US1896062A

US1896062A - Self-balancing steam fitting

Info

Publication number: US1896062A
Application number: US540823A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl E Berry
Original assignee: Beloit Iron Works Inc
Current assignee: Beloit Iron Works Inc
Priority date: 1931-05-29
Filing date: 1931-05-29
Publication date: 1933-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1950-02-07

Description

Feb. 7, 1933. BERRY 1,896,062

SELF BALANCING STEAM FITTING Filed May 29, 1931 3 Sheets-'Sheetl Feb. 7, 1933.

E. E. BERRY SELF BALANCING STEAM FITTING Filed May 29, 1931 3' Sheets-Shet s Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES "PATENT, OFFICE EARL E BIRD-Y, W11, WISCONSIN, ASBiGNOB TO manor: IRON WORKS, OI

' BELOI'I, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION 01' wrsoonsnr SELF-BALANCING STEAH FITTING Application filed Kay 29,

This invention relates in general to pipe joints or couplings between rotating and non-rotating conduits for fluids or gases under pressure. It has more particular refer- 5 ence to steam fittings of the type adapted for drying cylinders of paper drying machines.

I have aimed primaril to provide an improved steam fitting which Wlll be self-balancing in the sense that variations in steam pressure in the course of operations will not unseat the fitting in the case of increases in pressure or cause excessive friction on the sealing surfaces in the case of decreases, and that the steam pressure is utilized as an agent in acting on predetermined areas of the structure to maintain the balanced condition contemplated by my invention. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a self-balanced steam fitting in the nature of a unit supported primarily by its necessary inlet or outlet pipes and having no extraneous supports or fixtures for taking endwise thrust of the steam. This is particularly desirable and advantageous in connection with paper drying machines when contrasted with the prior practice in this art.

Another object is the provision of an improved assembly of a steam fitting on a r0 tary drier journal characterized by the centering of the fitting on the journal in a novel manner permitting certain displacements of the fitting to compensate for misalignment caused during operation by expansion and contraction of the steam pipes.

Still another object is to provide a generally improved structure of the character described whereby the fitting may be displaced incidental to the varying conditions during operations-without setting up undue stresses or causing the fitting to leak at the sealing joints.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by refercnce to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Flgure 1 is an end elevation showmg the 1981. Serial Io. 540,888.

application of m self-balancing steam joint tpl several cylin ers of a paper drying mac me- Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1 56 Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the steam fittin proper taken on the section line 33 of ig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3; y 60 Fig. 5 IS a crow-section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. i

Fig. 6 is a detailed section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fi 7 is a section taken on the line 77 66 pf Fig. 4, showing the fitting in side eleva- In the drawings I have illustrated a typical application of my invention to several drying cylinders 8 of a paper drying ma- 70 chine. These cylinders, varying in size and sometimes weighing tons, are nipped at the ends with trunnions 9 journa ed in suitable supporting bearings 11. In the instant case, these bearings are carried by a suitable 76 supporting structure 12in turn mounted on a base or rame structure 13 usually located at a floor level.

It is customary in this art to apply a steam fitting in the end of the drier ournal here 80 shown, for the purpose of supplying steam through the ho ow journal to the interior of the cylinder and also for the purpose of removing the condensate. Because of the large size and length of the cylinders and 55 the temperatures involving, there is an appreciable lengthwise expansion and contraction of the cylinders which is allowed at the steam fitting end by reason of the journal at the opposite end having end thrust against its supporting bearing. With my present invention this displacement is of no conse quence because the steam fittin moves lengthwise with the journal and t e steam pipes have a flexible or universal connection at their lower ends as will be presently disclosed.

Steam is supplied to the cylinders from a main header pipe 14 and individual supply pipes 15 connecting to the respective fittings,

through suita is merely for purpose of illustration of the principles of my invention.

Referring now more'particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the steam and condensate pipes are fixed to a main fitting designated generally by 18, having an interior compartment 19 with which the steam pipe communicates and another compartment 21 with which the condensate pipe communicates, these compartments being separated one from the other. Another condensate pipe 22 extends from the compartment 21 through the steam compartment 19 and through the journal into the drying cylinder where suitable means is provided for collecting the condensate. Usuall this pipe 22 or an extension thereof exten s'to the bottom of the c linder where it has an inlet end and establishes a siphon for discharge of the condensate. A locating nut 20 serves to hold the inlet end of the pipe 22 in proper position. This arrangement is not material to mypresent invention, since any suitable or preferred means may be employed for removing condensate from the cylinder. It is, however, desirable from a practical standpoint, to embody the condensate discharge means with the steam fitting.

Steam from the compartment 19 of the main fitting discharges into the end of the rotating journal and my present invention deals primarily with the problems involved in maintaining a steam tight joint between this main fitting and the ournal under the varying conditions of operation. It has been customary in the past to interpose a bearing ring between the main fitting and the end of the journal and to employ springs for keeping the joint steam tight. In such cases the rubbing surfaces forming the steam joint are subject to considerable pressure in order to maintain a tight joint, thus causing these surfaces to wear away rapidly and creating considerable friction which is translated into power required to drive the paper machine. It has also been known to provide a balanced eifect as disclosed in Aldrich Patent No. 1,774,624, and a number of my prior patents of which No. 1,688,172, is an example, by means remote from the drying cylinder providing a fixed resistance against which the thrust of the fitting is taken, the opposite thrust being taken against the journal hearing at the opposite end of the cylinder. This, however, involves the use of special supports or fixtures for the end thrust of the fitting as well as s ecial provision in the supporting bearin s or the end thrust set up in the drier. he present invention while embodying some of the advantages of prior practice is, so far as I am aware, an advance in this art particularly in that selfbalancing effects and minimum wear of the rubbing surfaces of the joint are obtained in a unit assembly eliminating extraneous supports as well as objectionable end thrusts on the cylinder and having facilities for maintaining the fitting in centered relation to the journal yet permitting displacement of the main fitting to compensate for the shear misalignment thereof incidental to the expansion and contraction of the inlet and outlet ipes during operation.

In t e present embodiment of my invention the main fitting 18 has at its steam discharge end a spherically shaped seat 23 which receives the similarly shaped face of a bearing ring 24 which may be of carbon impregnated with graphite as claimed in my Patent No. 1,769,905. The opposite face 25 of this ring is preferably a straight wall in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation of the journal and bears against a similar surface of an annular flange 26 fixed to the journal. In this instance the flange 26 is integral with a collar 27 threaded onto a sleeve 28 in turn fixedly secured by bolts 29 to the journal 9 and constituting an extension thereof. The

bearing surfaces

23 and 25 may have den'essed areas 31 of the nature disclosed in atent No. 1,666,637, for the purpose of further promoting a steam tight joint. A second bearing ring 32 is seated on the collar 27 for radial bearing on the surface 33 thereof and bears against the inner straight wall surface 34 of the flange 26. A yoke structure to be presently described connects this bearing ring 32 with the outer end of the main fitting and ties the fitting assembly together, this yoke structure including at the inner end a ring member 35 seating on the bearing ring 32. To the end of the main fitting remote from the journal is applied an expansible compartment 36, an end wall of which constitutes a part of the yoke structure referred to. This compartment is formed by a tubu' lar, flexible, metallic sylphon 37, one end of which is attached to an end plate 38 integral with the main. fitting, and the opposite end to an end plate 39. Steam is admitted to the compartment 36 through a passage 41 (Figs. 4 and 5) communicating with the compartment 19.

Tie rods

42 and 43 which also serve as thrust rods, and form part of the yoke structure above referred to, connect the end plate 39 to the ring member 35, at diametrically opposite sides of the latter. The tie rods are located at one end in annular and

elongated holes

44 and 44 in the

ears

45 and 45, respectively, on the ring nular holes 46 and 46' in

t e ears

47 and 47 respectivel on the end plate 39. The holes 44' and 46 are tapered lengthwise and elongated in a vertical plane, as shown in Flgs. 5 and 7, to allow for certain play of the tie rod 43 when the main fitting is displaced as spring 48 mounted on each tie rod intermediate its supporting ear 47 and an car 49 1ntegral with the end plate 38 acts normally to urge the main fitting toward the rotary ourml and to hold the bearing members n sealing contact. The hole 51 through which the tie rod 43 asses in the car 49 is vertically elon ated rom end to end as shown in Figs. 6 an 7. An ear 52 projecting laterally from the main fitting 18 has an annular opening 53 through which the tie rod 42 passes. The annular openings in the

cars

45, 47, 49 and 53 through which the rod 42 passes are closefitting so that the main fitting is held againsthorizontal displacement at right angles with respect to the

pipes

15 and 16. It w1ll be noted that by reason of the connection of the main fitting with the tie rods and the c0nnection of the latter to the ring member 35 which in turn is centered on the journal through the intermediary of the bearin r ng 32, the main fitting is normally centers with respect to the journal. Whilethe yoke structure just described has additional functions which will be presently noted, it should be observed at this point, that this structure allows a limited vertical displacement of the main fitting in order to compensate for yertical expansion and contraction of the

pipes

15 and 16. This vertical movement of the main fitting is translated through the tie rod 43 to the ring member 35 causing the latter to rotate slightly on the journal and displacing the tie rod 43 to a slight angle relative to the center line of the journal, the r ng member 35 moving in a clockwise direction when the fitting is raised by expansion or the pipes and in a counter-clockwise direction when lowered by contraction. This freedom otmotion is allowed by the elongated slots or openings 44 and 51', and the flexibility of the sylphon 37 allows the end plate 39 to follow the alignment of the tie rod 43. In actual practice the maximum expansion and contraction of the supporting

pipes

15 and 16 is approximately it be- .ing evident that this is a variable depending on sizes and temperatures.

Attention is now directed to the action of the steam which is supplied through the

pipes

14 and 15 and the fittings to the interior of the cylinders 8 for the purpose of heating these cylinders. The sheet of paper is dried in the course of its travel over the rotating heated cylinders. As above-mentioned, my invention deals with the problems incidental to supplying steam to the rotating cylinder and to the varying conditions incidental to the changes in pressure and temperature. In order to secure the desired balance of the main fitting 18 the effective area of the expansible compartment 36 is, according to my invention, equal or slightly greater than the effective area of the compartment 19. The preswill be presently noted. A coiled expansion sure of the steam against the end plate 39 of the expansible compartment is resisted through the yoke structure above described which resistance is taken b thrust against the flange 26 of the journa According tomy invention, however, this pressure against the flange 26 is balanced by the action of steam pressure in the opposite direction in an annular channel-shaped chamber 54 in the face of the bearingrin 32 opposite the face 34, the steam being a mitted to the chamber 54 through one or more passages 55 communicating with the interior of the main fitting. The effective area of the chamber 54 is substantially equal to that of the compartment 19, so that the effective endwise pressures in

compartments

19, 36 and 54, that is, parallel with the axis of the fitting are substantially equal, thus making all forces of the steam in its action on the fitting substantially balanced. It is obvious, however, that with a strictly balanced condition no pressure would be applied to maintain the bearing surfaces 23, 25 and 34 in sealing contact, with the result that the fitting would leak steam. For the purpose of keeping these surfaces steam tight, in one phase of my invention I employ the springs 48, the pressure of which acts with equal force on said

surfaces

23, 25 and 34 and with only sufficient force to keep these surfaces or joints steam tight. In this way but minimum pressure is acquired on the bearing surfaces irrespective of variations in the steam pressure and consequently the friction and wear are reduced to a minimum. My invention also contemplates maintaining the desired pressure on the

surfaces

23, 25 and 34, without the use of the springs 48, the desired pressure being exerted by the steam in the compartment 36 by reason of the differential in effective areas between this c0mpartment and the steam compartment 19, the effect of which is to exert a force against the main fitting in addition to the'balanced opposite forces against the end plate 39 and the flange 26,l.1suflicient to keep the bearing joints steam tig t.

It should be apparent from the foregoing .that with my invention it is not necessary to employ supports or thrust resisting means extraneous to the cylinders, other than the support for the

pipes

15 and 16; in other words, the fitting assembly is in the nature of a unit supported entirely by the cylinder journal and the one or more pipes such as 15 and 16, essential to the functioning of the device. It should also be noted that, in addition to the self-balancing features, the fitting pro r, that is, the parts attached to or direct y assembled'with the main casing 18, are normally centered with respect to the journal and are at all times maintained in 'parallel relation with the journal by reason of the novel yoke structure. Another advantage is the facility afforded by reason of the flexibility of the sylphon 37 inthe assembly with the yoke structure, for the shear misalignment of the fitting casing 18 caused during operation .by expansion and contraction of the

pipes

15 and 16. It should be noted, however, that this misalignment occurs only in a vertical direction and that the fitting is anchored by the

ears

46, 49 and 52 to the tie rod 42 and oscillates about this rod at the same time the ring member 35 oscillates on its centered mounting on the journal. In this displacement, the bearing ring 21 moves in the plane of its surface 25 upon and with respect to the opposite surface on the end of the journal. A further displacement occurs by reason of expansion and contraction of the

pipes

14 and 17 in a horizontal plane, thus causing the fitting assembly as a whole, to be oscillated about the axis of the journal.

While my invention is particularly adapted for application to the journal of a drying cylinder heated by steam, it may be applied to other rotary conduits and to devices other than drying cylinders wherein the same functions are desired. It should be understood, therefore, that the term steam as used in the claims means any fluid or gas having the properties of heat and pressure.

It should be apparent that in the practice of my invention changes may be made in the details of construction and in size and proportions without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the ap pended claims, in which- I claim:

1. In combination, a hollow rotary journal, a supporting bearing for the journal, a main steam fitting having steam supply and condensate outlet pipes connected thereto and serving to support it, a bearing ring interposed between and having bearing contact with said fitting and the end of said journal and allowing motion of the fitting in a plane at right angles to the axis of the journal without breaking said bearing contact, and means operative between said fitting and the journal for maintaining the fitting in a balanced condition and the bearing surfaces in sealing contact, said means including a ring rotative on the journal, an expansible compartment on the fitting, and tie-rods connecting said ring and a wall of said compartment responsive to the steam pressure therein, normally maintaining the fitting in centered relation with respect to the journal, said fitting having capacity for movement in said plane with respect to said ring and said wall to com nsate for expansion and contraction of sai pipes.

2. In combination, a hollow rotary journal, a supporting bearing for the journal, a main steam fittin having bearing contact against the end of t e journal and supported by one or more pipes serving to conduct steam to or from the journal, an expansible compartment mounted on said fitting in axial alignment therewith and having a transverse wall responsive to the fluid pressure within the fitting, and means exterior of the fitting connecting said transverse wall with the journal so that the resistance of the fluid pressure against said wall is taken against the ournal, a bearing ring on the journal throng which said means connects to the ournal, said hearing ring having an area acted on by the steam pressure in a direction opposed to that acting against said transverse wall wherebyto maintain the fitting in substantial balance, said connecting means permitting displacement of the fitting with respect to the journal to compensate for expansion and contraction of said pipes without breaking the bearing contact between the fitting and the journal.

3. In combination, a hollow rotary journal, a supporting bearing for the journal, a main steam fitting having bearing contact against the end of the journal and supported by one or more pipes serving to conduct steam to or from the journal, an expansible compartment mounted on said fitting and communicating with the interior thereof, including a tubular sylphon fixed to one end of the fitting and having its opposite end free and responsive to the fluid pressure within the fitting, and means exterior of the fitting connecting said movable wall with the journal so that the resistance of the fluid pressure against said wall is taken against the journal, the parts being constructed so that the main fitting is in substantial balance between the journal and said movable wall and so that the fitting is adapted for displacement with respect to the journal to compensate for expansion and contraction of said pipes without breaking the bearing contact between the fitting and the journal.

4. In combination, a hollow rotary journal, a supporting bearing support for the journal, a steam fitting supported by steam inlet and condensate outlet pipes and having bearing contact against the end of the journal, means connecting the steam fitting to the journal and carrying the thrust of the steam pressure tending to unseat the fitting, a bearmg ring on the journal through which said means connects to the journal, and a tubular sylphon compartment interposed between the fitting and said means subject to the steam pressure within the fitting, said bearing ring having an area subject to said steam pressure in a direction opposite to said thrust, the steam eifective areas of said ring and said sylphon compartment being such as to maintain the fitting in substantial balance, the arrangement of the fitting between the journal and said lphon compartment serving to pro- 5 vide for isplacement of the fitting with respect to the journal to compensate for expansion and contraction of said pipes without niaking the bearing contact wit-h the journa 5. A self-balancing steam joint of the character described including a main fitting supported by the steam and condensate pipes and having bearing contact against the end of a hollow rotating journal, and means connecting said fitting to the journal so that the thrust of the steam pressure tending to unseat the fitting is taken against the journal, including a tubular sylphon compartment mounted on the end of the main fitting, remote from the journal, a bearing ring mounted on the journal, and tie-rods between said sylphon compartment and said bearing ring, said fitting being pivotally connected to one of said tie-rods and adapted for vertical displacement with respect to the journal to compensate for expansion and contraction of said pipes without breaking the bearin contact between the fitting and the journa 6. In combination, a hollow rotary journal, a supporting bearing for the journal, a main steam fitting supported by steam and condensate pipes, and having bearing contact against the end of the journal permitting motion of the fitting with respect to the journal in a plane at right an les to the axis'of the journal, an expansiile compartment mounted on the main fitting, including a tubular sylphon attached at one end to the fitting and at its opposite end to a freely movable wall, said compartment being subject to the steam pressure within the compartment of the main fitting, a ring member mounted for rotative movement on the journal, and tie rods connected at one end to said ring member and at the opposite end to said movable wall serving to transmit to the journal the end thrust from the steam pressure in the fitting tendin to unseat the fitting.

7. The com ination' set forth in claim 6, including a bearing ring interposed between said rin member and the journal and having an annu ar channel-shaped compartment subject to the steam pressure in the compartment of the main fitting and arranged so that tioned thrust, the steam effective areas of the compartment in the main fitting, the expansible compartment and the compartment in so as to efiect a balanced condition of the main fitting.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6, including a bearing rin interposed between said ring member and t e journal and havsaid pressure acts against the journal in a directionopposite to that of the afore-mensaid ring member being substantially equal pansible compartment and the compartment 7 in said ring member being substantially equal so asto effect a balanced condition of the main fitting, and tension exerting means acting between the afore-mentioned end wall and the main fitting tending to urge the latter toward the journal to keep the bearing joints in steam tight contact.

9. The combination set forth in claim 6, including a bearing ring interposed between said ring member and the journal and having an annular channel-shaped compartment subject to the steam pressure in the compartment of the main fitting and arrangedso that said pressure acts against the journal in a direction opposite to that of the afore mentioned thrust, the steam efi'ective areas of the compartment in the main fitting, the

than said other compartments so t at an I additional steam force will be exerted against the main fitting tending to urge it toward the ournal to keep the bearing joints in steam tight contact.

10. In combination, a hollow rotary journal, a supporting bearing for the journal, a steam fitting supported by a steam supply pipe and having bearing contact against the end of the journal, a bearing ring collared on the journal in position to take against the journal the end thrust of the steam pressure within said fitting tending to unseat the fitting an expansible compartment mounted on the. tting subject to the steam pressure within the compartment of the fitting and havin a movable transverse wall responsive to saic l steam pressure, means connecting said wall and said bearing ring for transmitting the endwise pressure thrust of the steam against the journal, said bearing ring'having a surface subject to the pressure of the steam within the fitting and arranged so as to act against the journal in opposition to said thrust, the efiective pressure areas of the compartment in said fitting,-the expansible compartment and the bearing ring surface being substantially equal so that the main fitting will be in substantial balance, and means exerting a pressure against said fitting suflicient to maintain it in steam tight contact with the journal.

11. In combination, a hollow rotary journal, a supporting bearing for the journal, an annular flange on the journal having an outer end face and an inner end face in parallel planes transverse to the axis of rotation, a steam fitting having a steam supply pipe and a condensate pipe, a bearing rm 1nterposed between the steam fitting an the outer end face of said flange, and means for maintaining the steam fitting in operative relation with the journal includin a bearing ring fitting against the inner ace of sa1d flange and having radial bearlng on the ]ournal, and a yoke structure attached to the steam fitting through the intermediary of a tubular sylphon and having a ring member seating against the second mentioned bearing ring to hold it against said flange, said yoke structure together with its ring member and sylphon serving to normally hold the fitting in centered relation to the journal and permitting displacement of the fitting in said transverse plane to compensate for expansion and contraction of said pipes.

12. In combination, a hollow rotary journal, a supporting bearing for the journal, a steam supply fitting. a bearing ring intermediate the steam fitting and the journal adapted to have sealing contact with said parts, the steam fitting including a tubular sylphon, and a yoke structure operating between the sylphon and the journal to normally maintain the fitting in centered relation to the journal, said sylphon serving to effect substantial balance of the steam pressure in respect to the fitting and bodily displacement of the steam fitting in a plane transverse to the axis of the journal in order to compensate for expansion and contraction of the steam fitting pipes 13. In combination, a hollow rotary journal, a supporting bearing for the journal, a steam supply fitting, a bearing ring intermediate the steam fitting and the journal adapted to have sealing contact with said parts, a yoke structure connected at one end to the steam fitting having a centered bearing on the journal, the yoke structure serving to normally maintain the fitting in centered relation to the journal and permittitng displacement of the steam fitting in a plane transverse to the axis of the journal to compensate for expansion and contractionof the steam pipes, and a tubular sylphon interposed between the steam fitting and said yoke structure responsive to the steam pressure within the fitting for maintaining the steam fitting in a balanced condition between the journal and the yoke structure.

14. In combination, a rotary conduit, a main fitting having onevor more pipes attached thereto for conductin fluid to or from the interior of the fitting and serving to support the fitting, a bearing joint between the rotary conduit and the fitting, an expansible tubular sylphon compartment communicating with the interior compartment of the fitting and having a movable wall responsive to the fluid pressure within the compartments, a yoke structure acting between the rotar conduit and said pressure res onsive wa l serving to carry the endwise t rust of the pressure within the fitting and tendin to dis lace the fitting from the rotary con uit, an means exerting a pressure between said pressure responsive wall and the fitting to urge the latter toward the rotary conduit and tending to close said bearing joint, the main fitting being normally centered with relation to the rotary conduit and capable of lateral displacement from its normal position to compensate for expansion and contraction of said parts.

15. In combination, a rotary conduit, a main fitting having one or more pipes at tached thereto for conducting fluid to or from. the interior of the fitting and serving to support the fitting, a bearing joint between the rotary conduit and the fitting, an expansible tubular sylphon compartment communicat ing with the interior of the fitting and having a movable wall responsive to the fluid prcssure within the compartments, a yoke structure acting between the rotary conduit and said pressure responsive wall serving to carry the endwise thrust of the pressure within the fitting and tending to displace the fit-- ting from the rotary conduit, the fiuid within the expansible compartment acting on an etfective area reater than that in the main fitting, where y to urge the latter into seal ing contact with the rotary conduit, the main fitting being normally centered with relation to the rotary conduit and capable of lateral displacement from its normal position to compensate for expansion and contraction at said pipes.

16. In combination, a hollow rotary journal having an annular flange, a steam suppl; fitting, a bearing ring interposed between and adapted to seat against the fitting and. the adjacent end of said flange, a closed cornpartment communicating with the interior compartment of the steam fitting and having an axially corrugated, expansible and flexible wall coaxial with the fitting and the journal, a bearing ring having radial hearing on the journal, a ring bearing against the end face of said flange at the side opposite from the fitting and having an annular steam compartment in its bearing face communieating through the radial flange with the in terior of the fitting, a ring member seated on the last mentioned bearin ring and tied to the expansible end of sai expansible cor partment, the effective area of the expansible compartment being substantially equal to or slightly greater than the effective area within the steam fitting as well as the effective area of the compartment within the second mentioned bearing ring, and spring means operative between the fitting and the ring member tending to urge them together.

- 17. In combination, a hollow rotary journal having an annular flange at its end, a steam supply fittin" having a concave bearing face at one en abearing ring having one face complemcntal to the bearing face of the fitting and having a straight wall bearing face ada ted to seat against the end of the journal ange, a bearin ring havin a radial bearing on the journaIand adapt to seat against the side of the flange opposite from the first mentioned bearing ring, and means functioning between the bearing ring on the journal and the steam fitting to normally maintain the steam fitting in centered relation with the journal including a pair of diametrically disposed tie rods, each having a flexible connection with the steam fitting at its end opposite from the journal, one of the tension rods being anchored intermediate its ends to the journal so as to prevent oscillation of the fitting about the axis of the journal and the other tension rod havin capacity for movement with the fitting a out the axis of the first mentioned tension rod to permit the displacement of the fitting with respect to the journal due to contraction and expansion of the steam pipes.

18. In combination, a hollow rotary journal a supporting bearing for the journal, a fitting adapted to seat against one end of the journal for deliver of fluid under pressure to or from the interlor of the journal and subject to alignment displacements relative to the ournal during service, a tubular sylphon mounted on the fitting at the exterior thereof and having interior communication with the fluid pressure therein, one end ofthe syl hon being fixed with respect to the journal earing end of the fittin and the opposite end of the sylphon being reely responsive to said fluid pressure, a yoke structure connecting the said opposite end of the s lphon with the journal through the interme iary of a bearmg ring thereon, whereby the pressure thrust tending to unseat the fitting from the ournal is carried against the journal, said sylphon bein of such effective area as to maintain the fitting in substantial balance, said yoke structure andsaid sylphon permitting said displacements of the fittingwithout breaking its seat against the journal.

In witness of the foregoing I aflix my signature.

EARL E. BERRY.

ottttt'trloarlz OF CORRECTION.

Potent No, t,e%,2. Febmrt EARL a. may.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification oi? the above nutnhereti patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6, time 33, ciainn 12 after "and" iDSQI'E 1hG word "permitting"; and that the said Letters shouid be reafl wit'h this correction therein that the same may conform to reeorci oi the case in the Patent @iiioer Signet? aee'ieti this 28th day oi Marsh, A. B.