Improvements in Stuffing-boxes and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stuffing-boxes and the like.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to an improved metallic packing-bush in combination with
an improved arrangement of gland for lubricating the whole; and it is applicable
either to the stuffing-boxes of steam, air, gas, hydraulic, or other such engines, or
to any like stuffing-box, even though such be arranged only to encircle a guide rod,
without any accompanying pressure requiring to be held in check.
It is not a difficult matter to arrange a metallic packing such as may be squeezed
against a piston rod, ram, or other guide rod--hereinafter termed a rod-but such
rods require to be systematically lubricated.
Many horizontal rods are lubricated externally by dropping oil thereon, directly
or indirectly but this is unsatisfactory as the upper side of such a rod gets better
oiled than the lower; moreover great waste may easily ensue.
The object of my invention is to provide an effective metallic packing-bush
coupled with an improved gland such as shall so hold the oil-retaining-substance,
against the rod, that all is kept clean and in good working order, and, that, without
waste.
I use a white metal packing-bush suitably bored and turned for the rod and the
stuffing-box; the ends, also, of this annular bush are sharpened, as it were, so that
when placed in position they fit between a collar bush (or its equivalent) and a
tightening gland, as usual. Instead of the angled ends of the collar bush and gland
being turned to the same form as the packing-bush their angles are somewhat blunter;
hence the ends of the softer metallic packing-bush are forced inward against the rod
when the gland is tightened.
By turning an annular groove or grooves in the softer packing-bush not only is
any escaping steam momentarily trapped, as it were, but the packing is rendered
more pliant and therefore more easily thrust against the rod when the gland is
tightened.
In all cases the tightening of these glands requires to be done with care so as not
to clasp the rod unduly.
The front body or Hange of the gland (whether for vertical or horizontal use) I
make hollow and so arrange it that any packing (say, by preference, of the simple
A lid, or face,
cotton lamp-wick class) may be coiled inside it and around the rod.
is then fitted over the front of this gland and secured in any convenient manner.
To this gland a suitable lubricator is attached so that oil may be constantly dropped
inside this internal recess, wherein the now oiled lampwick or other such
material-lies, out of the way of any external dirt and grit.
Where the gland can be got off the rod-as off a back piston rod-for packing
purposes, the gland and its front cover may be made in one piece.
Where the movement of the rod is a revolving one-not reciprocating—I
introduce oil at the central annular groove, as an outside gland oiling arrangement
is not then sufficient in itself.
Dated this 7th day of August 1890.
WM.
SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stuffing-boxes and the like.
1, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved metallic packing-bush in combination with
an improved arrangement of gland for lubricating the whole; and it is applicable
either to the stuffing-boxes of steam, air, gas, hydraulic, or other such engines, or to
any like stuffing-box even though such be arranged only to encircle a guide rod,
without any accompanying pressure requiring to be held in check.
It is not a difficult matter to arrange a metallic packing such as may be squeezed
against a piston rod, ram, or other guide rod-hereinafter termed a rod-but such
rods require to be systematically lubricated.
Many horizontal rods are lubricated externally by dropping oil thereon, directly,
or indirectly but this is unsatisfactory; as the upper side of such a rod gets better
oiled than the lower; morcover great waste may easily ensue.
The object of my invention is to provide an effective metallic packing-bush
coupled with an improved gland such as shall so hold the oil-retaining substance
against the rod that all is kept clean and in good working order and that without
waste.
In order to fully explain my meaning I have annexed a drawing on which Fig. 1
represents a longitudinal section through the stuffing box of an horizontal rod,
whilst Fig. 2 is a corresponding front elevation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of part
of the same class of gland with a loose lubricator which may be of any size, and
Fig. 4 shows the mode of lubricating a vertical rod. Fig. 5 shows, in longitudinal
section, the mode of lubricating the centre of a revolving rod or spindle. The same
letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.
I use a white metal packing-bush A. suitably bored and turned for the rod B. and
the stuffing box C the end or ends also of this annular bush are coned or sharpened,
so that when placed in position they fit between the seat D of a collar bush-or its
equivalent and a tightening gland E as usual.
Instead of the angled ends of the collar seat D and gland E-one or both-being
turned to the same form as the packing-bush, their angles are somewhat blunter
hence the ends of the softer metallic packing-bush are forced inward against the rod
when the gland is tightened. For example supposing the end of the packing-bush
to be angled off to 45 degrees, then the angles of the gland or collar seat-one or
both should be angled off to nearly 50 degrees, as shown.
By providing an annular groove or grooves in the softer packing-bush not only
is any escaping steam, for example, momentarily trapped, as it were, but the packing
is rendered more pliable, and therefore more easily thrust against the rod when the
gland is tightened. Four such grooves as these are shown in the drawing at F F &c.
in Fig. 1.
In all cases the tightening of these glands requires to be done with care so as not to
clasp the rod unduly. A. superior plan of doing this is to insert distances-pieces,. G,
between the stuffing box flange and that of the gland. This not only prevents a
careless workman unduly tightening the gland but also affords a stop against which
the gland can be solidly nipped.
The front body or flange of the gland-whether for vertical or horizontal use-I
make hollow, and so arrange it that any packing-say by preference of the simple
cotton lamp-wick class-may be coiled inside it and around the rod, at H. A lid,
or face J, is then fitted over the front of this gland and secured in any convenient
manner say by the gland studs. To this gland a suitable lubricator is attached, as
shown at L, so that oil may be constantly dropped into this internal recess H,

page_text: wherein the now oiled lampwick-or other such material-lies out of the way of any
external dirt and grit.
Where the movement of the rod is a revolving one-not reciprocating-I introduce
oil at an internal annular groove, as an outside gland oiling arrangement is not then
sufficient in itself; as shown in Fig. 5.
By making an outer groove M in the bush A with a series of holes N through to
the interior, oil will flow in either at the top or bottom, and this arrangement allows
the bush to stand in any position.
A further advantage of my invention for engine work lies in the fact that this
class of gland &c. may be made of a shorter length than heretofore, thereby
shortening the necessary length of the piston rod, and thus of course shortening the
length of the engine bed.
When it is desired to cone one or other end only of the bush, the remaining end
may be left either flat, or of other suitable shape, to fit against the gland, or against
the collar-bush or its seat, as the case may be.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
(1) The combination with a rod, for a reciprocating motion, of a metallic bush,
provided with an internal annular groove, or grooves, and further with a coned end,
or ends; a gland, and collar-bush or its seat, with a corresponding coned end, or
ends, of a blunter angle; together with an internal recess in the gland for holding
an oil absorbing substance, complete with internal lubricating arrangements;
substantially as described and shown, with the object and for the purpose set forth.
(2) The combination with a spindle, for revolving purposes, of a metallic bush,
provided with an external groove and set of oil holes, and further with a coned end,
or ends; a gland, and collar-bush or its scat, with a corresponding coned end, or
ends, of a blunter angle; substantially as described and shown, with the object and
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 7th day of May 1891.
WM.
SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks., Agent for the Applicant.