IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PACKING FOR THE PISTON AND VALVE RODS AND SIMILAR PARTS OF STEAM OR OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co. Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PACKING FOR THE PISTON AND VALVE
RODS AND SIMILAR PARTS OF STEAM OR OTHER ENGINES" A communication
from abroad by the Matthews Steam Spring Packing Company of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lako, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PACKING
FOR THE PISTON AND VALVE RODS AND SIMILAR PARTS OF STEAM OR OTHER
ENGINES" [A communication from abroad by the Matthews Steam Spring
Packing Company of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America]
This Invention relates to the packing of valve stems or other rods by carrying
the packing on or with the stem or rod in a packing cylinder for steam, hot air,
gas, and other engines of every description.
The object of this Invention is to lessen the friction due to the forward and
backward motion of the valve stem or rod; also to guide the stem or rod in a true
line and prevent it from wabbling when the rock-shaft or valve-stem connection is
out of line particularly in locomotives and oscillating engines; also to obviate the
necessity for glands, bushing rings stuffing boxes and their packing, consequently
the wear of the valve-stem or rod and consequent trouble, time, and expense.
According to the said Invention I combine with the stem or rod of a valve
cylinder or the like a detachable thimble or cylinder having a hole centrally
through it which snugly 6its the rod; said thimble by one of its ends fitting
the valve-yoke and by the other end the riding ring; the latter forming a
ground or tight joint serving in the place of the usual follower, and also to s0
nearly fit its enclosed packing cylinder as to prevent the valve-stem from wabbling
when it is overstrained or getting out of line from any external cause; I also
combine and arrange a riding ring with the packing rings constructed with break
joints in such a manner that they are prevented from turning on each other, that
is to say that the inner ring is provided with an outer projection and the outer
ring with a corresponding recesss the projection on the inner ring being equal in
thickness to that of the outer ring by which a smooth joint is formed, the rings
being put together, one set on each side of the riding ring, which has on one
side the usual follower; the other side abutting against the end of the thimble
aforesaid; thus forming a double space or double recess, in which said packing
11

page_text: rings are secured; I also combine with the steam-chest and stem of a valve a
detachable packing cylinder, in which the packing travels on and with the stem.
Said packing cylinder is constructed so that the flange thereon will fit with a
steam-tight joint against the cylindrical projection of the steam-chest or bolted to
the steam-chest when the same is made without the said projection and allowing
the packing cylinder to project into and even with the inside wall of the steam
chest and outward far enough to retain the packing rings in their forward and
backward movement.
I also combine with the valve and the valve-yoke or brindle several springs or
other supports which are placed around and between the yoke and the valve for
the purpose of holding the valve yoke in a central position and keeping it from
falling out of line with the packing and relieving the packing cylinder and the
packing rings from the weight of the valve yoke and stem, thus preventing said
cylinder and said packing rings from wearing out of the true.
In carrying the said Invention into practico I provide a detachable packing
cylinder in which the improved guide or detachable thimble, riding ring and
packing rings are operated on and with the valve stem. This cylinder is secured
by bolts to the steam chest or in any other suitable manner so that it can be
'attached and detached at pleasure.
The length of the thimble is governed by the length of the stroke of the valve,
but must in all cases be such that the riding ring and packing rings will not extend
outside of the detachable packing cylinder attached to the steam-chest; one end
of the thimble forms the follower and the other end abuts against the valve-yoke.
The outer diameter of the thimble is slightly less than the bore of the detachable
packing cylinder ; the annular opening thus made between them forms the steam-
space; the steam in this space balances perfectly the outer sides of the thimble,
which so nearly fills the packing cylinder that very little of the face of the packing
or riding ring is exposed to the pressure of the steam in the chest; thus it will be
seen that the thimble, the packing rings and the riding ring have but little
resistance from the steam in their forward and backward movement.
There is a gap or cover having an internal screw-thread at its large end by which
it is secured to the detachable cylinder forming a close steam tight joint and
having its other end slit and provided with a screw nut by which the stem is
firmly held in position as necessity requires, as for instance if the valve-rod or
valve should break; this cover preventing dust or dirt from reaching the packing.
An oil-cup is arranged in the upper side of the cover communicating through it, and
the detachable cylinder, with the packing whereby it can be lubricated as desired.
I provide a waste pipe for the discharge of the water condensed from the steam.
The valve and the valve-yoke are placed in position the springs or other supports
are then placed between the valve and the valve-yoke; the yoke and thimble are
mado steam tight and properly joined; the other end of the thimble is turned true
and also the inner end of the riding ring; this part of the riding ring and the
thimble end are ground together or made otherwise steam tight; the packing rings
are placed in position on the riding ring and a screw nut or other fastening is
secured to the rod and against the usual follower rigidly securing all the parts
together, the packing cylinder being properly bored and fitted to the steam chest ;
the dust cover is then screwed to the said cylinder, when all is ready for operation.
It will be observed that the parts are easily removed and replaced and the
construction is simple, cheap, and durable.
The demo of the wolen stom contine out of line is entirely ohvinted and ther

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th July 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PACKING
FOR THE PISTON AND VALVE RODS AND SIMILAR PARTS OF STEAM OR OTHER
ENGINES" A communication from abroad by the Matthews Steam Spring Packing
Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
This Invention relates to the packing of valve stems or other rods, by carrying
the packing on or with the stem or rod in a packing cylinder, and is applicable to
steam, hot air, gas and other engines.
The object of this Invention is to lessen the friction due to the forward and
backward motion of the valve-stem or rod; to guide the stem or rod in a true line,
and prevent it from wabbling when the rock shaft or valve stem connection is out
of line, particularly in locomotives and oscillating engines; and also to obviate
the necessity for glands, bushing rings, stuffing boxes and packing, thereby
Jessening the wear of the valve-stem or rod and the consequent trouble, expense and
loss of time.
According to this Invention I combine with the stem or rod of a valve piston or
the like a detachable thimble or cylinder having a hole centrally through it, which
accurately fits the rod; the said thimble has one of its ends fitted to the valve yoke
and the other end to the riding ring, the latter forming a ground or tight joint,
serving in the place of the usual follower, and also so nearly fitting its enclosed
packing cylinder as to prevent the valve stem from wabbling when it is over-
strained or getting out of line, from any external cause; I also combine and
arrange a riding ring, with the packing rings constructed with break joints, in
such a manner, that they are prevented from turning on each other, that is to say,
the inner ring is provided with an outer projection and the outer ring with a
corresponding recess, the projection on the inner ring being equal in thickness to
the outer ring, by which a snooth joint is formed; the rings are placed, one set on
each side of the riding ring, which has on one side the usual follower, the other
side abutting against the end of the thimble aforesaid; thus forming a double space
or double recess, in which the said packing rings are secured; I also combine with
the steam chest and valve-stem a detachable packing cylinder, in which the
packing travels on and with the stem. The said packing cylinder is constructed
so that the flange thereon will fit with a steam tight joint against the cylindrical
projection of the steam-chest to which it is bolted, and projects into and even with
the inside wall of the steam chest, and outward far enough to retain the packing
rings in. their forward and backward movement.
I also combine with the valve and the valve-yoke several springs or other
supports which are placed around and between the yoke and the valve for the
purpose of holding the valve yoke in a central position, keeping it from falling out.
of line with the packing, and relieving the packing cylinder and the packing rings
from the weight of the valve yoke and stein, thus preventing the said cylinder and
the said packing rings from wearing out of truth
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valve-stem and packing constructed according
to this Invention the detachable cylinder being broken away in part, to shew the
location of the packing: the portion of the steam-chest to which the packing is.

page_text: "
"
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of a steam-chest having a cylindrical projection,
and showing the detachable packing cylinder, the detachable thimble, the riding
ring the packing rings and the cylindrical cover or dust cap.
Figure 3 is a plan of a valve-stem and yoke.
Figure 4, is a perspective view of the detachable thimble
Figure 5, is a perspective view of the riding ring detached.
Figure 6, is a perspective view of the inside packing-ring shewing the projection.
Figure 7, is a perspective view of the outside packing ring shewing the recess
into which the projection on the inside packing ring fits.
Figure 8, is a perspective view of the two packing rings put together.
Figure 9, is a perspective. view of the cylindrical cover or dust cap, with oil cup
and waste pipe attached.
Figure 10, is a perspective view of the detachable packing cylinder.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing
A is a steam chest, B the valve-stem, O the detachable packing cylinder, in
which the improved guide or detachable thimble, riding ring and packing rings are
operated, on and with the valve stem. D is the thimble, E the riding ring,
and F, F are the packing rings.
In carrying this Invention into practice I provide a cylinder C and secure it by
bolts ff to the steam-chest A or in any suitable manner so that it can be attached
und detached at pleasure.
The length of the thimble D is governed by the length of the stroke of the
-valve, but must in all cases be such that the riding ring E and packing rings F, F¹
will not extend outside the detachable packing cylinder C attached to the steam-
chest. The thimble D forms the follower and the end b abuts against the valve !
yoke H,
The external diameter of the thimble D is slightly less than the bore of the
detachable packing cylinder C, the annular space thus made between them forms
the steam-space, the steam in this space balances perfectly the outer sides of the
thimble, which so nearly fills the packing cylinder, that very little of the face of
the packing or riding rings is exposed to the pressure of the steam, thus it will
be seen that the thimble D of packing rings F, F, and the riding ring E have but
little resistance from the steam in their forward and backward movement. The
cap or cover G has an internal screw-thread at its large end g by which it is
secured to the detachable cylinder C forming a steam tight joint and having its
small end slotted as at h, and provided with a screw nut by means of which the
stem B is firmly held in position as required, if the valve rod or valve should
break; this cover would prevent dust or dirt from reaching the packing. An oil
cup Jis arranged on the upper side of the cover G communicating through
it and the detachable cylinder C with the packing, whereby it can be lubricated
as desired, a waste pipe K is provided for the escape of water condensed from the
steam
The operation is as follows; The valve, and the valve-yoke H. are placed in
position, and the springs x, x or other supports are then placed between the valve
and the valve yoke H; the packing rings F, F¹ are placed in position on the
riding ring E, the screw nut m or other fastening is tightened on the rod B and
against the usual follower, rigidly securing all the parts together, the packing
cylinder C being properly bored and fitted to the steam-chest, the dust cover G is
then screwed to the said cylinder, when all is ready for operation.
It will be observed that the parts are easily removed and replaced and that the
construction is simple, cheap and durable.
The danger of the valve stem getting out of line is entirely obviated and
therefore the true working of the valve is thereby secured.
Although these improvements have been described and illustrated particularly
in connection with a valve stem, they are obviously applicable as well to piston
and other rods, and they are also applicable to a steam chest or cylinder where the
valve or other stem or rod runs through and projects at either end,

page_text: All the parts herein described may be made of cast iron or of any other suitable
material.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim
First. The combination, in packing for valve-stems or other rods of the stem B,
the detachable thimble D, nearly filling the detachable packing cylinder C, and
abutting against the yoke at the end b, and against the riding ring at the end a
and serving the purpose of the usual follower, and the packing rings F, F¹, all
constructed and arranged to operate in the detachable packing cylinder C,
substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination, with a steam chest or the like provided with a
detachable packing cylinder C, of the guide thimble D, which forms a follower, one
end thereof projecting into and beyond the walls of the said chest, thereby
lessening the resistanco of the steam pressure, and a riding ring provided with the
usual follower, by which a double recess is formed between the said follower
and thimble for the reception of the packing rings, all arranged to operate sub-
stantially as described.
Third. The combination with a steam-chest or the like and a detachable packing
cylinder C of a detachable cylindrical cover or dust-cap G one end fitting with
steam-tight joints on the packing cylinder C at c and the other end slotted in one
or more places and provided with a thread and nut enabling the stem to be firmly
held in position, and an oil cup on the upper side thereof communicating, through
the cylindrical cover G and the detachable packing cylinder C, with the packing,
and a waste or water pipe on the underside of the cylindrical cover, all arranged to
operate substantially as described
Fourth. The combination, in packing for valvo stems or other rods, of the
cylinder C, the thimble D, and the metallic packing rings, the said cylinder having
on its outer end a screw for the reception of the dust-cap G and its inner end
adapted to fit the stuffing box, in the manner shewn and described
Fifth The combination and arrangement, with a valve-stem, yoke and valve
of a steam-chest A, of the springs x, x arranged to operate substantially as
described.
Sixth. The improvements in and relating to packing to be carried on or travel
with a valve-stem or other rod, that is to say, the detachable thimble D, the packing
rings F, F, the riding ring E, the detachable packing cylinder C, and the dust cap G,
in combination with a steam-chest or the like, all arranged to operate substantially
as described, and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty-ninth day of July in the year of our Lord One