AN IMPROVED PACKING FOR THE STUFFING BOXES OF PISTON RODS AND OTHER RODS REQUIRING PACKING
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL
We, JAMES HENRY SMITH of N° 436 Euston Road in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and ROBERT MARSHALL of N° 2 Maidstone Villas Earlham Grove in the
County of Middlesex Engineer do hereby declaro the nature of our invention for
AN IMPROVED PACKING FOR THE STUFFING BOXES OF PISTON RODS AND OTHER
RODS REQUIRING PACKING to be as follows:-
According to our present invention we construct packing for the stuffing boxes of
piston and other rods of rings or coils of either metal or other packing material,
whether hard or soft, through which rings or coils the rod passes, and we encircle such
packing rings with helical or other circular springs in tension, so that they tend to
keep the rings or coils pressed tightly against the rod as the packing wears.
certain space intervenes between the ioner wall of the stufling box and the packing
rings, in which space the helical springs are contained, wo utilise this space by
filling it with lubricating material.
As a
When metal packing rings are used, we prefer to form a circular groove on the
outer surface of each ring, into which groove the helical spring fits, so as to insuro
its always being kept in position.
The said packing rings and springs may be introduced directly into the stuffing
box, but by preference we enclose them in a casing which is formed in two parts
secured together, and which has a central hole at each end so as to allow the piston
or other rod to pass through, the casing with the packing being introduced into the
stuffing box and made to bear either directly upon the end surfaces thereof, or upon
interposed packing material. The inner end surfaces of the casing are faced true.
so that the packing rings bear steam tight against them. When the packing
consists of two or more rings, these aro pressed outwards in opposite directions
against the end surfaces of the casing by forming their inner ends with bevilled
surfaces, upon which acts, either one of the before described circular spaings, or a
correspondingly bevilled ring that is pressed inwards by one of the springs. The
rings of packing are formed into two or more separate pieces and the joints are
made steam tight by the insertion of wedge shaped tongue pieces between the
correspondingly inclined end surfaces of the parts of the ring, so that when theso
are pressed inwards by the springs, they in their turn tend to force the tongues
inward. The said end surfaces of the rings are by preference formed with dovetail
or undercut grooves to retain the tongues.

page_text: In order to insure an accurate fit of the packing rings round the piston or
other rod we by preference cut on the inner surfaces of the packing rings a very
fine screw thread, or circular threads, which are quickly worn off by the friction
of the piston rod at those points where the rings fit the latter more closely than at
others.
The above improved packing has the advantages that it is kept steam tight with
the smallest amount of friction on the rod; that it is elastic and causes no undue
strain at any point; that it is always uniform in fit and prevents all grooving or
cutting of the rod, and that it is automatic in its action, requiring no screwing up
of the gland after this is once screwed home.
Dated this 14th day of January 1884.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.

page_text: We, JAMES HENRY SMITH of N° 436 Euston Road in the county of Middlesex
Engineer and ROBERT MARSHALL of No 2 Maidstone Villas, Earlham Grove in the
county of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
"AN IMPROVED PACKING FOR THE STUFFING BOXES OF PISTON RODS AND OTHER
RODS REQUIRING PACKING" and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
According to our present invention we construct packing for the stuffing boxes of
piston and other rods of rings or coils of either metal or other packing material,
whether hard or soft, through which rings or coils the rod passes, and we encircle
such packing rings with helical or other circular springs in tension, so that they
tend to keep the rings or coils pressed tightly against the rod as the packing wears.
As a certain space intervenes between the inner wall of the stuffing box and the
packing rings in which space the helical springs are contained, wo utilise this space
by filling it with lubricating material.
When metal packing rings are used, we prefer to form a circular groove on the
outer surface of cach ring into which groove the helical spring fits, so as to insure
its always being kept in position.
The said packing rings and springs may be introduced directly into the stuffing
box, but by preferenco we oncloso them in a casing which is formed in two parts
secured together, and which has a central holo at each end, so as to allow the piston
or other rod to pass through, the casing with the packing being introduced into the
stuffing box and made to bear either directly upon the end surfaces thereof or upon
interposed packing material The inner end surfaces of the casing are faced truc,
so that the packing rings bear steam tight against them. When tho packing
consists of two or more rings, these are pressed outwards in opposite directions
against the end surfaces of the casing by forming their inner ends with bevilled
surfaces upon which acts either one of the before described circular springs or a
correspondingly bevilled ring that is pressed inwards by one of the springs. The
rings of packing are formed into two or moro separate pieces and the joints are
made steam tight by the insertion of wedge shaped tongue pieces between the
Correspondingly inclined end surfaces of the parts of the ring, so that when those
are pressed inwards by the springs, they in their turn tend to force the tongues
inwards. The said end surfaces of the rings are by preference formed with dovetail
or undercut grooves to retain the tongues.
In order to insure an accurate fit of the packing rings round the piston or other
rod, we by preference cut on the inner surfaces of the packing rings a very fino
screw thread, or circular threads, which are quickly worn off by the friction of the
piston rod at those points where the rings fit the latter more closely than
at others.
The above improved packing has the advantages that it is kept steam tight with
the smallest amount of friction on the rod; that it is elastic and causes no undue
strain at any point; that it is always uniform in fit and prevents all grooving and
cutting of the rod, and that it is automatic in its action, requiring no screwing up
of the gland after this is once screwed home.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, shews an elevation of one arrangement of
the before described improved packing, in which metal packing rings are employed.
Fig. 2 shews a plan and fig. 3 a vertical section. The packing rings A are made in
halves and the joints made steam tight against the piston rod by wedge shaped
tongue pieces B. They have grooves into which fit the circular helical springs Ċ C

page_text: introduced therein in a state of tension so that by their pressure upon the packing
rings they always maintain these in steam tight contact with the piston rod,
sufficient space being left between the half rings to allow for wear.
In the arrangement shewn there are two separate packing rings A A, the
meeting ends of which have bevilled surfaces, forming together a circular groove
into which is introduced another circular helical spring C under tension, so that its
inward pressure tends to force the two rings apart, so as to bear with their
accurately turned outer end surfaces against the surfaces of the stuffing box, or
against the surfaces of the before mentioned casing, when such is employed. Or, a
wedge-shaped ring in halves might be fitted against the bevilled surfaces of the
ring A, and pressed inwards by the spring C' embracing the same. Fig. 4 shows a
vertical section and fig. 5 a plan of the before mentioned casing which is made in
two halves D D¹ so as to embrace the packing when this is fitted upon the piston
rod, the halves being secured together by means of screws or dowel pins. The
outer surfaces of this casing are made to fit the inner surfaces of the ordinary
stuffing box to which the packing is applied.
It will be evident that when the piston rods are of large diameter the packing
rings A may be made in two separate pieces.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
-
1, The use for the packing of stuffing boxes of circular helical or other circular
springs that are made to embrace the packing so as to press the same tightly
against the piston or other rod, substantially as herein described.
2, The use of packing for stuffing boxes consisting of metal rings formed in
two or more parts that are pressed against the piston or other rod by means of
circular helical or other circular springs in tension that embrace the outer periphery
of the rings, substantially as herein described.
3, In the construction of packing referred to in the preceding claims, making
the meeting ends of two separate packing rings with inclined surfaces which are
pressed upon by a circular spring either directly or through the intervention of
a wedge-shaped ring in such manner as to force the two packing rings apart,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
4, In combination with the construction of packing referred to in the second
claim, the use of wedge-shaped tongue pieces, covering the joints of the divided
rings and so arranged as to be pressed against the piston or other rod by the
pressure exerted upon the divided rings.
5, The use, in combination with the construction of packing referred to in the
preceding claims, of a casing constructed in halves enclosing the packing and
arranged to fit the interior of a stufling box, sul.stantially as herein described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.