Improvements in Piston Rings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Piston Rings.
We, JOHN WILLIAMS, and GEORGE LOCKWOOD MORRIS both of the
Millbrook Iron and Steel Works, Landore, in the County of Glamorgan
Mechanics, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved section of piston ring in which the general
configuration followed is that of the ✓ section, and its object is to reduce the
friction between the rubbing surface of the ring and the steam cylinder by reducing
the total pressure forcing the ring against the cylinder surface.
in carrying our invention into effect we construct a ring of L section, one face
of which moves in contact with the cylinder surface while the other arm of the
slips into a groove in the piston block. The width of this part is always less
than that of the rubbing face but it is varied within convenient limits and so the
pressure due to the pressure of the steam on the whole area of the rubbing surface
is prevented from acting to cause friction. That is the full steam pressure is
prevented from being applied to that face of the L ring which occupies the groove
in the piston block. In order to increase the resistance opposing the flow of the
steam into the groove in the piston block and behind the ring we turn in the
edge of the ring on one or both edges a groove or grooves to create eddy
resistance and thereby impede the flow of the steam to the space in the groove
behind the ring. By this device we reduce the pressure behind the ring and
so reduce the pressure tending to force the working face against the cylinder
surface. The proportional widths of working face and back of the ring may be
varied to suit the pressure required between the ring and cylinder surfaces and
the depth of the branch of the L which slips into the piston groove may be
increased or diminished as required, to allow of one, two, or more grooves. The
space also beneath the ring in the piston block groove may be arranged to allow
of a more or less slow rise of pressure behind the ring, a larger volume being
adopted when it is desired to keep the pressure low than when it is desired to
increase it to a greater extent.
The accompanying drawing shows in section our invention applied to a piston,
and a is the rubbing face and 6 the groove in which the other part of the ring fits
while c is a groove in the side of the ring to diminish the rate of flow of steam
behind the ring. By suitably proportioning a and b the frictional pressure may be
reduced as desired.
Doted this 15th day of Io 1001
CLERK & MARKS,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Piston Rings.
We, JOHN WILLIAMS, and GEORGE LOCKWOOD MORRIS, both of the
Millbrook Iron and Steel Works, Landore in the County of Glamorgan,
Mechanics, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved section of piston ring in which the general
configuration followed is that of the section, and its object is to reduce the

page_text: friction between the rubbing surface of the ring and the steam cylinder by reducing
the total pressure forcing the ring against the cylinder surface.
In carrying our invention into effect we construct a ring of L section, one face
of which moves in contact with the cylinder surface while the other arm of the
slips into a groove in the piston block. The width of this part is always less
than that of the rubbing face but it is varied within convenient limits, and so
the pressure due to the pressure of the steam on the whole area of the rubbing
surface is prevented from acting to cause friction. That is, the full steam pressure
is prevented from being applied to that face of the L ring which occupies the
groove in the piston block. In order to increase the resistance opposing the flow
of the steam into the groove in the piston block and behind the ring, we turn
in the edge of the ring on one or both edges a groove or grooves to create eddy
resistance and thereby impede the flow of the steam to the space in the groove
behind the ring. By this device we reduce the pressure behind the ring and so
reduce the pressure tending to force the working face against the cylinder surface.
The proportional widths of working face and back of the ring may be varied
to suit the pressure required between the ring and cylinder surfaces, and the
depth of the branch of the L which slips into the piston groove may be increased
or diminished as required to allow of one, two or more grooves.
The space
also beneath the ring in the piston block groove may be arranged to allow of
a more or less slow rise of pressure behind the ring, a larger volume being
adopted when it is desired to keep the pressure low than when it is desired to
increase it to a greater extent.
The accompanying drawing shows in section our invention applied to a piston,
and a is the rubbing face and 6 the groove in which the other part of the ring fits,
while c is a groove in the side of the ring to diminish the rate of flow of steam
behind the ring. By suitably proportioning a and b the frictional pressure may be
reduced as desired; d is the piston block and e is a solid ring carrying our improved
spring ring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The distinctive shaped piston ring with side groove or grooves as c, the ring
being so proportioned that the rubbing surface a is greater than the surface acting
in a groove as b substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this 15th day of October 1891
CLERK & MARKS,
18, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.