Improvements in Piston and other Rod Glands for Compound Condensing and other Steam Engines.
Year: 1898

page_text: "Improvements in Piston and other Rod Glands for Compound
Condensing and other Steam Engines.
I, I, JOHN HENRY SMILES, 51, Approach Road, Victoria Park, E., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The objects of the invention are first to reduce the pressure on the packing. in
order to lessen friction.
Second. To cause a low and uniform pressure on all the glands.
Third. To prevent atmospheric pressure leaking through the glands of the low
pressure or vacuum cylinder.
The principles of the invention can be carried out with compress packing or
with adjustable metallic packing. In the case of compress packing the packing is
divided into circumferential layers by one or more hollow rings which may be
concaved or dished towards the rod on one or both ends. The inner circumference
of the ring which is next to the rod is open to the hollow part or chamber of the
ring. The outer circumference is open to the walls of the stufling box.
An orifice or orifices are formed through the walls of the stuffing box in such
a position as to allow a given movement of the ring or rings along the same,
this movement is to provide for the compression of the inner layers of packing.
The hollow part or chamber of the ring or rings connects to these orifices and
thence by passages or pipes to their respective receivers.
In the case of a quadruple compound engine, the high pressure piston rod gland,
and all glands subject to the same pressure, contains three rings and four layers
of packing. The second cylinder or first intermediate cylinder gland contains two
rings and three layers of packing, the third cylinder or second intermediate
cylinder gland one ring and two layers of packing, the fourth or low pressure
vacuum cylinder gland one ring and two layers of packing.
The chamber of the first ring in the high pressure piston rod gland is connected
to the first receiver, the chamber of the second ring of the same to the second
receiver and that of the third ring to the third receiver. The chamber of the
first ring on the first intermediate piston rod gland is connected to the second
receiver and that of the second ring to the third receiver. The chamber of the
ring on the second intermediate piston rod gland is connected to the third
receiver and that of the ring on the low pressure cylinder piston rod gland is
also connected to the third receiver.
Steam escaping past the first layer of packing in the high pressure cylinder
gland will pass into the chamber of the first ring and thence to the first receiver.
Steam passing the second layer of packing at the pressure of the first receiver
would escape into the chamber of the second ring and thence to the second

page_text: receiver. Steam passing the third layer from the pressure of the second receiver
would escape into the chamber of the third ring and thence to the third receiver.
Steam passing the fourth layer would pass into the atmosphere. Steam escaping
from the first receiver past the first layer of packing in the first intermediate
cylinder gland passes into the chamber of the first ring of the same and thence
to the second receiver, steam escaping the second layer of packing of the same
at the pressure of the second receiver would escape into the chamber of the second
ring and thence to the third receiver and that escaping past the third layer at
the pressure of the third receiver would pass into the atmosphere. Steam
escaping from the second receiver past the first layer of packing in the second
intermediate cylinder gland would escape into the chamber of the ring and
thence to the third receiver. Steam escaping at the pressure of the third receiver
past the second layer of packing would pass into the atmosphere. In the last
or low pressure cylinder piston rod gland, steam passing the first layer of packing
at the pressure of the third receiver would be from the chamber of the ring into
the cylinder, steam escaping the outer layer of packing would pass from the
chamber of the ring to the atmosphere at the pressure of the last or third receiver
thus preventing the possibility of air leaking into the low pressure cylinder.
The number of rings in each gland is in accordance with the number of expan-
sions of the cylinder it is on. When the principle is carried out with fitted
metallic packing the gland is constructed in two or more circumferential sections
forming internal chambers by means of internal circumferential partitions or rims
formed in each section. The packing which is carried in the chambers between
the partitions consists of one or more non-collapsable concentric rings, bushed
and having a working fit to the rod, but not clasping it to cause friction. The
outer chamber of packing differs from the rest inasmuch as it is fitted with three
eccentric non-collapsing rings carried between two non-collapsable concentric
rings. The middle eccentric ring is placed in opposite position to the ring on
each side of it. One side of each ring is kept to the rod by means of a spring
band which may be a complete circle or in two halves, and is kept in position
between and by means of the two concentric rings. A chamber is formed round
cach partition and is connected by a passage formed along the body or barrel of the
gland or sections to another passage formed through the flange of the gland and
thence by a pipe or passage to its respective receiver. Each partition is connected
by a similar passage.
This arrangement is combined with the ordinary form of stuffing box, but
where the principle is used without a stuffing box in the ordinary sense the gland
would be made up of sections, each section being bolted together by separate
flanges in order that any one section can be adjusted or taken apart without
interfering with the other.
The principle can be carried out with any number of compounds.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Piston and other Rod Glands for Compound 4
Condensing and other Steam Engines.
I, JOHN HENRY SMILES, Engineer, of 51, Approach Road, Victoria Park, E., in
the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The objects of the invention are first to reduce the pressure on the packing, in
order to lessen friction, second to cause a low and uniform pressure on all the
glands, third to prevent atmospheric pressure leaking through the glands of the
low pressure or vacuum cylinder.
The principles of the invention can be carried out with compressed pack-
ing, or with adjustable metallic packing, or with both in combination. In the
case of compressed packing, the packing is divided into circumferential
layers, by one or more hollow rings, which may be concave or dished towards the
rod on one or both ends. The inner circumference of the ring, which is next to
the rod, is open to the hollow part or chamber of the ring. The outer circum-
ference is open to the walls of the stuffing box.
An orifice or orifices is or are formed through the walls of the stuffing box in
such a position or in such positions as to allow a given movement of the ring or
rings along the same, this movement is to provide for the compression of the inner
layers of packing. The hollow part or chamber of the ring or rings connects to
these orifices and thence by passages or pipes to their respective receivers.
In the case of a quadruple compound engine the high pressure piston rod gland
and all glands subject to the same pressure. contain three rings and four layers
of packing. A. second cylinder or first intermediate cylinder gland contains two
rings and three layers of packing, the third cylinder or second intermediate
cylinder gland, one ring and two layers of packing. The fourth or low pressure
vacuum cylinder gland one ring and two layers of packing.
The chamber of the first ring in the high pressure piston gland is connected
to the first receiver, the chamber of the second ring of the same to the second
receiver and that of the third ring to the third receiver. The chamber of the
first ring on the first intermediate piston rod gland is connected to the second
receiver and that of the second ring to the third receiver. The chamber of the
ring on the second intermediate piston rod gland is connected to the third
receiver and that of the ring on the low pressure piston rod gland is
also connected to the third receiver.
-
Steam escaping past the first layer of packing in the high pressure cylinder
gland will pass into the chamber of the first ring and thence to the first receiver.
Steam passing the second layer of packing at the pressure of the first receiver
would escape into the chamber of the second ring and thence to the second
receiver. Steam passing the third layer from the pressure of the second receiver
would escape into the chamber of the third ring and thence to the third receiver.
Steam passing the fourth layer would pass into the atmosphere. Steam escaping
from the first receiver past the first layer of packing in the first intermediate
cylinder gland passes into the chamber of the first ring of the same and thence
to the second receiver. Steam escaping the second layer of packing of the same
at the pressure of the second receiver would escape into the chamber of the second
ring and thence to the third receiver, and that escaping past the third layer at
the pressure of the third receiver would pass into the atmosphere.
escaping from the second receiver past the first layer of packing in the second
intermediate cylinder gland would escape into the chamber of the ring and
thence to the third receiver. Steam escaping at the pressure of the third receiver
past the second layer of packing would pass into the atmosphere. In the last
or low pressure cylinder piston rod gland, steam passing the first layer of packing
at the pressure of the third receiver would be from the chamber of the ring into
the cylinder, steam escaping the outer layer of packing would pass from the
chamber of the ring to the atmosphere at the pressure of the last or third
receiver, thus preventing the possibility of air leaking into the low
pressure
cylinder.
Steam
The number of rings in each gland is in accordance with the number of expan-

page_text: siens of the cylinder it is on. When the principle is carried out with fitted
metallic packing, the gland is constructed in two or more circumferential sections,
forming internal chambers by means of internal circumferential partitions or rims
formed in each section. The packing which is carried in the chambers between
the partitions consists of one or more non-collapsible concentric rings, bushed
and having a working fit to the rod but not clasping it to cause friction. The
outer chamber packing differs from the rest inasmuch as it is fitted with excentric
non collapsing rings carried between two non-collapsible concentric rings. The
middle excentric ring is placed in an opposite position to the ring on cach
side of it, one side of each ring is kept to the rod by means of a spring
band, which may be a complete circle or in two halves, and is kept in position
between and by means of the two concentric rings. A chamber is formed round
each partition, and is connected by a passage formed along the body or barrel of the
gland or sections to another passage formed through the flange of the gland and
thence by a pipe or passage to its respective receiver. Each partition is connected
by a similar passage.
This arrangement is combined with the ordinary form of stuffing box, but
where the principle is used without a stuffing box in the ordinary sense the gland
would be made up of sections, the sections being bolted together by separate
flanges in order that any one section can be adjusted or taken apart without
interfering with the others.
The principle can be carried out with any number of compounds.
And in order that my said invention may be better understood, I will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which Fig. 1 shows a sectional elevation of gland fitted with adjustable metallic
packing for a high pressure. cylinder gland of a quadruple expansion engine;
Fig. 2, sectional elevation of same gland constructed with flanges; Figs. 3 and 4
details hereinafter referred to; Figs. 5 and 6, sectional elevations of two forms
of gland for second intermediate or low pressure cylinder with metallic packing
and compressed packing combined, Fig. 6 being a modified form of construction to
suit existing stuffing boxes; Fig. 7a further modification showing method of
forming rings and metallic packing in halves and to suit scored rods; Figs. S
to 11, plans of details of Fig. 7.
The same letters of reference denote the same parts in all the views.
Referring to Fig. 1, a shows the piston rod, the stuffing-box, and e, e¹, c² show
the gland in sections. e shows the section-retaining cap; f, non-collapsing rings;
g, circumferential partitions forming chambers; h, passages to receivers;
i, sectional collapsing ring; j, spring band; k, outer retaining cap; m, gland
flange
In the modification shown at Fig. 2, d shows eccentric non-collapsing packing
rings. Two of these rings are shown, one ring having a recess formed in it to
receive the other ring. A bent spring is compressed between the rim of the
recess of one ring and the back of the other ring, and the spring draws the rings
to the rod in opposite directions, and they thus close on the rod without a joint
or opening. This is shown in plan at Fig. 3.
Fig. 4 shows a plan of top ring f (see Fig. 2) and sleeve / for turning the packing
round the rod.
In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, n shows compressed packing.
Figs. 8 to 11 show the following details of Fig. 7:-
Fig. 8, plan showing outlets h dotted (looking downwards);
Fig. 9, plan looking upwards;
Fig. 10, plan of non-collapsing rings;
Fig. 11, plan of top ring showing cavities for springs.
The system is applicable to all glands where the cylinder pressure is greater
than the pressure in the low pressure receiver It is also applicable to glands
where the cylinder pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what
I claim is:-
In compound or compound condensing steam engines, connecting the piston
and other rod glands to the receiver or receivers or expansive system of the
engine for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of July 1899.
BROWNE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
9, Warwick Court, Gray's Inn, London, W.C.