US2081257A - Method of manufacturing packing rings - Google Patents

Description

May 25, 1937. A. w. WENZEL METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PACKING RINGS Filed Sept. 15, 1954 INVENTOI? @1627? I44 Weizze'l A TOE/YE) Patented May 1937 METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PACKING RINGS Albert W. Wenzel,

West Orange, N. J.

Application September 15, F234;, Serial No. 744,151

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the method of manufacturing packing rings.

The objects of the invention are to provide a method which will produce a properly and permanently tensioned ring; to improve the method of manufacturing a packing ring in which the tension normally closes the ring; to provide a method which afiects the molecular structure throughout the peripheral length of the ring; to

I shape the ring while in a naturally assumed position; to secure simplicity of construction, operation and fulfillment of the several steps requisite to the method; and to obtain other advantages results as maybe brought out in the following descr p n- In the accompanying drawing in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throu h ut the s v al Figure 1 is elevation of a ring which has heen'cut to r iqe the us a expansion c n but Othe w s i i cr d con Figure 2 shows the ring of Fig. l drawn together to close the said gap, with the ends overlapped ad for hea treatment Figure {i is a perspective View of the ring after the heat treatment;

Figure l is a similar perspective view with the ringsprung into position with the ends abutting;

Figure 5illustrates the next step of the method wherein one or more rings are held f rictionally by their l t surfaces ready to mach ne h id y ndr u iacs elites s ne Figure 6 illustrates the next" step wherein the rings are similarly clamped to be internally mai ed;

Figure 7 shows a ring which has been machined both on its outside and inside circumferences and which is being compressed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 8--8 of Fig.

to be understood the invention is not restricted thereby.

In proceeding with the manufacture of rings according tc my invention, the blank may be an iron casting in the shape of an annulus. In Figure 1, I have illustrated such an annulus, designated by the numeral Ill upon which the first operation has been performed, namely cutting the same through at I! so that the annulus may be resiliently compressed. While I have shown the cut as made as astep or overlapping joint, any suitable cut may be made for obtaining the desired joint or overlap for the ends thus made. After completion of this first step, the ring is next drawn together to overlap the ends thereof, as shown Figure 2 by any suitable tool l2, here shown as including a band l3 which will extend around the annulus and the ends of which can have tension applied thereto in opposite directions. While the ring is drawn together and held in suitable manner, such as with the tool illustrated in Fig. 2;, said ring is treated in suitable manner to cause it to naturally retain the po sition,,or substantially the position, to which it has beenbrought. One such treatment is to subjegtthe ring to relatively high temperature. After the treatment the ring will retain the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3 with the ends overlapped further than necessary for juxtaposing th stepped portions. After this step, the ring is then spread and twisted so that the stepped portions are juxtaposed as shown in Fig. 4. The tension' of the metal would normally cause the ring to overlap further at its ends except that the ends abut and thus hold the ring against further collapsing. When the ring is in use for packing purposes, it is applied to a cylindrical surface of a diameter such that the ring spreads slightly and will thus hug the said cylindrical surface.

With .theends of the ring abutting as shown in Fig. i it assumes its natural shape, when closed and is then clamped by its side or fiat faces with adequate force to retain the ring in exactly the shape it assumed while free. The clamping of the ring is illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein numeral l4 indicates a base or clamping plate in the nature of a face plate with a flat face against which one side of the ring ll] may be engaged. A spiderlike mandrel l5positioned upon a central bolt It protruding from the face plate may be utilized for approximately centering the ring with respect to clamping or face plate [4. In practice, I prefer to make the mandrel l5 and bolt it of sufficient length so that a plurality of rings may heappliedat one time, said rings resting against each other side by side and being clamped by an outer clamping plate I? applied upon the bolt next the outermost ring and caused to squeeze the gs tog-ether by applying a nut I8 to the bolt. The outer clamping plate I? is of a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the ring. but of less diameter than the outer diameter of the ring. A margin of the ring next the outer circumference therefore may be seen projecting beyond the circumference of the outer clamping plate.

It will be understood that the outer curved surface of the several rings thus held by the clamp provides a substantially cylindrical surface. The clamp with the rings may then be put in a lathe or other suitable machine and the outer surface of the rings turned down to a depth below the chilled or spongy layer of the casting to a surface where the metal is healthy, for instance to surface I9 where the crusty surface of the casting and the imperfections which exist in that part thereof have been eliminated. All of the rings are thus brought to a perfect cylindrical formation of desired size and healthy surface.

While outer clamping plate I? still retains the machined rings secured in perfect cylindrical condition, a clamping collar 2|] which has a middle opening 2! large enough to receive clamping plate [1 therein, is applied to the margin of the piston ring projecting beyond the edge of clamping plate ii, and is then secured by bolts 22 and nuts 21 with respect to the base clamping plate I4. After this clamping collar is secured firmly, the outer clamping plate I! and mandrel I5 as well as bolt [6 may be removed. This enables the inner surface of the several piston rings to be machined to a healthy surface 23, thereby taking off the crust of the castings at the inside of said rings and removing the imperfections of the chilled and spongy layer to a desired depth. When this op eration is completed, the clamping collar 20 may be removed, if desired, and all further operations performed individually upon the rings.

As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the next operation upon the ring is toobtain a molecular disturbance throughout the length of one surface of the ring. This operation may be performed upon such surface or surfaces of the ring as found desirable or necessary for the tension desired. The step contemplates obtaining in the finished ring at least one surface which is compressed for the entire circular length of that surface. As one means of accomplishing this result upon a selected surface, for instance the outer circumference of the ring, a roller 24 may be utilized. While this roller is also illustrated of a progressive application of the tension, it is not restricted thereto, as the tension may be otherwise applied, for instance by a contracting tool and progressive from several points or with a simultaneous pressure throughout the length of the surface, or by hammering at close intervals along the sur face.

Describing the illustrated embodiment, the roller 24 is shown as having a central bead 25 of less width than the ring. This roller is applied to the outer circumference of the ring and caused to travel entirely around that circumference with suitable pressure so as to create a continuous depression or groove 26 in the ring. Bead 25; being of less width than the ring, avoids turning up a burr at the side face of the ring. However the molecular disturbance and compression is continuous throughout the length of the inner circumference and thus obtains a perfect tensioni ng without any likely distortion or warping in use.

It is within the scope of the invention to apply this pressure uniformly throughout the circular length of the ring cr to vary the pressure in such manner as to obtain greater compression diametrically opposite the split or joint, and progressively lessening in both directions from thismaximum pressure to a minimum pressure adjacent the split. Fig. 9 illustrates the ring as having had the pressure applied continuously along its outer circumference, thereby forming a groove or depression 2% within the outer machined surface !9- as above described. The method performed as described above accomplishes the ultimate result with less operations than utilized in known previously used methods.

Obviously detail changes and modifications may be made in carrying out my improved meth- 0d of manufacturing packing rings and in the apparatus employed in the accomplishment of that method without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto except as set forth in the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first deforming the same to abnormal position smaller than normal closed position and treating the same so it will tend to assume substantially the said abnormal position.

2. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first deforming the same to abnormal position smaller than normal closed position and heat treating the same so it will tend to assume substantially the said abnormal position.

3. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressing the same from a normal position of use to abnormal undersized position, and treating the same so it will tend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position.

4. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressing the same from a normal position of use to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it Will tend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position, and spreading said ring to substantially the position of use.

5. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressing the same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it will tend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position, spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, and machining said ring while held in said position of use.

6. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressing the same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it will tend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position, spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping the ring fiatwise with the outer circumference of the ring exposed, and machining said outer circumference.

7. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressing the same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it will tend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position, spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping the ring flatwise with the inner circumference of the ring exposed, and machining said inner circumference.

8. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressing the same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it will tend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position, spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping the ring fiatwise with the outer circumference of the ring exposed, machining said outer circumference, applying a clamp to the fiat face of the ring outside of the first clamp, removing the first clamp, and machining the inner circumference of the ring.

9. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising applying a continuous pressure to and impression in the outer circumference thereof across less than the whole width of the ring for obtaining a continuous molecular disturbance of the material throughout the length of said outer circumference.

10. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising rolling a groove on the outer circumference of the ring in a circumferential direction for obtaining a molecular disturbance and impression in the material of the said ring.

11. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressing the same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it will tend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position, spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping the ring fiatwise while thus held in position of use, machining the ring while clamped, and thereafter applying a continuous pressure throughout the length of one surface of the ring for obtaining a continuous molecular disturbance throughout said length.

12. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressing the same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it will tend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position, spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping the ring flatwise with the outer circumference of the ring exposed, machining said outer circumference, applying a clamp to the fiat face of the ring outside of the first clamp, removing the first clamp, machining the inner circumference of the ring, and applying a continuous pressure throughout the length of one surface of the ring for obtaining a molecular disturbance of the material throughout said length.

ALBERT W. WENZEL.

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