR AND RENEWAL OF CERTAIN
PARTS."
The object of my Invention is, as set forth in the title, and it is in the means of
effecting it that my Invention consists, as will be seen from the following
description:-
The piston body resembles an ordinary piston having three metallic packing
rings, two of which fit the cylinder, and at the same time bed fair on the junk ring
and the bottom flange of the piston body; the space between them and the inner
sides of these rings is formed to an angle of about 90° degrees, and is fitted with a
third metallic ring having its working surfaces, also formed to an angle of about
90° degrees, so arranged that they form altogether perfectly fitting and steam-tight
surfaces on the angles. The third or inner ring is adjustable, and arranged in such

page_text: a manner that by the action of a worm working into a wheel the inner ring can be
adjusted to any desired tightness, and any excess of force is guarded against by a
spring of spiral or other suitable form so placed as to prevent such excess of force;
this spring at the same time forces the ring out, and relieves any excess of pressure
that might be put upon the rings.
To adjust while the engines are working I propose to have a worm spindle inside
a tube attached to a portion of the junk ring of the piston; this tube I
propose to
work through a gland in a man-hole in the cylinder cover, through which tube,
should there be any leakage in the rings, the steam would pass, and would be
detected by a small test cock upon top of the tube.
For adjusting when the engines are stopped I propose to have a worm stud
attached to a portion of the junk ring of the piston, with a ratchet head and spring
catch, the spanner or key for which is to be inserted through a hole in the man-
hole door in the cylinder cover when the engine is on the top centre, which hole is
afterwards stopped with a suitable screw plug.
To examine without disturbing the cylinder cover the spring herein-before named
as keeping the spring rings properly tight, I propose to have a man-hole door in
such a position in the cylinder cover as will allow when it is taken off to examine
or change the spring.
I prefer to have the body of the piston smaller than the cylinder to accommodate
any inaccuracy that may arise in the working parts of the engine, while at the
same time the piston rings are kept perfectly tight.
I do not limit myself to the exact details of the Invention, and may somewhat
vary them, but in all cases I maintain the principle of adjusting the tightness of
the rings and detecting leakage by means of a rod or tube passing through the
cylinder cover.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David John Morgan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
September 1878.
DAVID JOHN MORGAN, of No. 105, Rothsay Terrace, Bute Docks, Cardiff, in
the County of Glamorgan, Engineer. *IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTING THE
METALLIC RINGS OF PISTONS OF STEAM AND OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES, SO
AS TO MAINTAIN THE REQUIRED PRESSURE IN INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF
LEAKAGE, AND IN FACILITATING THE REPAIR AND RENEWAL OF CERTAIN
PARTS,"
The object of my Invention is set forth in the title, and it is in the means
for effecting it that my Invention consists, as will be seen by the following
description, and the Drawings accompanying this Specification
I. The piston body, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the Drawings, resembles an ordinary
piston, having three or more metallic packing rings A, B, C, (Figure 1), but three
by preference; two of these rings A, B, fit the cylinder, and at the same time bed
fair on the junk ring D and the bottom flange E of the piston body, forming steam-
tight surfaces; the space between them and the inner sides of these rings is formed
to an angle of about ninety or more degrees, and is fitted with a third metallic
ring C, having its working surfaces also formed to an angle of about ninety or more
degrees; they are so arranged that they form altogether perfectly fitting and steam-
tight surfaces on the angles. The third or inner ring C is adjustable and arranged in
such a manner that that by the action of a worm working into a wheel, or, as shown
in the Drawing, by a wedge F, the inner ring C can be adjusted to any desired
tightness, and any excess of force is guarded against by a spiral spring G, so placed
(either on the wedge spindle H outside a tube I, or inside the piston, either attached
to a worm or wedge, the wedge by preference) as to prevent such excess of force;
this spring G at the same time forces the ring C out, and relieves any excess of
pressure that might be put upon the rings.
II. To adjust while the engines are working I propose to have a worm or wedge
spindle H inside a tube I attached to a portion of the junk ring D; this tube I
propose to work through a gland in the cylinder cover man-hole, or in the cylinder
cover, through which tube, should there be any leakage in the rings, the steam
will pass, and be detected by a small test cock upon the top of the tubo.
III. For adjusting when the engines are stopped I propose to have a worm or
wedge F, Figure 2, with an internal spring attached to a portion of the junk ring D
of the piston in such a manner that a spindle fitted with a ratchet hoad and spring
catch the spring can be secured, the spanner or key for which is to be inserted
through a hole in the man-hole door provided for that purpose in the cylinder cover
when the engine is on the top centre; this hole is afterwards stopped with a suitable
screw plug.
IV. To examine the spring (herein-before named as keeping the spring rings pro-
perly tight) when inside the wedge in the piston at F, without disturbing the cylinder
cover, I propose to have a man-hole in such a position in the cylinder cover as will
allow when it is taken off to remove a segment in the junk ring provided for the
purpose to examine or change the internal spring.
V. I prefer to have the body of the piston smaller than that of the cylinder to
accommodate any inaccuracy that may arise in the working parts of the engine,
while at the same time the piston rings are kept perfectly tight.
VI. I do not limit myself to the exact details of the Invention, but may some-
what vary them, but in all cases I maintain the principle of adjusting the tightness
of the rings and detecting leakage by means of a rod or tube passing through the
cylinder cover.

page_text: What I claim and desire to secure by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, my Invention as described in the sections marked I, II., III., IV., V., and
VI. of this Specification, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said David John Morgan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One 5
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.