Improvements in or relating to Packing Arrangements for Producing Fluid-tight Joints.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Packing Arrangements for
Producing Fluid-tight Joints.
We, HENRY CHARLES PLATTS, and THOMAS LOWTHER, both of Hughesoffka,.
Government of Ekaterinoslaff, South Russia, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
In the Specification of another application for Letters Patent filed by us dated
25th February 1893 No. 4044, we have described various constructions of packing
arrangements in which the packing is adapted to be constantly forced against the
body with which it is to form a fluid tight joint by means of pairs of bushes or
segments of bushes arranged concentrically with the packing and having their
adjacent surfaces toothed or corrugated in a circumferential direction, the said
bushes or segments being adapted to be moved relatively to each other in an
endways direction by one or more springs whereby the bush, or segments of bush,
next the packing is or are caused to exert a continuous pressure in a radial direction
against the said packing so as to produce a fluid tight joint.
Now the present invention relates to further constructions of packing arrange-
ments for piston rods, pistons and other bodies, in which, one or more corrugated
bushes or their equivalent is or are employed, and also to improved constructions of
corrugated bush or bushes.
According to one arrangement an internally corrugated bush which may be in
the form of segments, arranged within a stuffing box and acted upon by one or
more springs, either directly or through a gland, is used in conjunction with
corrugated packing of a fibrous nature, as for example asbestos, which may be made
in the form of separate rings, or in the form of a single tape of suitable width, and
passed through suitable rolls in order to impart to them or it the shape required to
engage the corrugations of the bush. The rings or tape after being cut into
suitable lengths are or is placed upon the rod or other body to be packed and the
segments of the bush placed around them or it and the whole forced into the
stuffing box, after which the gland and springs are caused to act in either of
the ways described in our said former Specification. The upper end of the bush is
formed with an inwardly extending flange adapted to confine the packing in place
and its lower end is preferably arranged to rest upon and nip the lower portion of
the fibrous packing so as to effect a fluid tight joint at this part.
The bottom of the stuffing box may be inclined, or may be provided with a
suitable inclined washer in order to assist the inward movement of the packing.
In a modified arrangement, metallic packing made in segments and corrugated
externally is used with the internally corrugated bush, which may be in segments
as in the preceding case, and may be formed externally with horizontal channels
which serve to reduce its weight. These channels may be utilized to receive
packing, or to receive a cord or wire, by which the bush may be tied upon the
packing previous to being inserted into the stuffing box. The inwardly extending
flange may be omitted in this case.
In another arrangement the bush, in segments, is corrugated on the side next the
inner surface of the stuffing box which is formed with corresponding corrugations.
In this case the bush is first inserted into the stuffing box and the packing of a
fibrous nature then forced into the space between the bush and rod to be packed

page_text: after which the gland is brought down and the springs tightened up. As the bush
is forced down it nips the packing at its lower end as before. The bush is or may
be constructed on its inner side with channels to retain the packing. In a modified
arrangement, the fibrous packing just referred to, is replaced by metallic packing
the construction in other respects being the same.
In another arrangement three concentric bushes having their adjacent surfaces
corrugated are employed. The outer bush may be made whole or in segments, but
the inner ones must be split longitudinally or be made in segments. This arrange-
ment is suitable either for fibrous or for metallic packing. In all cases where
metallic packing is used, it may be grooved on the side next to the rod or other
body to be packed and the grooves filled with suitable soft packing material.
The corrugated bushes or bush segments may be made of thick or solid metal, or
they may be of thin or sheet metal for the purpose of rendering them flexible. In
the latter case, the flexibility may be made sufficient to enable the bush or bushes
to produce a fluid tight joint and automatically compensate for wear, without the
use of a spring or springs.
The solid and flexible bushes may be used together in various combinations. In
one arrangement there are three concentric bushes each made of corrugated sheet
metal bent upon itself, or made in halves or parts and suitably brazed or otherwise
joined, so as to form hollow bushes. Either of the bushes may be acted upon by a
gland and springs, provided care be taken that one of the others bears upon the
washer or packing at the inner end of the stuffing box in order to ensure a fluid
tight joint at this point. This arrangement of three bushes, whether solid or
hollow, is useful in cases when great sensitiveness of action is required.
The above described arrangement of corrugated bushes, corrugated packings, and
corrugated surfaces may be applied to pistons and like devices, the packing in this
case however being forced outward instead of inward. In one such arrangement,
the piston packing ring is corrugated internally to engage with the bush. In order
however to cheapen renewal and to improve the steam joint, two packing rings may
be used, the innermost one only being then corrugated.
In small pistons it will be advantageous to use a complete bush, but in large
pistons it will be advisable, in order to save weight, to reduce the bush to small
segments or blocks, (hereinafter referred to as segments) that may be kept in place
by any suitable means, such as projecting lugs or pins cast, screwed or otherwise
fixed to the piston body, and formed with recesses to hold the springs employed to
press the packing ring against the cylinder wall.
In some cases the piston body is corrugated, or provided with a separate
corrugated part, or parts, to engage adjacent corrugations on the bush, or bush
segments. In this case the outer side of the bush, or bush segments and the inner
side of the packing ring may be either plain or corrugated as desired.
The spring or springs employed in the foregoing arrangements for automatically
adjusting the bush or bush segments in order to compensate for wear of the packing,
may be constructed and arranged in either of the ways described and shown in our
said former Specification and in the case of stuffing boxes, they may be arranged
either external to or within the stuffing box. In the former case barrel-springs
may sometimes be used, each arranged between two conical washers on a gland stud
in order that it may be distended equally all round and work freely as required.
In the latter case, the internal spring or springs may be carried by a plain bush
or ring.
A flexible sheet metal bush may in some of the arrangements hereinbefore
mentioned be arranged between the packing and adjacent bush segments, the
adjacent edges of which may be jointed in either of the ways described in our said
former Specification. The inner end of the flexible sheet metal bush which rests
on the washer at the inner end of the stuffing box, may be flanged outward.
When corrugated bushes such as described in the present Specification and in
our said former Specification No. 4044 of 1893 are made in segments, each of the
segments may, according to this invention, be made concave at one vertical edge

page_text: and convex at the other and be formed with one or more circumferential notes to
receive an encircling spring or springs that may be of coiled wire, the arrangement
being such that when the segments are fitted together and held by the spring or
springs, the convex edge of each segment will be free to partly turn in the concave
rdge of the next adjacent segment. A bush thus constructed is provided with one
or more sliding or telescopic joints to admit of its diameter varying to suit that of
the packing with which it is used, as the same varies by reason of the wearing
away of the said packing. Each of such sliding joints may conveniently be formed
by constructing one segment with a tongue adapted to work in a corresponding
recess in the next adjacent segment, the tongue and recess preferably extending
around the edges of the respective segments. The segments may be constructed
at one end with a recess in order to ensure a fluid tight joint between them and a
soft or fibrous washer arranged in the inner end of the stuffing box on which the
bush rests. When however a metal washer is used instead of a soft or fibrous one,
the segments that do not form portions of the sliding joint or joints need not be so.
recessed, but only that or those which receive the sliding tongue or tongues. Each
segment may be connected to the spring, or to each spring when more than one is
used, by a pin or pins. By constructing segmental bushes in the manner described
their component parts will be elastically held together and they can be easily
inserted within and removed from the stuffing box or other device with which they
are used. When two such bushes are used together, only the one next or nearest
the packing need be provided with a joint or joints to admit of its diameter being
varied.
Packing arrangements according to this invention are specially suitable for
forming pipe joints. An arrangement for this purpose comprises two concentrically
arranged bushes or sleeves having their adjacent surfaces corrugated and arranged
to surround the ends of the pipes to be joined. The outer bush is carried by or
formed in one piece with a casing made in parts that are adapted to be secured
together by bolts, or which may be hinged together at one side and bolted together
at the other, so as to admit of the packing arrangement being readily applied to and
removed from the pipe ends. The inner bush is split longitudinally, or is made in
segments, and encloses packing material which surrounds the adjacent ends of the
pipes to be joined. In this arrangement a sheet metal flexible bush either split
longitudinal or made in segments, and with lapped edges, may be arranged
between the inner bush and the packing, which may be of fibrous material.
The bushes or sleeves are moved longitudinally with relation to each other in
order to compress the packing, by bolts each made with a wedge shape head
extending through a flange on the bush or bush segments in order to compensate
for the inward movement of the latter. The shank of each bolt extends through
the casing carrying the outer bush and is provided with a suitable spring which
acts at one end against the casing and at the other end against a nut or nuts, either
directly or through a washer.
In another arrangement, suitable for water and other pipes, there are two
corrugated bushes each secured at its outer end only, as for example by rivetting,
to one of the pipes to be joined and so as to be free to spring in an endways
direction. Between the adjacent flanged ends of the bushes which are grooved, is
placed a packing ring of suitable material such as lead. Surrounding the two
bushes and the packing ring is another bush or sleeve made in halves capable of
being tightened up by bolts and arranged to bear at its bent or corrugated ends
against the inner bushes. The arrangement is such that on the outer bush or sleeve
being tightened up, the packing ring will become firmly clamped between the
adjacent ends of the inner bushes so as to effect a fluid tight joint. The inner
bushes may be each made with one or more corrugations. The corrugations on the
outer bush are so formed and arranged relatively to those on the inner bushes,
against which they act, that on tightening up the said outer bush, they will tend to
draw the pipe ends together, compressing the packing ring in recesses in the
adjacent ends of the inner bushes, and causing the corrugations of such bushes to

page_text: be slightly contracted. By this means any expansion or contraction of the jointed
pipes will be compensated for by the resilience of the inner bushes.
In a modified construction, the adjacent ends of the pipes to be connected are
corrugated like the inner bushes which in this case are dispensed with.
The circumferential corrugations on the bush or bushes and the parts with which
they engage may be formed horizontally, that is to say, in planes at right angles to
the axis of the bush, as in the arrangements described in our said former Specifi-
cation. According to the present invention however the said corrugations may be
arranged spirally or screw-like whereby they tend to impart a rotary motion to the
packing, which, when metallic, may be similarly corrugated. The spiral corruga-
tions may be made right or left handed and of any suitable pitch. This formation
of the corrugations is applicable to packing arrangement of the kind described in
our said former Specification.
In some cases we replace the corrugated bushes described in our said former
Specification, and the corrugated bush or bushes and surfaces used in the
arrangements herein before described, by two sets of rings arranged to bear one
upon the other and of different diameters, those in one set being made whole,
or split, or in segments, whilst those in the other set must be split, or made in
segments, with a certain amount of "draw." These rings when pressed against
each other by one or more springs, act substantially in the same manner as the
corrugated bush or bushes used in our said other arrangements. It is preferred to
use with these rings a flexible sheet metal bush having lapped edges and arranged
between the rings and the packing.
In another arrangement the said rings are replaced by spirals or coils, either
whole or in parts, these acting in precisely the same manner as the horizontal rings,
but tending also to produce a revolving movement of the packing. Rings or coils
such as described may be used with metallic packing correspondingly constructed
to suitably engage with the adjacent rings or coil.
Some of the packing arrangements hereinbefore described may be provided
with an indicating device of the kind described in the Specification of another
application for Letters Patent filed by us No. 13,378 of 1893, to indicate the extent
of wear of the packing and the state of compression of the spring or springs.
Dated this 29th day of March 1894
Improvements in or relating to Packing Arrangements for
Producing Fluid-tight Joints.
We, HENRY CHARLES PLATTS, and THOMAS LOWTHER, both of Hughesoffka,
Government of Ekaterinoslaff, South Russia, Engineers, 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 :-
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to us dated 25th February 1893
No. 4044, we have described various constructions of packing arrangements in
which the packing is adapted to be constantly forced against the body with which
it is to form a fluid tight joint by means of pairs of bushes or segments of bushes
arranged concentrically with the packing and having their adjacent surfaces toothed
or corrugated in a circumferential direction, the said bushes or segments being
adapted to be moved relatively to each other in an endways direction by one or

page_text: anore springs whereby the bush, or segments of bush, next the packing is or are
caused to exert a continuous pressure in a radial direction against the said packing
so as to produce a fluid tight joint.
Now the present invention relates to further constructions of packing arrange-
ments for piston rods, piston and other bodies, in which one or more corrugated
bushes or their equivalent is or are employed, and also to improved constructions
of corrugated bushes, as we will now describe with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figs. to inclusive are central sections each showing part of a stuffing box
with a packing arrangement according to this invention.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, an internally corrugated bush 1 made in
segments arranged within a stuffing box 2, and acted upon by one or more
springs 3, either directly or through a gland 4 as shown, is used in conjunction
with corrugated packing 5 of a fibrous nature, as for example asbestos, which may
be made in the form of separate rings as shown, or in the form of a single tape of
suitable width, and which has been passed through suitable rolls in order to impart
to its outer surface the corrugated shape required to engage the corrugations of the
bush. The rings or tape after being cut into suitable lengths, are, or is, placed
upon the rod 6, or other body to be packed, and the segments of the bush 1 placed
around them or it and the whole forced into the stuffing box 2, after which the
gland 4 and springs 3 are caused to act in either of the ways described in our said
former Specification. The upper end of the bush is formed with an inwardly
extending flange 1 adapted to confine the packing in place, and its lower end 1b is
preferably arranged to rest upon and nip the lower portion of the fibrous packing
as shown so as to effect a fluid tight joint at this part.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, metallic packing 5 made in segments and
corrugated externally, is used with the internally corrugated bush 1, which may be
in segments as in the preceding case, and which may be formed externally with
horizontal channels 1° which serve to reduce its weight. These channels may be
utilized to receive packing, or to receive a cord or wire by which the bush may be
tied upon the packing previous to being inserted into the stuffing box. The
inwardly extending flange 1" (Fig. 1) may be omitted in this arrangement.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the bush 1, made in segments with over-
lapping parts and spaces between their adjacent edges to admit of their being
closed upon the packing, is corrugated on the side next the inner surface of the
stuffing box 2 which is formed with corresponding corrugations. In this case the
bush is first inserted into the stuffing box and the packing 5 of a fibrous nature,
then forced into the space between the bush and rod 6 to be packed, after which
the gland 4 is brought down and the springs 3 tightened up. As the bush is forced
down, it nips the packing at its lower end as before. The bush is or may be
constructed on its inuer side with channels 1d to retain the packing in place. In
the modified arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the fibrous packing just referred to, is
replaced by metallic packing made in segments, and a fibrous lubricating washer 5*
is inserted between the gland 4 and the uppermost packing ring as shown, the
construction in other respects being substantially the same as in Fig. 3.
In each of the foregoing arrangements, the bush segments 1 are shown as made
of considerable thickness, preferably cast metal, but they may be made of
corrugated sheet or plate metal as shown in Fig. 5, the segments overlapping each
other.
Figs. 6 and 7 show two arrangements in which three concentric bushes 1ª, 18
and 1, having their adjacent surfaces corrugated, are employed. The outer
bush 10
may be made whole or in segments, but the inner ones 1 and 1B must be
split longitudinally, or be made in seginents. This arrangement is suitable either
for fibrous or for metallic packing.
The corrugated bushes or bush segments may be made of thick or solid metal as
shown in Fig. 6, or they may be of thin or sheet metal as shown in Fig. 7, for the
purpose of rendering them flexible. In the latter case, the flexibility may be made

page_text: sufficient to enable the bush or bushes to produce a fluid tight joint and
automatically compensate for wear, without the use of the springs 3. The solid
and flexible bushes may be used together in various combinations. In the
arrangement shown in Fig. 7 there are three concentric bushes 1A, 1B, 1°, each
made of corrugated sheet metal either bent upon itself, or made in halves or parts
and suitably brazed or otherwise joined, so as to form hollow bushes. Any one
of the three bushes may be acted upon by the glaud 4 and springs 3 provided care
be taken that one of the others bears upon the washer or packing 5 at the inner
end of the stuffing box in order to ensure a fluid tight joint at this point. To
obtain the best results the middle bush in each case should be acted upon by the
gland. This arrangement of three bushes, whether solid or hollow, is useful in
cases when great sensitiveness of action is required.
In each arrangement, the bottom of the stuffing box may be inclined as indicated
by a dotted line at 2 in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, or be provided with a suitable inclined
washer 2b, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, in order to assist the inward movement of
the packing.
In all cases where metallic packing is used, it may be grooved on the side next
to the rod or other. body to be packed, as shown at 5ª in Fig. 2, and the grooves
filled with suitable soft packing material.
The above described arrangement of corrugated bushes, corrugated packings,
and corrugated surfaces may be applied to pistons and like devices, the packing in
this case however being forced outward instead of inward.
Figs. 8 to 21 inclusive show various ways in which the invention can be applied
to pistons. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section, partly in clevation, showing one such
arrangement in which the piston packing ring 5 is corrugated internally to engage
with the correspondingly corrugated exterior surface of the bush 1. In order
however to cheapen renewal, and to improve the steam joint, two packing rings 5, ób
may be used as shown in Fig. 9, the innermost one only being then corrugated.
In small pistons it will be advantageous to use a complete bush, but in large
pistons it will be advisable, in order to save weight, to reduce the bush to small
segments or blocks, as shown in Fig. 10, which shows a piston partly in cross
section and partly in end elevation. The segments or blocks 1 in this case may be
kept in place by any suitable means, such as projecting lugs 7, or pins 7, cast,
screwed or otherwise fixed to the piston body 8, the segments or blocks being
formed with recesses 1* to hold the springs 3 employed to press the packing ring 5
against the cylinder wall.
In some cases the piston body is corrugated, or provided with a separate
corrugated part, or parts, to engage adjacent corrugations on the bush, or bush
segments. In this case the outer side of the bush, or bush segments and
the inner side of the packing ring may be either plain or corrugated as
desired. In Fig. 11, the piston body 8 is corrugated at 84 to engage the adjacent
corrugated inner surface of the bush segments 1, the outer surface of the segments
being plain and arranged to bear directly against the plain packing ring 5. Fig. 12
shows a similar arrangement to Fig. 11 but in which two plain packing rings 5, 5
are used. In Fig. 13, the bush segments 1 are corrugated both at the inner and
outer sides to engage with the corrugated part 8ª of the piston body 8 and with the
inner corrugated portion 5c of the packing ring, which in this case is shown as
composed of three concentric parts 5, 5° and 5. Fig. 14 shows a similar arrange-
ment to Fig. 12, but in which the springs 3 instead of being placed in recesses in
the bush segments, are placed in recesses 9* in the junk ring 9 of the piston.
In Figs. 15 to 19 inclusive, the bush segments are corrugated at the inner and
outer sides and shown engaged with a separate corrugated ring 8b on the piston
body, and with a corrugated packing ring. In Figs. 15 and 16 a single packing
ring is used, the springs 3 being located in the junk ring 9 in Fig. 15 and in the
bush segments 1 in Fig. 16; in Fig. 17 the packing ring is composed of three
parts; and in Figs. 18 and 19 of two parts, the spring 3 in the latter arrangement
acting to force the bush segments towards the junk ring 9 instead of in the

page_text: opposite direction, as in the other arrangements. Figs. 20 and 21 show in part
longitudinal section and cross-section respectively, an arrangement similar to
Fig. 9 but in which each bush segment is held in place by partly projecting into a
recess 8c in the body of the piston 8.
The spring or springs 3 employed in the foregoing arrangements for auto-
matically adjusting the bush or bush segments in order to compensate for wear of
the packing, may be constructed and arranged in either of the ways shown in the
various figures.
In the case of stuffing boxes, the spring 3 may be arranged either external to or
within the stuffing box. In the former case barrel-springs may sometimes be used
as shown in Fig. 2, each tending to uncoil towards the centre and arranged
between two conical washers 3ª, 3 on a gland stud in order that it may act equally
all round and work freely as required. In the latter case, the internal spring or
springs may be carried by a plain bush or ring 3, as in the arrangement shown in
Fig. 22, where several coiled springs 3 are used in conjunction with two concentric
bushes 1 or bush segments.
A flexible sheet metal bush split longitudinally and having its edges overlapping,
may in some of the arrangements hereinbefore mentioned, as for example in that
shown in Fig. 4, be arranged between the packing 5, and adjacent bush segments 1
the adjacent edges of which may be jointed in either of the ways described in our
said former Specification. The inner end of the flexible sheet metal bush that
rests on the washer 2b at the inner end of the stuffing box, may be flanged
outward.
When corrugated bushes such as described in the present Specification, and in
our said former Specification No. 4044 of 1893 are made in segments, each of the
segments may, according to this invention, be constructed as shown in Figs. 23
and 24, which are respectively a part vertical section and part sectional plan of a
stuffing box with packing arrangement.
Figs. 25, 26, 27 and 28 are vertical sections on the lines A A, B B, CC, and D D
respectively of Fig. 24.
Figs. 29 and 30 are horizontal sections on the lines a a and b b respectively
of Fig. 25;
Figs. 31 and 32 are horizontal sections on the lines a' a' and
of Figs. 26 and 27 ; and
respectively
Figs. 33 and 34 are horizontal sections on the lines a² a² and 2 62 respectively. of
Fig. 28.
In this arrangement, each bush segment 1 is made concave at one vertical edge 1°
and convex at the other 1, and is formed with one or more circumferential
holes 15, three are shown, each to receive an encircling spring 10 that may be of
coiled wire as shown, or thin wire cable, the arrangement being such that when the
segments are fitted together and held by the spring or springs, the convex edge of
each segment will be free to partly turu on the concave edge of the next adjacent
segment. A bush thus constructed may be provided with one or more sliding or
telescopic joints to admit of its diameter varying to suit that of the packing 5 with
which it is used, as the same varies by reason of the wearing away of the said
packing. Each of such sliding joints, of which one is shown in Fig. 24, may
conveniently be formed by constructing one segment with a tongue 1, adapted to
work in a corresponding recess 1 in the next adjacent segment, the tongue an
recess preferably extending around the lower edges of the respective segment,
as shown at 1' and 1" respectively, in Figs. 27 and 28 to form a close joint at this
part. All the segments 1 may be constructed at the lower or inner end with a
recess (Fig. 25) in order to ensure a fluid tight joint between them and a soft or
fibrous washer 2 arranged in the inner end of the stuffing box 2 and on which the
bush rests.
When however a metal washer is used instead of a soft or fibrous
one, the segments that do not form portions of the sliding joint or joints need not be so
recessed, but only that or those which receive the sliding tongue or tongues 1".

page_text: Each segment may be connected to the spring, or wire cable, 10, or to each spring.
when more than one is used, by a pin 10*; (or pins). By constructing segmental
bushes in the manner described, their component parts will be elastically held
together, and they can be easily inserted within and removed from the stuffing box
or other device with which they are used. When two such bushes are used
together, only the one next or nearest the packing need be provided with a joint
or joints to admit of its diameter being varied.
Packing arrangements according to this invention are specially suitable for
forming pipe joints.
Fig. 35 shows partly in cross section and partly in end elevation, and
Fig. 36 partly in horizontal section and partly in plan, an arrangement for this
purpose. It comprises two concentrically arranged bushes of sleeves 14, 1B having
their adjacent surfaces corrugated and arranged to surround the ends of the
pipes 11, 11" to be joined. The outer bush 14 is carried by, though it may be
formed in one piece with, a casing 12 made in parts that are adapted to be secured
together by bolts 13, or which may be hinged together at one side and bolted
together at the other, so as to admit of the packing arrangement being readily
applied to and removed from the pipe ends. The inner bush 1B is split longi-
tudinally, or is made in segments, and encloses packing material 5 which surrounds
the adjacent ends of the pipes. In this arrangement a sheet metal flexible
bush 14 either split longitudinal, or made in segments, and having lapped edges,
may be arranged between the inner bush 1B and the packing 5, which may be of
fibrous material.
The bushes or sleeves 1A, 1B, are moved longitudinally with relation to each
other, in order to compress the packing, by bolts 15 each made with a wedge
shape head 15 extending through a correspondingly shaped hole in flange 1° on
the bush segments 1B in order to compensate for the inward movement of such
segments. The shank of each bolt extends through lugs on the casing 12, and is
provided with a suitable spring 3, which acts at one end against the casing and at
the other end against a nut or nuts 16 either directly or through washers 17 as
shown, so as to continually force the inner bush against the packing and compensate
for wear thereof.
In a modified construction in which instead of making the inner bush 18 of two
or three segments it is made of a large number of segments, say forty or fifty per
box, the flange 1° on the inner segments is replaced by a separate ring 1° that is
rounded on its inner periphery to form a continuation of the corrugated surface of
the outer bush 1^, and acts against the said inner segments, as shown in the part
sectional view Fig. 36. In this case it is unnecessary to form the bolts 15 with
bevel heads, ordinary heads, as shown, being suitable; also the flange 12ª (Fig. 36)
may be dispensed with. In other respects the arrangement is similar to that
shown in Figs. 35 and 36. As will be obvious the construction may be further
modified so that the pressure of the springs 3 will be applied to the outer corrugated
bush 1 instead of directly to the inner one 1³.
Fig. 37 shows partly in horizontal section and
Fig. 38 partly in cross section and partly in end elevation another arrangement
of joint suitable for water and other pipes."
In this arrangement there are two corrugated bushes 1A 1B secured at their outer
ends only, as for example by rivetting as shown, to the pipes 11 and 11 to be
joined and so as to be free to spring in an endways direction. Between the
adjacent flanged ends of the bushes, which are grooved, is placed a packing ring 5
of suitable material such as lead. Surrounding the two bushes and the packing
ring is another bush or sleeve 12 made in halves capable of being tightened up by
bolts 13 and arranged to bear at its bent or corrugated ends 12" against the inner
bushes 1 1. The inner bushes may be each made with one or more corrugations.
As will be seen from the drawings, the corrugations on the outer bush are so formed
and arranged relatively to those on the inner bushes against which they act, that

page_text: on tightening up the said outer bush, they will tend to draw the pipe ends
together, so compressing the packing ring 5 in the recesses in the adjacent ends 1"
of the inner bushes and so producing a fluid tight joint at this point, at the same
time causing the corrugations of such inner bushes to be slightly contracted. By
this means any expansion or contraction of the jointed pipes will be compensated
for by the resilience of the inner bushes.
According to a modified construction, the adjacent ends of the pipes to be con-
nected are corrugated like the inner bushes 1A, 1B which in this case are dispensed
with.
The circumferential corrugations on the bushes or bush segments and the parts
with which they engage, are in every case made of the rounded or curved form
shown as by this means the engaging parts are made to touch each other
practically along mere lines of contact whereby friction and wear are reduced to a
minimum and the arrangement rendered far more sensitive and efficient than would
be the case if the abutting part of the bushes were formed as flat angular
surfaces.
In the arrangements herein before described the corrugations are arranged
horizontally, that is to say, in planes at right angles to the axis of the bush,
as in the arrangements described in our said former Specification, and as shown in
Fig. 39 of the accompanying drawings which represents a pair of bush segments 1,
Fig. 40 being a plan of such bush segments. According to the present invention
however, the said corrugations may be arranged spirally or screw-like as shown in
Figs. 41 and 42, whereby they tend to impart a rotary motion to the bush segments
when these are moved end ways, and also to the packing, which, when metallic, may
be similarly corrugated. The spiral corrugations may be made right or left
handed, and of any suitable pitch. This formation of the corrugations is applicable
to packing arrangement of the kind described in our said former Specification.
In some cases we replace the corrugated bushes described in our said former
Specification, and the corrugated bush or bushes and surfaces used in the arrange-
ments hereinbefore described, by two sets of rings arranged to bear one upon the
other and of different diameters, those in one set being made whole, or split, or in
segments, whilst those in the other set, i.e. the one next the packing, must be split.
or made in segments with a certain amount of "draw." Fig. 43 shows in vertical
section a stuffing box provided with two sets of rings A, B of the kind referred to.
The two sets of rings when pressed against each other by one or more springs 3,
act substantially in the same manner as the corrugated bush or bushes used in our
said other arrangements.
It is preferred to use with these rings a flexible sheet
metal bush 14 split longitudinally and having lapped edges, this bush being
arranged between the inner set of rings A and the packing 5.
The two sets of rings A, B may be replaced by two corresponding spirals or
co ls, each made in one length or in parts, these acting in precisely the same
manner as the horizontal rings, but tending also to produce a revolving movement
of the packing. Rings or coils such as described, may be used with metallic
packing correspondingly constructed to suitably engage with the adjacent rings or
coil as shown Fig. 44 which is a similar view to Fig. 43.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improved packing arrangements wherein the packing proper is toothed
or corrugated on one side and is arranged to be constantly forced against the body
with which it is to form a fluid tight joint by a correspondingly toothed or corru-
gated bush or set of bush segments arranged concentrically with the packing and
capable of being moved in an endways direction by the action of one or more
springs so as to exert pressure in a radial direction against the packing substan-
tially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2; in
Fig. 5 in Figs. 8, 9 and 10; and in Figs. 20 and 21 of the drawings annexed.
B

page_text: 2. The improved packing arrangements wherein the packing proper is constantly
forced against the body with which it is to form a fluid tight joint by an endways
movable toothed or corrugated divided bush or set of bush segments arranged to
act against a toothed or corrugated surface formed on the stuffing box, or on the
body of the piston or other object carrying the packing arrangement, substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and in
Figs. 11, 12 and 14 of the drawings annexed.
3. The improved packing arrangements wherein the packing proper is constantly
forced against the body with which it is to form a fluid tight joint by a divided
bush or set of bush segments toothed or corrugated on both sides and arranged to
be moved endways by spring pressure between two correspondingly toothed or
corrugated surfaces one of which is formed on another bush or set of bush
segments, or on the stuffing box, or on the body of the piston or other body
carrying the packing arrangement, whilst the other is formed
divided bush or set of bush segments, or on the packing, substantially as herein-
before described with reference respectively to and shown in Figs. 6, 7, 13, 15, 16,
17, 18 and 19 of the drawings annexed.
on another
4. In a packing arrangement of the kind herein referred to, a corrugated bush
composed of a number of segments some of which have their adjacent edges made
respectively concave and convex and others are arranged to form one or more
sliding or telescopic joints, whilst all of them are formed with one or more
circumferential holes provided or each provided with an encircling spring, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 23 to 34 inclusive of the
drawings annexed.
5. The herein described constructions of packing arrangements for forming pipe
joints, substantially as herein before described with reference respectively to and
shown in Figs. 35 and 36; in Figs. 37 and 38 of the drawings annexed, or modified
as set forth.
6. Packing arrangements of the kind herein referred to, wherein the bush or
bushes and the part or parts with which it or they engage are constructed with
spiral or screw-like corrugated engaging surfaces, substantially as described and
shown for the purpose specified.
7. Packing arrangements of the kind herein referred to, wherein the packing
proper is constantly forced against the body with which it is to form a fluid tight
joint by means of two sets of rings, or by two spirals or coils, arranged to bear one
upon the other and of different diameters, and subject to the action of spring
pressure, substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 43 and 44
of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 29th day of January 1895.
HENRY CHARLES PLATTS.
THOMAS LOWTHER.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.