An Improved Stuffing-box or Packing-device.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
An Improved Stuffing-box or Packing-device.
I, JOHANN STUMPF, of 27, Rankestrasse, Berlin, in the German Empire,
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:--
This invention relates to the simultaneous packing or obturation and lubrica-
tion of a part (such as a plunger, piston or piston-rod) reciprocating through a
stuffing-box, by means of viscous grease or lubricant without any other packing
material being required for rendering the joint tight, or necessitating the employ-
ment of any separate lubricating device. This kind of packing is especially
advantageous for the pistons or piston-rods of a pump, in which case the improved
stuffing-box is preferably formed in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying drawing.
An important feature of my improved stuffing-box consists in that there is no
special packing-space and packing-material, in the ordinary sense of the terms,
nor gland. The valve-casing a of the pump is provided with an extension
(guide-socket), in which the pump-piston c is guided. The pump-plunger moves
in two liners e, e, forced into this guide-socket, which liners are preferably
made long and are formed so as to fit fairly closely onto the pump-plunger.
These liners leave, between them, an annular chamber or space d, which is in
communication with a cylinder or chamber g and is filled with a viscous grease
or lubricant. A piston h fits into the chamber g. The space above the piston h
is preferably put into communication, by means of a passage i, with the delivery-
or pressure-space of the pump, so that, according to the pressure in the pump,
more or less pressure is exerted on the piston h, the grease or lubricant is forced
out of the chamber g into the annular chamber d and thus the packing or obtura-
tion of the pump-piston c is effected in accordance with the pressure against
which the piston has to work.
In this manner, the force tending to close the joint, is proportional to the
pressure of the fluid to be held back. The consumption of grease or lubricant
will consequently also be in accordance with the pressure.
In order, at any time, more especially during erection of the pump and also
during working, to be able to control the operation from the exterior, it is advan-
tageous to apply an adjustable spindle m which, however, is not positively con-
nected with the piston. By means of this spindle m, which is screw-threaded,
pressure can be exerted on the piston h by hand and the grease or lubricant
thereby forced into the annular chamber or space d in order to pack the plunger.
Through this viscous grease or lubricant, which is put under pressure by
hand or automatically, the plunger-piston reciprocates and will naturally carry
particles of grease or lubricant with it, which grease will be deposited in a
number of annular grooves f turned or otherwise formed in the liners e.. The
grease or lubricant deposits itself in these grooves, and will there exert a further
backing effect.
In an arrangement of this kind, the plunger is always well lubricated, whereby

page_text: the friction is reduced, the working surfaces of the plunger are kept in good
condition, and rusting thereof is prevented.
The packing effect will be better accordingly as the grease or lubricant is more
viscous, as the packing pressure is greater, as the socket f is longer and accord-
ingly as the number of grooves is greater and the better the fit of the pump-
plunger in the liners e. The consumption of grease or lubricant is smaller
accordingly as the grease or lubricant is more viscous and harder. Experiments
have shown that raw (i.e. not boiled or rendered) beef-suet is most suitable.
Moreover, experiments have proved that, with a single charging of the lubri-
cant-chamber, a pump can be driven for eight days, working day and night, and
that the durability of the plunger can be increased to five times that possible
heretofore. The layer or surface of lubricant which is deposited on the working
surface of the plunger, and which is always being increased prevents, in pumps
which are used for raising acid water, the corrosion of the surface of the plunger
by the acid. Moreover grooving of the plunger or piston-rod, .such as can often
be observed in pumps which have to. work at a high pressure with ordinary
hemp packing, is entirely obviated.
Lubrication and packing or obturation are both effected in this stuffing-box,
in a perfect manner, by the same medium.
It is obviously also possible to pack, lubricate and render fluid-tight, an oscil-
lating or rotating shaft in this manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A stuffing-box or packing-device wherein a viscous grease or lubricant,
which is forced into a recess or chamber in the stuffing-box,' simultaneously
effects the packing or obturation and lubrication of the part moving in the
stuffing-box.
2. The improved stuffing-box constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 13th day of October 1800.
D. YOUNG & Co., .
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.