Improvements in or relating to Packing Arrangements for Producing Fluid Tight Joints.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Packing Arrangements for Producing
Fluid Tight Joints.
We, HENRY CHARLES PLATTS, Engineer, of Hughesoffka, Government of
Ekaterinoslaff, South Russia, and THOMAS LOWTHER, Engineer, also of Hughe-
soffka, Government of Ekaterinoslaff, South Russia, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in or relating to packing arrange-
ments such as are used for piston rods, valve spindles, pistons, screw-propeller stern
pipes, and other articles, for producing fluid tight joints and is designed to provide
According
for automatically tightening up the packing to compensate for wear.
thereto the packing is constantly pressed against the surface with which it is to
form a fluid tight joint by a tightening device comprising segmental pieces or
bushes arranged in pairs and each adapted to act after the manner of a wedge against
the other of the pair so that the one next the packing will be caused to press the
same inwards or outwards as the case may be the wedging action being automatically
produced by a spring or springs acting directly or indirectly on one or other of
the segmental pieces of the pair or of each pair when there is more than one pair.
According to one arrangement suitable for a stuffing box for a piston rod valve
spindle or the like, and provided with packing of any suitable- kind such as
metallic, asbestos vegetable or composite packing, there are two bushes placed
around the packing between it and the cylindrical inner face of the stuffing box
and each divided into a number of segments. The adjacent surfaces of the segments
of each pair are toothed or corrugated in a circumferential direction and in such a
manner that the teeth or projections of the outer set of segments act when pressed
endwise against the teeth or projections of the inner set after the manner of wedges
and force the said inner set of segments radially inwards against the packing, which
is thereby kept tightly in position against the rod or spindle to be packed. The
outer set of segments is forced end wise by coiled, volute or other springs each
arranged in a spring box surrounding one of the tightening bolts and interposed
between the nuts that usually serve for adjustment and the gland of the stuffing
box. This gland bears on the outer segment of each pair and forces it end wise by
the action of the aforesaid springs which can be tightened up as required by the
adjusting nuts.
The inner divided bush may have a flange to keep the packing in place and a
layer of fibrous or asbestos packing may be placed between the gland and the said
flange to receive lubricant. The inner bush also may rest on or bear against a ring
at the inner end of the stuffing box, this ring having the surface against which the
bush bears inclined downward towards the centre, to assist the action of the outer.
bush. The bushes being made in segments, as is also the packing if metallic, can
be removed and renewed without taking off the cross head or other similar
mechanical contrivance that may be fixed to the rod to which the packing is applied.
The longitudinal edges of the segments may be arranged paralled and at a short
distance apart or preferably so as to overlap each other. In the lap joint which we
prefer to employ each edge is formed with projections and recesses which fit into
each other but any other suitable form of lap joint may be used. In applying this.
invention to pistons and the like in which the packing is pressed outwards the
segmental bushes are inserted behind or within the packing rings and the springs
which are inserted in recesses in the inner bush are compressed by the junk ring and
by their reaction press the said inner bush away from the junk ring. This action

page_text: causes the outer bush to be pressed outward against the packing thereby tightening
up the same against the cylinder wall.
To more readily adjust the pressure of the springs and to facilitate examination
a screw stud may be tapped through the junk ring opposite each spring and against
the end of which screw stud the corresponding spring is caused to abut. A screw
plug such as described is preferably provided with a nut which can be tightened up
against the junk ring to prevent lousening of the plug, through vibration or jar.
This arrangement may advantageously be adopted for the pistons of horizontal
cylinders, in which the lower springs have practically to support the whole weight
of the piston. In this arrangement the pairs of segments may be made of such a
width in a circumferential direction that they partake more of the nature of short
blocks than bushes and may be held in their places by any suitable means as for
example by fitting them in slots or holding them by pins. In some cases. where
the pressure of the packing is inwards especially with fibrous or asbestos packing,
two or more adjustable screws may be screwed radially through the stuffing box
and caused to abut against the segments of the outer bush to force the same inwards
when required. Such an arrangement may advantageously be applied to a stuffing
box for a screw propeller stern pipe so as to enable such pipe to be tightly packed
whilst under water. For this purpose the adjusting screws are screwed up against
the segments of the outer bush which acting through the segments of the inner
bush press the packing tightly against the screw-propeller shaft. The stuffing box
gland can then be slacked back and fresh packing inserted. The gland is then
screwed up the adjusting screws being at the same time slacked back, whereby the
fresh packing is forced into the stuffing box. Should more packing be necessary
the operation is repeated as often as required.
Dated. this 23rd day of February 1893
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per W. Cross,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Packing Arrangements for Producing
Fluid Tight Joints.
We, HENRY CHARLES PLATTS, Engineer, of Hughesoffka, Government of
Ekaterinoslaff, South Russia, and THOMAS LOWTHER, Engineer, also of Hughe-
soffka, Government of Ekaterinoslaff, South Russia, 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 :-
This invention has reference to improvements in or relating to packing arrange-
ments such as are used for piston rods, valve spindles, pistons, screw-propeller
stern pipes and generally for producing fluid tight joints, and is designed to
provide for automatically tightening up the packing to compensate for wear.
According thereto the packing is constantly pressed against the surface with which
it is to form a fluid tight joint by a tightening device comprising segmental pieces
or bushes arranged in pairs and each adapted to act after the manner of a wedge
against the other of the pair, so that the one nearest the packing will be caused to
press the same inwards or outwards, as the case may be, the wedging action being
automatically produced by a spring or springs acting directly or indirectly on one
or other of the segmental pieces or bushes of the pair, or of each pair when there are
more than one pair.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows partly in longitudinal half-section and partly in elevation, a stuffing
box with tightening device and means for automatically operating the same
according to this invention.
Fig 1A chanic a modified an

page_text: segments forming part of the tightening device.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a sectional elevation and a side elevation showing
modified arrangements of springs.
are part longitudinal sections of pistons fitted with tightening
devices, according to this invention.
Figs. 5 and
Fig. 7 is a cross section of an engine piston showing our improvements applied
thereto.
Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive are vertical sections illustrating modified arrangements.
Figs. 13 is a corresponding view to Fig. 1, showing an additional device for
tightening the packing.
Fig. 14 is a cross section showing the application of our invention to a stuffing
box for a screw propeller shaft.
Figs. 15 and 16 are detail views.
The several figures are drawn to different scales.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which is suitable for a stuffing box
for a piston rod, plunger, valve spindle or the like, provided with packing of any
suitable kind such as metallic, asbestos, vegetable or composite packing, there are
two bushes A and B placed around the packing C, which is shown as metallic
packing, between it and the cylindrical inner face of the stuffing box D. The
bush A may be made in one piece, and either with or without a longitudinal slit ;
or it may be made in two or more segments. The bush B may be made in one piece
with a longitudinal slit; or it may be made in two or more segments. When the
bushes are made in the form of longitudinally slotted tubes, they should be made thin
and flexible, in order that they may be easily sprung over the rod, plunger or the like
with which they are to be used, and so that when in position in the stuffing box, the
bushes B can be easily compressed by the action of springs as hereinafter explained.
In the example now being described, it is assumed that the bushes are each inade in
several segments. The adjacent surfaces of each pair of these segments are toothed
or corrugated in a circumferential direction as indicated, the teeth or projections of
the outer set of segments A acting, when pressed end wise in the direction of the
arrow, against the teeth or projections of the inner set of segments B, so as to
force the said inner set of segments radially towards the packing, which is thereby
kept tightly in position against the rod, plunger or spindle E to be packed.
The segments of the outer bush A are forced end wise by coiled, volute or
other springs F, each of which is arranged to surround one of the gland studs G
and is interposed between the nuts H that usually serve for adjustment, and the
gland I of the stuffing box. This gland bears on the segments of the outer bush A
and forces them endwise by the action of the aforesaid springs F which can be
tightened up as required by the adjusting nuts H, and may be each enclosed in a
box F1 as shown.
When metallic packing C is used, the inner segments B are formed, as shown,
in Fig. 1, with an inwardly extending flange B₁ to keep the packing in place.
When however asbestos or other fibrous packing is used, the flange B' can be dis-
pensed with.
In this case the packing may be made in one piece, butt-jointed, with
its lower end turned outward and held down by the lower end of the bush Bas
shown in Fig. 14. Or the said bush B may be roughened internally, or be
gradually tapered from bottom to top as shown in said Fig. 1A, so as to obtain a
better hold upon the packing material, especially if it be used in the form of rings.
Or the gland I may be arranged to act, as shown in Fig. 13, directly on the
bush A and also on the asbestos or other fibrous packing C employed.
The inner segments B may rest on or bear against a ring K at the inner end of
the stuffing box as shown this ring having the surface against which the segments
bear, bevelled or inclined downward and inward to assist the action of the outer
segments A and the movement of the inner segments B. The packing C may also
upon the said ring as shown. This ring K, which may be of fibrous or metallic
material, instead of being bevelled, may in some cases be made flat i.e. with its two
rest

page_text: sides parallel with each other, or it may be dispensed with, the segments B and
packing then resting directly against the inner end of the stuffing box.
The bushes being made in segments, as is also the packing if metallic, can be
removed and renewed without taking off the cross head or other similar mechanical
contrivance that may be fixed to the rod, plunger or spindle to which the packing is
applied.
The longitudinal edges of the segments of each bush may be arranged parallel and
at a short distance apart, or so as to overlap each other. In one form of lap joint
shown in Fig 2, each edge portion is formed with projections A' and recesses A²
which fit into each other. Fig 16 shows another form of lap-joint which we have
found to be superior to that shown in Fig. 2. In this case the inner edge of one
segment is provided with a vertical tongue B³ made of the same length as the
segment and arranged to take into a corresponding recess B in the inner side of the
next adjacent segment B. As will be obvious however, any other suitable form of
lap joint may be used, if desired.
We may employ as a convenient backing for the packing C, a thin flexible bush B²
arranged between the bush B or the segments thereof and the said packing C.
This flexible bush may be made in segments or may be made in a single tubular
piece with its longitudinal edges thinned down and arranged to overlap each other.
This thin flexible bush is suitable for the stuffing box shewn in Fig. 1, and also for
that shown in Fig. 13, which is hereinafter described. It is shewn in Fig. 1, in
Fig. 13 and in Fig. 14; while in Fig. 15 which is drawn to a larger scale, the
overlapping thinned edges of the said bush B' are clearly shown.
The bush A may advantageously be provided externally with grooves A³ Fig. 1,
which not only serve to lighten the bush, but also to hold packing, in order
to insure a fluid-tight joint between these grooves and the interior of the
stuffing-box D.
The spring or springs which we employ for the purpose of automatically
tightening up the packing C may obviously be constructed in various forms and be
arranged in different positions. Thus each spring may be applied under the flange D'
of the stuffing box D as shewn at F2 in Fig. 13, either as a spiral spring as shewn,
or as volute, india rubber or other spring. The springs may also be applied
between the gland I and the bush A as shown in dotted lines at 3 in Fig. 1, either
as spiral, volute, india rubber or other springs, a suitable recess or recesses being
provided in the gland I for the reception of the said springs. Or a large spiral volute
or other spring may be arranged between the entire circumferential top surface of
the bush A, or the segments thereof, and the gland I, as shown in dotted lines at Fin
Fig. 13, a suitable recess for the said springs being made in the gland 1. Or the last
described spring arrangement may be arranged between the gland or plate I and the
bush A in the manner shown at F in Fig. 3. A spring or springs may also be
employed for the same purpose arranged as shewn in Fig. 4, wherein a spring F, made
of zig-zag shaj e, is arranged to exert its pressure from the underside of the gland or
plate to the top surface of the bush A and cause the same action as that of the
other springs herein before described. We may use the springs F, or F2, or F3 or
F', or F, or F, alone as already described, or combined. Thus we might in some
cases employ springs F with either spring F2, or F³, or F1, or F³, or F, or with
two or more of such springs, in order to produce a greater effect.
In each of the examples hereinbefore described, the spring or springs is or are
external to the stuffing box, but it will be obvious that the said spring or springs
may be placed in the bottom of the stuffing box and be caused to act either
directly, or indirectly through a ring, against one of the bushes or sets of segments,
the other bush or set of segments being then held stationary by the gland.
In Figs. 5 and 6, which illustrate the application of this invention to pistons and
the like wherein the packing is pressed outwards, the bushes A and B are inserted
behind or within the packing rings C C, and the springs F are inserted in suitable
recesses in the inner bush A., The bushes A and B in this arrangement may, as
before, be each made in one piece, bush B being then slotted longitudinally, or they

page_text: may be made in several pieces or segments, as desired. It is assumed that they
are made in segments.
In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 5, the springs F are compressed by the junk
ring I so that they force the segments of the said inner bush A away from the
junk ring and against the toothed corrugated surfaces of the segments comprising
the outer bush B. This action causes the outer segments to be pressed outwards
against the packing C thereby tightening up the same against the cylinder
wall E*.
The arrangement shewn in Fig. 6 is designed to admit of the pressure of the
springs being readily adjusted, and to facilitate examination. In this case a screw
stud 12 is tapped through the junk ring I¹ opposite each spring, so that the spring
is caused to abut against the end thereof. This screw plug is preferably provided
with a lock nut 13 which can be tightened up against the junk ring 1' to prevent.
loosening of the plug, through vibration or jarring.
In some cases in order to reduce the weight of the packing tightening device, we
reduce the dimensions of the segments of the bush, in a circumferential direction
as shewn in Fig. 7, wherein four narrow pairs of segments are shewn in the piston.
of an engine, the segments A being held in their places by pins A", and the
segments B by pins or stops B⭑* that may be secured to or cast in one with the
body of the piston. The number of such pairs of segments used may obviously be
varied to suit requirements.
As will be obvious the arrangements shewn in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 can be variously
modified. Thus each spring F instead of acting at one end against the junk ring 1, may
act against the piston as shewn in Fig. 8, the position of the inner end of each
spring recess being then reversed in position from that shown in Figs. 5 and 6..
Again instead of using spiral springs F, as shown in these figures, volute or other
springs may be used. Also instead of using several of such springs for each
bush A, or the segments comprising such bush, a single spring F* may be used as
shewn in Fig. 9, made either of the volute form shown, or of other form, and
arranged to surround the boss or central portion of the piston and located within.
annular groove or recess in the bush or bush segments.
When the bushes A and B for a piston are each made in one piece, they may be
constructed of sheet metal, corrugated as shown in Fig. 10 so that in the case of
bush B, which is split longitudinally, it will be rendered sufficiently flexible for the
purpose in view.
Instead of using several inner metal packing rings C as shown in
Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9, a single split inner metal ring may be used as shown in Fig. 10,.
this ring taking the place of the bush B hereinbefore referred to.
Figs. 11 and 12 are vertical sections showing part of a stuffing box with bushes A.
and B, or bush segments, made of thin corrugated sheet metal instead of the much
thicker material shown in the Fig. 1, Figure 11 showing the sheet metal bush B,.
or bush segments, abutting against the flat inner end of the stuffing box, and Fig. 12
showing it or them abutting against the inclined surface of a ring or washer K
arranged at the said inner end of the stuffing box.
In each of the arrangements herein before described the spring or springs used:
for forcing the segments or bush B' against the packing are shown and described as
acting either directly or indirectly against the bush A, or set of segments A, but.
such spring or springs, may if desired be arranged to act against the bush B, or
set of segments B, either directly as shown in Fig. 17 or indirectly through the
gland I as shown in Fig. 18, the bush A or set of segments A being in this case:
stationary.
In some cases, as where the pressure of the packing is inwards, especially in
cases where fibrous or asbestos packing is used, two or more adjustable screws may
be screwed radially through the stuffing box and caused to abut against the
segments of the outer bush so as to force the same inwards when required, as.
indicated at Jin dotted lines in Fig. 13, which shows a stuffing box of the same
type as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Such an arrangement may also advantageously
be aj plied to a stuffing box or stern pipe for a screw propeiler shaft, as shown in

page_text: Fig. 14 where J*, J* are the radial adjusting screws, so as to enable such box or
pipe to be tightened and repacked whilst under water.
For this purpose the
adjusting screws J* are screwed up against the segments of the outer bush A,
which acting through the segments of the inner bush B. and flexible bush B³, press
the packing C tightly against the screw propeller shaft. The stuffing box gland
can then be slacked back and fresh packing inserted. The gland is then screwed
up, the adjusting screws being at the same time slacked back, whereby the fresh
packing is forced into the stuffing box. Should more packing be necessary the
operation is repeated as often as required. This arrangement may also be applied
to other packing arrangements, such as pump and other stuffing boxes, which it
may be required to pack without stopping the engines, or whilst under water.
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. A packing arrangement 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
bushes or segments of bushes A, and B arranged concentrically with the packing
and having their adjacent surfaces toothed or corrugated in a circumferential
direction substantially as described and shown, 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 longitudinally slitted bush B, or the segments B, as the
case may be, is or are caused to exert pressure in a radial direction against said
packing as set forth.
2. The combination with a stuffing box, of a tightening device comprising
concentrically arranged bushes or segments A, B arranged to surround the packing
and having their adjacent faces toothed or corrugated in a circumferential direction
substantially as described and shown, the inner longitudinally slotted bush or
segments B being arranged to close upon and compress the packing, and one or
more springs arranged to act directly or indirectly on one or other of the bushes
or segments of the pair, or of each pair of segments when more than one pair is
used, so as to press the same in an endways direction substantially as herein
described for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with a piston, and its packing, of a tightening device,
comprising bushes or sets of segments B arranged concentrically within the
packing and having their adjacent faces toothed or corrugated in a circumferential
direction the outer bushes or set of segments being capable of being expanded, and
one or more springs arranged to act upon one or other of said bushes or sets of
segments substantially as described for the purpose specified.
4. In a packing arrangement of the kind referred to in the Claim 2, constructing
the inner bush or each of the inner segments with an inwardly projecting flange
such as B¹ substantially as herein described for the purpose specified.
5. Stuffing boxes with automatic tightening devices constructed as herein before
described with reference respectively to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2; in Fig. 11;
in Fig. 12; in Fig. 13; and in Fig. 14 of the drawings annexed, whether modified
or not according to Fig. 1A, or according to Fig. 3, or according to Fig. 4, or
according to Fig. 16, or according to Fig. 18 of the said drawings.
6. Piston packing arrangement constructed substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference respectively to and shown in Fig. 5; in Fig. 6; in Fig. 7; in
Fig. 8; in Fig. 9 and in Fig. 10 of the drawings annexed, or modified according to
Fig. 17.
Deted this 02nd dow of Desember 1902