Improvements in and in Connection with Packing Pistons and Stuffing Boxes of Rods, and for similar Joints requiring to be made Steam, Air, or Watertight.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in and in Connection with Packing Pistons and
Stuffing Boxes of Rods, and for similar Joints requiring to be
made Steam, Air, or Watertight.
I HENRY TURNER, of 8 Grosvenor Terrace, Hoylake, in the County of Chester,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows :-
My Invention relates to certain improvements hereinafter described in and in
connection with packing pistons and stuffing boxes of rods and for similar joints
requiring to be made steam, air, or watertight.
My Invention consists essentially in the use of the reactionary power of a spiral
spring, or springs, when in torsion for the purpose of expanding and adjusting the metal
packing rings of pistons, or for causing metal packing rings when used in stuffing
boxes, or under like conditions to bear against the rod, or part to be made steam, air,
or watertight.
For example according to my Invention and in the application thereof to packing
pistons, I form the piston metal packing ring, or rings with a groove, preferably a
segmental groove, on the inner periphery of the ring, or rings and in the space
between the packing ring and the body of the piston and in the said groove, I provide
a spiral spring or springs, which in its normal state is of considerably larger diameter
than the distance between the packing ring and the metal of the piston. To place this
spiral spring, or springs in position, it is twisted until its diameter is decreased
sufficiently to enable it to fit the space between the ring and the piston, namely so that
when bent circumferentially round the packing ring, it will lie with one side bearing
in the segmental groove of the packing ring and the other side bearing against the
metal of the piston. The twisting of the spring when being placed in position being
such as not to impair its reactionary power from the torsional twist which has been
given to it back to its normal diameter. This reactionary power of the spring causes
it to force out and expand the metal packing ring of the piston against its bearing
surface.
Where pistons have two, or more packing rings and are fitted with spiral springs
in torsion, as above described, I provide an additional ring, which 1 place round the

page_text: metal of the piston, so as to come between the spiral springs of the respective packing
rings and so that the spiral springs bear against the outer edges of this ring, with the
result that the spiral springs not only force the packing rings outwards, but also force
them apart from each other and so that they respectively bear against the under surface
of the junk ring and the flange of the piston.
To keep the springs and packing rings in position relatively to each other, pins, or
stop pieces are provided and there are also provided "Cod" pieces to fit in the
joinings of the packing rings.
In the application of my Invention to packing rings for stuffing boxes, I use metal
segmental rings in the stuffing box, such rings being of a diameter to leave a space
between the ring and the metal of the stuffing box, the rings being provided with
segmental grooves on their outer periphery, and being of number to suit the depth of
the stuffing box. In the space between the packing ring and the metal of the stuffing
box and in the groove of the ring, I provide each ring with a spiral spring, or springs
which in its normal state is of considerably larger diameter than the distance between
the packing ring and the metal of the stuffing box. To place this spiral spring, or
springs in position, it is twisted until its diameter is decreased sufficiently to enable it.
to fit the space between the ring and the metal of the stuffing box so that when bent
circumferentially round the packing ring, it will lie with one side bearing in the
segmental groove of the packing ring and the other side bearing against the metal of
the stuffing box. The reactionary power of the spring from its torsional twist forces
the metal packing rings against the rod to be packed. The metal packing rings may
be of any metal, or alloy usually employed for such purpose.
To keep the springs and packing rings in position there are provided stop pieces
and "Codpieces.
So that the packing rings of stuffing boxes when fitted as above described may be
virtually floated on springs, I provide spiral springs in compression between the nuts
of the gland bolts and the metal of the stuffing box gland, thus the packing rings are
diametrically and vertically, or otherwise spring borne.

page_text: Improvements in and in Connection with Packing Pistons and
Stuffing Boxes of Rods, and for similar Joints requiring to be
made Steam, Air, or Watertight.
I, HENRY TURNER, of 8 Grosvenor Terrace, Hoylake in the County of Chester,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My Invention relates to improvements in and in connection with packing pistons
and stuffing boxes of rods and for similar joints requiring to be made steam, air, or
watertight.
My Invention consists essentially in the use of the reactionary power or resilience
of a spiral spring, or springs when in torsion for the purpose of expanding and
adjusting the metal packing rings of pistons, or for causing metal packing rings when
used in stuffing boxes, or under like conditions to bear against the rod or part to be
made steam, air, or watertight.
For example according to my Invention and in the application thereof to packing
pistons, I form the piston metal packing ring, or rings with a groove on the inner
surface of the ring, or rings and in the space between the packing ring and the body
of the piston and in the said groove I provide a spiral spring, or springs, preferably
made of a section narrow in the direction of their diameter and broad in the direction
of their length, which in its, or their normal state is of considerably larger diameter
than the distance between the packing ring and the metal of the piston. To place this
spiral spring, or springs in position, it is twisted until its diameter is decreased
sufficiently to enable it to fit the space between the ring and the piston, namely so that
when bent circumferentially round the packing ring, it will lie with one side bearing
in the groove of the packing ring and the other side bearing against the metal of the
piston. The twisting of the spring when being placed in position being such as to not
to impair its reactionary power from the torsonial twist which has been given to it to
come back to its normal diameter. This reactionary power of the spring causes it to
force out and expand the metal packing ring of the piston against its bearing surface.
Where pistons have packing rings made in several, say, three pieces the central one
is of a shape and they are each fitted with spiral springs in torsion as above
described and when there is only sufficient space for the diameter of the spiral
springs between the metal of the piston and the metallic packing ring, the
segmental groove is made in each packing ring, but where there is a greater distance,
I provide an additional ring, which I place round the metal of the piston so as to
come between the spiral springs of the respective packing rings.
This ring is
provided with the required segmental grooves to keep them in their respective
places. By this arrangement the spiral springs not only force the packing.rings
outwards, but also force them apart from each other and so that they respectively bear
against the under surface of the junk ring and the flange of the piston.
To keep the springs and packing rings in position relatively to each other, pins,

page_text: or stop pieces are provided and there are also provided "Cod" pieces to fit in the
joinings of the packing rings.
In the application of my Invention to packing rings for stuffing boxes, I use metal
segmental rings in the stuffing box, such rings being of a diameter to leave a space
between the ring and the metal of the stuffing box, the rings being provided with
segmental grooves on their outer periphery and being of number to suit the depth of
the stuffing box. In the space between the packing ring and the metal of the stuffing
box and in the groove of the ring, I provide each ring with a spiral spring, or springs
which in its or their normal state is or are of considerably larger diameter than the
distance between the packing ring and the metal of the stuffing box. To place the
spiral springs in position, they are twisted until their diameters are decreased
sufficiently to enable them to fit the space between the ring and the metal of the
stuffing box so that when bent circumferentially. round the packing ring, they will
lie with one side bearing on the segmental groove of the packing ring and the
other side bearing against the metal of the stuffing box. The resilience of the spring
from its torsonial twist forces the metal packing rings against the rod to be packed.
The metal packing rings may be of any metal, or alloy usually employed for such
purpose.
The spiral springs to be used for the stuffing boxes are preferably to be made, as for
the pistons, of a section narrow in the direction of their diameter and broad in the
direction of their length.
To keep the springs and packing rings in position there are provided stop pieces
and "Cod"
pieces.
That this Invention may be clearly understood I have hereunto attached four
sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, which together with the following explanation
are sufficient to enable any skilled person in the art to which it belongs
to put the same into practice. The Drawings are marked with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those used in the following explanation, like figures and
letters being used to denote like, or corresponding parts.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a piston packed according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of a piece of the packing shown in Figure 1 taken at
a junction of one of the rings.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a modified arrangement, according to my
Invention.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan of a portion of the packing shown in Figure 3 taken
at a junction of one of the rings.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a piston rod packed according to my Invention.
Figure is a plan of the packing shown in Figure 5 taken through the line X X.
With reference to Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 A is the piston which is of the ordinary
construction having a junk ring B. In this example three sets of springs a are used
and they are kept in their respective positions by grooves b formed in the packing
rings and a groove formed in a wedge ring piece D. There is "
a cod piece
of ordinary construction which serves to make a joint over the end of the rings Cat
their ends in the usual way. A¹ is the bearing rim for the springs a which as shown
lie between it and the rings C. The distance between the back of the rings C and the
bearing rim A is less than the diameter of the springs. The springs when placed in
position are twisted until they are of such a size that they can be inserted in position,
when they are allowed to expand and press the rings C outward. I prefer to employ
a number of springs in lieu of a single spring, but I do not confine myself to the use of
multiple springs.
Figures 3 and 4 show a packing having an internal ring A³ which serves to hold
and bear the springs. This is effected by providing it with circumferential recesses
or grooves b equivalent to those previously described with reference to Figures 1
and 2.
The size, strength and shape of the springs a depend, as will be understood, upon
the varying conditions of application and one, or more sets, or layers of rings may be
uzadas dosirod

page_text: With reference to Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a packing for a stuffing box of a
steam engine according to my Invention, viz. in which the springs a are employed
under torsion. The packing consists of segmental rings C and springs a which are
placed in the stuffing box G as shown, Each ring is preferably made of three
segments the ends of which overlap as shown at e¹ and "cod pieces "c are provided at
each joint to ensure tightness. Three sets of springs a are shown for each set of
rings. The springs are fitted as above set forth, viz. in their expanded state, they
are of greater diameter than the distance between the face of the rings and the interior
surface of the stuffing box (which correspond in this application to the rim A¹ of the
piston A above specified) and when they are to be fitted are twisted until they are of
such a size that they can be inserted. When thus inserted the resilience due to
torsional stress in the reacts upon the walls of the stuffing box and the surface of the
rings C and so forces them against the surface of the rod R.
The two sets of rings C and springs a are separated by an annular ring F. Similar
and equivalent rings F and F are provided at the top and bottom. These
rings FFF form bearings for the upper and lower edge surfaces of the rings C. A
ring piece of compressible material is placed between the lower ring F' and the neck
bush H and between the upper surface of the stuffing box G and the ring F. I is a
gland of ordinary construction which is arranged to bear upon the upper surface of
the annular ring F. It is secured to the stuffing box flange by bolts and nuts and is
provided with springs K which serve to facilitate the regulation of pressure upon the
edges of the packing. The ring pieces serve to form a fair and equal bearing for
the packing rings Cand annular rings F F F².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a packing in which metallic rings are employed effecting the adjustment and
maintenance of such rings up to the surface upon which they work by a spring, or
springs fitted and acting under torsion in the manner set forth.
2. A packing for pistons arranged and constructed substantially as set forth with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings.
3. A packing for pistons arranged and constructed substantially as set forth with
reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawings.
4. A packing for stuffing boxes arranged and constructed substantially as set forth
with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawings.
LERND VITUN I