CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PISTONS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clayton and Jacob Goodfellow, both of
Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PISTONS."
Sealed the 2nd August 1859, and dated the 3rd February 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clayton and
Jacob Goodfellow at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 3rd February 1859.
We, WILLIAM CLAYTON and JACOB GOODFELLOW, both of Blackburn, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said.
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PISTONS," to be as
follows:-
Our Invention relates to an improvement upon the well-known description.
of metallic piston called "Goodfellow's Patent," which consists in a peculiar
combination of annular springs, which are intended to constitute a steam or
air-tight packing, such springs being usually three in number, and compressed
by screws to cause the metallic packing to be brought into contact with the
interior of the cylinder. By practical experience it has been found that from
constant use and wear the outer metallic rings lose to some extent their
elasticity, and consequently require the expansive force upon the packing to be
restored, and for which object our present Invention is designed. The
improvements consist in the novel application and use of a fourth or extra
!

page_text: ring in the form of an annular wedge, and so placed within the piston and behind
the three ordinary annular springs or packing, that as the said springs loose
their expansive force and become weaker, and, in consequence of wear, the
two outer rings become of less diameter, the annular wedge-formed spring is
caused to exert an outward force upon them, and thereby maintain perfect
contact between the cylinder and piston. The expansive force of this wedge
may be increased to any required extent by means of steel "set" screws, with
which it is to be furnished, and the depth of the wedge in the piston, and
its consequent power may be regulated by a thickness of interposed "washers."
By means of this Invention we are enabled also to employ a plain V-edged
centre spring of a parallel form, and having only one opening instead of that
description of central spring usually employed in the aforesaid pistons.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Clayton and Jacob Goodfellow in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd August 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
CLAYTON and JACOB GOODFELLOW, both of Blackburn, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said William Clayton and Jacob Goodfellow, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said William Clayton and
Jacob Goodfellow, our exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention [for " CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PISTONS," upon the condition, amongst others, that
we, the said William Clayton and Jacob Goodfellow, or one of us, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal
of one of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said William Clayton, do hereby declare
the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
Our Invention relates to an improvement upon the well-known description
of metallic piston called "Goodfellow's Patent," which consists in a peculiar
combination of a number of springs, which are intended to constitute a steam
or an air-tight packing, such springs being usually three in number, and
compressed by screws to cause the metallic packing to be brought into contact
with the interior of the cylinder. By practical experience it has been found
that from constant use and wear the outer metallic rings lose to some extent
their elasticity, and consequently require the expansive force upon the packing
to be restored, for which object our present Invention is designed. The
improvements consist in the novel application and use of a fourth or extra
ring, in the form of an annular wedge, and so placed within the piston and
behind the three ordinary annular springs or packing, that as the said springs
lose their expansive force, and become weaker, and, in consequence of wear,
the two outer rings become of less diameter, the annular wedge-formed
spring is caused to exert an outward force upon them, and thereby maintain
perfect contact between the cylinder and piston. The expansive force of
this wedge may be increased to any required extent by means of steel "set
screws," with which it is to be furnished, and the depth of the wedge in the
piston and its consequent power may be regulated by a thickness of interposed
"washers." By means of this Invention we are enabled also to employ a
plan V-edged centre spring of a parallel form, and having only one opening,
instead of that description of central spring usually employed in the aforesaid
pistons.
In order that the Invention may be clearly understood, and explained in
detail, we have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings, having similar letters
of reference marked upon corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 is a side view of our improved piston shewn in section, shewing the
piston complete, and the position of the annular wedge; Fig. 2 is an exterior
side view of the same; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the three spring packing
rings and the annular wedge; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the piston. In
Fig. 1, a, a, is the solid portion of the piston, and b, b, the cover, bolted
thereupon by the screw bolts c, c, c; d, d, are the upper and lower packing
rings, and E is the central V-edged ring bevilled upon its interior surface,
against which the annular wedge f is pressed, and caused to exert an outward
force thereupon, by being forced downwards by the "set screws"
I, I, J, so

page_text: that as the outer packing rings wear, and cease to form a steam or air-tight
packing, the annular wedge f may be caused to force them outwards without
removing the piston cover until the rings are sufficiently expanded as to form
an efficient steam or air-tight packing; or the tightening of the packing may
be accomplished by rings made for the purpose to fit inside the packing ring
and on the top of the annular taper or wedge-formed spring, so that by
screwing down the "junk" ring it will drive the wedge ring down to the
thickness of the ring placed on the top of it, instead of employing set screws
for the purpose. The said annular wedge spring may also be forced upwards
from the piston bottom, by placing rings upon the bottom, and reversing the
position of the wedge spring.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of performing the same, we would remark, in conclusion, that we
claim the novel application, employment, and use of an annular-formed wedge
or spring so placed within the piston, and so governed by set screws or other-
wise, that it shall exert an expansive force upon the packing rings, for the
purpose of maintaining a steam or air-tight packing between the piston and
cylinder, as herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clayton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
WILLIAM CLAYTON. (L.S.)