Improvements in Metallic Packing for Rods; Shafts, Spindles, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 9th Apr.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Packing for Rods; Shafts, Spindles, and
the like.
I, FREDERICK FILMORE SWAIN, of 280, South Water Street, City of Chicago,
County of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention of metallic packing and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of the invention is to provide a metallic packing which is simple and
efficient, and the invention consists substantially in the construction hereinafter
described and finally more definitely pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings Fig. 1, represents a central longitudinal sectional view of a
metallic packing and box as applied to a piston rod, part of which rod is broken
away at each end.
Fig. 2, shows detail views of the split joint ring.
The metallic packing which will now be described, while especially designed
for locomotive and marine service, is also well adapted for high-speed and vertical
engines and can be usefully applied in almost any situation where a metallic
packing is required.
Referring to the drawing, reference sign 9, designates the shaft or piston rod
to which the packing is to be applied. 10, designates the box which encloses the
packing; 11, designates the bolts which, by proper screw-threaded ends, connect
the box with the annular follower 7, adjustment being made by the nuts 12, and
face ring 6, is provided and arranged to encircle the shaft or rod line and against
which the follower gland 7, bears. Said face ring 6, is provided with an under-cut
or inclined recess having a beveled wall, which recess is adapted to receive the
joint ring 5. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, this joint ring 5, is diagonally split
and is provided with a straight wall arranged to bear against the plain end surface
of the casting or stuffing box 10; said ring is also provided with an inclined outer
surface, against which bears the inclined or beveled wall of the under-cut recess
in face ring 6, and on its inner periphery said split ring 5, is circular. From this
construction it will be seen that when face ring 6, is clamped up against the
end surface of stuffing box casing 10, by reason of the diagonal split in the joint
ring 5, said ring is firmly pressed against the end surface of the stuffing box casing
and is contracted in internal diameter by the split ends sliding past each other
and, moreover, said ring firmly retaining in the under-cut recess in the face
ring 6, and efficiently supported therein, thus forming an exceedingly efficient
metallic steam proof joint at this point.
The wearing rings 3, are made of an alloy of well known soft or antifriction metal.
In practice it has been found that the rings wear faster if they constitute the whole
contact with the shaft or piston rod 9, than would be the case if a portion of the
contact surface is made of hard metal, and further that if the rings are made
entirely of soft metal, a portion of such rings will be mashed or pulled out by the

page_text: shaft or rod 9. To obviate these difficulties I preferably employ hard metal con-
tacts in connection with the soft metal rings, as shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings
and as will be now. described. At suitable distances apart in recesses formed for
the purpose in the bottom of the two outside soft metal wearing rings I place
portions of hard metal, such as copper, brass and the like, which may be made of
any suitable shape, but a convenient form is shown wherein these hard metal
portions are of circular shape. These hard metal rods or portions are designated
by the numerals 14, and as clearly shown, are let in or set in suitable grooves or
recesses in the internal surface of the soft metal rings 3. Again between the ad-
jacent or proximal edges of the outer soft metal wearing rings I place a hard metal
wearing surface 15, the lower surface of which is flat and in contact with the
shaft or rod 9, and the sides of which bear against the soft metal rings in any
suitable manner, a convenient fastening being the dovetail joint as shown. By
this means the soft metal of the wearing rings is confined so that it cannot be
drawn out and the heavy thrust upon the packing is partially taken up by the
hard metal portions, especially by the central part 15.
"
The soft metal rings may advantageously be made of the form, construction and
shape shown; that is, three rings are employed, two of which have contact with
the rod or shaft 9, and the rings are approximately triangular in cross section so
as to provide a similar shaped recess to receive the third ring, which is also ap-
proximately triangular in cross section, but with the apex reversed or turned
downwardly. The exterior sides of all the rings are turned outwardly, but the
lower portions of the inside edges of the outside rings are shaped to conform to
the adjacent surface of the metal central part 15, placed between such rings.
Reference signs 2, and 4, designate movable blocks having inclined surfaces
to bear against the correspondingly inclined surfaces of the wearing rings, and
one of which parts 4, has an extended sleeve arranged to encircle and hold down
the wearing rings. The blocks 2, and 4, are arranged on opposite sides of the
wearing rings, as clearly shown, and their engaging ends are presented toward
each other.
It will be observed that all of the parts of the wearing rings in contact with
each other or with the retaining or clamping blocks 2, 4, are inclined so that by
proper adjustment wear may be taken up when required. It will also be seen that
the wearing rings break joint at every point. At one end of the stuffing box
casing 10, are arranged a pair of rings 1, one having recesses on the meeting
surfaces or faces thereof in which are received springs 13, said rings being ar-
ranged a sufficient distance from the shaft or rod 9, to insure being held out of
possible contact therewith.
"
Face ring 6, in addition to the under-cut recess above referred to and which
contains the joint ring 5, has also an exterior shoulder which affords a bearing
therefor upon the follower gland 7, such shoulder also serving to retain the face
ring out of contact with the shaft or rod.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that all of the parts, except the
wearing rings, are held out of contact with the shaft or rod 9.
It is obvious that many modifications may be made in the details of construction
and arrangement as above described without departing from the principles of' the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1. In a metallic packing, the combination of a stuffing box, a face ring, a split
joint ring of soft metal arranged between the end surface of the stuffing box and
the opposed surface of the face ring, and means for crowding the face ring towards
said stuffing box, whereby said ring is contracted in internal diameter and 'is
pressed into efficient contact with the adjacent surfaces of said face ring and
stuffing box, as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2. In a metallic packing, the combination of a stuffing box and face ring, pro-
vided with an under-cut recess adjacent to the end surface of said box, a split joint
ing of soft metal arranged to be seated in said under-cut recess and to bear against
the end surface of said box, and means for crowding said face ring toward the
end surface of said stuffing box, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a metallic packing, the combination of a stuffing box having a plain end
surface, a face ring provided with an under-cut recess having an inclined wall,
a split joint ring arranged to be received and set in said recess and having an
inclined wall or surface to be engaged by the inclined wall of said recess, and
having a plain wall arranged to bear against the end surface of the stuffing box,
and means for clamping said face ring towards said stuffing box whereby the
split ends of said joint ring slide upon each other thereby contracting such ring
in internal diameter and closing the joint, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a metallic packing, the combination with a stuffing box of wearing rings
mounted in such stuffing box and provided with inclined surfaces for contact
with clamping or retaining rings, and an approximately triangular recess for a
third member or ring and suitable devices for holding the same in contact, as and
for the purpose set forth.
5. In a metallic packing, the combination with a stuffing box of wearing rings
mounted in such stuffing box and composed chiefly of soft metal, but having se-
cured to their under surfaces at suitable distances apart and flush with such sur-
faces hard metal strips or portions, and a central hard metal bearing surface
arranged between the two outside soft metal rings, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
6. A metallic packing, comprising a stuffing box, a follower gland, a face ring
having a shoulder supported by said follower gland, wearing rings having plain
faces bearing upon the rod or shaft and having inclined sides and a triangular
recess between them. A triangular shaped member arranged in such recess
clamping or retaining parts or rings having inclined bearing surfaces resting upon
the rings and blocks having recesses to receive springs interposed between said
blocks arranged to bear against the retaining rings whereby wear is adjustably
compensated for and all the members of the stuffing box are supported out of con-
tact with the shaft or rod 9, excepting the wearing rings, as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated th: 0AL 1
T
1000
FREDRICK F. SWAIN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.