IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CYLINDERS AND PISTONS OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Brickhill, of No. 5, Stepney Causeway, Com-
mercial Road East, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanic, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CYLINDERS AND PISTONS OF STEAM
ENGINES."
Sealed the 7th August 1862, and dated the 12th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Brickhill at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th February 1862.
I, JAMES BRICKHILL, of No. 5, Stepney Causeway, Commercial Road East,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CYLINDERS AND PISTONS OF STEAM
ENGINES," to be as follows:-
These improvements are applicable to locomotive engines, and to such
stationary, marine, or other steam engines as have their cylinders placed in an
horizontal or inclined position.
The object of these improvements is to obviate or prevent the great friction
of the piston on the lower side of the internal circumference or "bore" of the
cylinder, and thereby to reduce the amount of wear and consequent leakage
to which such engines are liable, as well as to reduce the quantity of steam.
necessary to effect each stroke of the piston.
The improvements consist principally in. casting. or otherwise forming a.
longitudinal groove in the lower side of the interior of the cylinder, and'in

page_text: placing therein a long key or "feather," on which a corresponding groove or
notch in the piston works. A small friction roller (let into the piston) runs on
this key or "feather," and supports. the whole weight of the piston, thus
obviating the friction (and consequent wear) of the piston on the lower part
of the cylinder. The under part of the key or "feather" is inclined, and a
corresponding wedge is placed below the same in the groove, such wedge
being attached to a rod passing out through a stuffing box in the cylinder
cover, so that by forcing the wedge forwards by means of a nut on the screwed
end of the rod, the whole surface of the key or feather may be raised perfectly
parallel to compensate for any wear that may take place.
In applying my Invention to old cylinders, instead of forming a groove
I screw or attach a longitudinal raised rib on the lower side of the interior or
bore," and cut or form a corresponding groove in the under side of the
wedge fitting over the said rib, which serves as a guide, and answers the same
purpose as making a groove in the cylinder.
The piston is packed by means of two half rings of metal, expanded by
means of a wedge, the lower ends of the half rings embracing the sides of the
key or feather, and keeping the joint steam-tight. The upper surface of the
key or feather is packed by means of a packing piece sliding in a groove in the
piston cover, and pressed downwards by means of a spring.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Brickhill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BRICKHILL, of No. 5, Stepney Causeway, Commercial Road East, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanic, send greeting.
:
WHEREAS Her most. Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Brickhill, Her special licence that I, the said James
Brickhill, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others: as I,,
the said James Brickhill, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should.
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times:
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CYLINDERS AND PISTONS OF STEAM ENGINES," upon the
condition, amongst others, that I, the said James Brickhill, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Brickhill, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Drawings, that
is to say:
These improvements are applicable to locomotive engines, and to such
stationary, marine, or other steam engines as have their cylinders placed in an
horizontal or inclined position.
The object of these improvements is to obviate or prevent the great friction
of the piston on the lower side of the internal circumference or "bore" of the
cylinder, and thereby to reduce the amount of wear and consequent leakage to
which such engines are liable, as well as to reduce the quantity of steam
necessary to effect each stroke of the piston.
The improvements consist principally in forming a longitudinal groove in
the lower side of the interior of the cylinder, and in placing therein a long key
or "feather," on which a corresponding groove or notch in the piston works.
A small friction roller (let into the piston) runs on this key or "feather," and
supports the whole weight of the piston, thus obviating the friction (and
consequent wear) of the piston on the lower part of the cylinder. The under
part of the key or "feather" is inclined, and a corresponding wedge is placed
below the same in the groove, such wedge being attached to a rod passing out
through a stuffing box in the cylinder cover, so that by forcing the wedge
forwards by means of a nut on the screwed end of the, rod, the whole surface
of the key or feather may be raised perfectly parallel, to compensate for any
wear that may take place.
The piston is packed by means of two half rings of metal expanded by
means of a wedge, the lower ends of the half rings embracing the sides of the
key or "feather," and keeping the joint steam-tight, the upper surface of the
key or "feather" is packed by means of a packing piece sliding in a groove in
the piston, and pressed downwards by means of a spring.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improvements

page_text: in the Cylinders and Pistons of Steam Engines," I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect. And in order that the same may be
distinctly understood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that is to
say:―
In the annexed Drawing, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, illustrate the method of
constructing a cylinder and piston according to my Invention, and Figures
5, 6, and 7 show the method of adapting or altering an ordinary cylinder and
piston to my improved principle.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the cylinder, Figure 2 is an end
view of the same, with the bottom plate of the cylinder removed; and Figure 3.
is a transverse section of the cylinder and wedges, showing the bottom plate
of the piston removed. A, A, is the cylinder, which is cast or formed with a
longitudinal groove or trough B, B, in its under side, running from end to end.
In this groove B, B, is placed a long key or "feather" C, C, on which a corre-
sponding groove or notch in the piston D, D, works, the weight of the piston
being borne on a small friction roller E, running on the key C, C. The
under part of the key or "feather" C, C; is inclined, and a corresponding
inclined wedge F, F, is placed below the same in the groove, such wedge
being attached to a rod G, G, passing out through a stuffing box in the
cylinder cover. The under surface of the key and the upper surface of the
wedge are respectively tongued and grooved, as shewn in the detached views
of the same, Figure 4. It will be evident that upon drawing the wedge F, F,
forwards by turning the nut H on the screwed end of the rod G, G, the whole
surface of the key or "feather" C, C, will be raised perfectly parallel, so as to
compensate for any wear of the lower side of the cylinder that may have taken
place. His a lock nut to hold the wedge firmly when adjusted. The piston
is packed by means of two half rings I, I, of metal expanded by means of a
wedge K (see Figure 3), the lower ends of the half rings embracing the two
sides of the key or "feather" C, C, and keeping the joint steam-tight. The
upper surface of the key or "feather" is packed by means of a packing
piece L (seen in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 3), sliding vertically in a groove
in the piston, and pressed downwards by means of a spring. This piece L
may be made wider than the key C, C, and its edges fitting into grooves in
the lower ends of the half rings I, I.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are similar views to Figures 1, 2, and 3, showing the
adaptation of my Invention to an old cylinder. The same letters of reference

page_text: and description will answer for these Figures with the exception that instead
of casting a groove in the cylinder I rivet or otherwise fasten a rib B, B, on
the interior surface of the cylinder and the lower side of the wedge F, F, has
a corresponding groove, which fits thereon. The incline of the wedge is also
reversed, but it will be evident that this may be done in either case.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in the Cylinders and Pistons of Steam Engines," together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Inven-
tion,―
Firstly, supporting the pistons of steam engines (having horizontal or
inclined cylinders) by means of a friction roller mounted in the lower side of
the piston, and working on a parallel key or feather placed in the under side
of the same, and capable of adjustment by means of a wedge, in the manner
and for the purposes above particularly set forth.
Secondly, I claim the metallic packing ring in two parts, capable of being
adjusted, so as to make it fit tighter to the sides of the cylinder, as above set
forth, and shown in the Drawings.
And, thirdly, I claim the loose tongue or sliding packing piece working in a
groove in the piston, and acting upon the upper surface of the "feather" or
key in the cylinder, so as to keep the same steam-tight, whether the same is
pressed downwards by means of a spring, or acts merely by its own weight, as
above described and shown in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Brickhill, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
JAMES BRICKHILL. (L.S.)