Improvements in Piston Rod Stuffing Boxes of Gas, Steam, and other Motor Engines and Pumps, and in the Construction and Arrangement of the Packing Used therein.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
Improvements in Piston Rod Stuffing Boxes of Gas, Steam, and
other Motor Engines and Pumps, and in the Construction and
Arrangement of the Packing Used therein.
1, SAMUEL GRIFFIN of Kingston Iron Works, Bath, in the County of Somerset,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in piston rod stuffing boxes, together with
the arrangement and method of constructing the metallic packing used therein, for
the purpose of rendering such more simple, durable and frictionless, than the ordinary
non-metallic packing in general use. For this purpose I arrange the box or sleeve,
for containing the metallic packing rings, of any suitable depth, and of a diameter
slightly larger than the piston rod, such diameter being determined by the proper
thickness of the metallic packing rings which are placed in it. At the bottom of the
stuffing box or sleeve there is a shoulder determined by a second hole or sleeve, which
fits the piston rod in the ordinary way. The packing rings are arranged as follows :—a
certain number according to requirements, of any convenient width and thickness,
are parted, at one point, by a very thin slot, or saw cut, so that when the piston rod
is passed through them, they can open and accommodate themselves exactly to its
diameter, their tendency consequently being to continually close upon the rod, and
thus prevent the escape of any vapour, or fluid, along the surface of the rod in the
direction of its length. To prevent escape through the before mentioned slot or saw
cut, two or more of such rings are arranged in position, side by side, with the slots or
saw cuts in different directions radially so that the slot or saw cut of one is faced by
the solid part of the next, and thus break joint with one another. These rings are of
an external diameter, very slightly smaller than the stuffing box or sleeve, so that
they may be quite free when in position, with the piston rod passing through them.
In order to prevent any escape of vapour or fluid" through the space between the
outside diameter of these rings and the stuffing box or sleeve, into which they are
fitted rather loosely, (such space will become greater as the rings gradually close
round the piston rod from the effect of wear) I introduce, between each group of two
or more rings, before described, one or more solid rings, of any convenient width,
bored to fit the piston rod, and of an outside diameter accurately fitting the stuffing
[Price 8d1

page_text: box or sleeve, so that no vapour or fluid can pass. Or these rings may also be split,
so that their tendency is to tighten against the bore of the stuffing box or sleeve,
similar to an ordinary piston ring.
In order to ensure the perfect fit of the first mentioned rings, when expanded
round the piston rod, I arrange any suitable chuck or apparatus for holding the rings
in an expanded state (having first slotted them, so that they can open as before
described) while they are bored to the exact size of the piston rod.
an
In practice the rings are arranged alternately in stuffing box or sleeve as described,
(the combinations or grouping may, of course, be varied) and the end closed by
adjustable gland, which is capable of adjusting the rings so that, while there is no
lateral play, they are quite free to expand or contract.
.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK.
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Piston Rod Stuffing Boxes of Gas, Steam, and
other Motor Engines and Pumps, and in the Construction and
Arrangement of the Packing Used therein.
I SAMUEL GRIFFIN of Kingston Iron Works Bath in the County of Somerset,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to he performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
My invention relates to improvements in piston rod stuffing boxes together with
the arrangement and method of constructing the metallic packing used therein for
the purpose of rendering such more simple durable and frictionless than the ordinary
non-metallic packing in general use. For this purpose I arrange the box or sleeve
for containing the metallic packing rings of any suitable depth and of a diameter
somewhat larger than the piston rod such diameter being determined by the proper
thickness of the metallic packing rings which are placed in it. At the bottom of the
stuffing box or sleeve there is a shoulder determined by a second hole or sleeve which
fits the piston rod in the ordinary way. The packing rings are arranged as follows:-
A certain number according to requirements of any convenient width and thickness
are parted at one point by a very thin slot or saw cut so that when the piston rod is
passed through them they can open and accommodate themselves exactly to its

page_text: diameter their tendency consequently being to continually close upon the rod and
thus prevent the escape of any vapour or fluid along the surface of the rod in the
direction of its length. To prevent escape through the before mentioned slot or saw-
cut, two or more of such rings are arranged in position side by side with the slots or
saw-cuts in different directions radially so that the slot or saw-cut of one is faced by
the solid part of the next and thus break joint with one another. These rings are of
an external diameter very slightly smaller than the stuffing box or sleeve so that
they may be quite free when in position with the piston rod passing through them.
In order to prevent any escape of vapour or fluid through the space between the
outside diameter of these rings and the stuffing box or sleeve into which they are
fitted rathor loosely (such space will become greater as the rings gradually close
round the piston rod from the effect of wear) I introduce between each group of two
or more rings before described one or more rings of any convenient width, bored to
fit the piston rod and of an outside diameter accurately fitting the stuffing box or
sleeve so that no vapour or fluid can pass. These rings also being split so that their
tendency is to tighten against the bore of the stuffing box or sleeve similar to an
ordinary piston ring.
In order to ensure the perfect fit of the first mentioned rings when expanded round
the piston rod I arrange any suitable chuck or apparatus for holding the rings in an
expanded state (having first slotted them so that they can open as before described)
while they are bored to the exact size of the piston rod.
In practice the rings are arranged alternately in the stuffing box or sleeve as
described (the combinations or grouping may of course be varied) and the end closed
by an adjustable gland which is capable of adjusting the rings so that while there is
no lateral play they are quite free to expand or contract.
And in order that my invention may be the more easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
packing rings in position.
Figure 2 is a cross section of stuffing box through packing rings E and
piston rod.
Figure 3 is a cross section of stuffing box through packing rings F and
piston rod.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of chuck showing one of the rings E held
expanded in position ready for boring to fit piston rod.
The same letters, of reference indicate the same parts in all the drawings.
A is the stuffing box, B the adjustable gland, C the locknuts, D the piston rod,
E the rings fitting piston rod, F the rings fitting bore of stuffing box, G the chuck
holding ring expanded for boring, H the cap for tightening ring in position.
The arrangement and operation is as follows:-
The rings E Figures 1 and 2 which accurately fit the piston rod and continually
close upon it (in consequence of having been bored in an expanded state) are
arranged in pairs, the slots being in such a position in regard to each other that
the solid part of one ring is faced by the slot in the adjoining ring the escape of
pressure along the surface of the piston rod in the direction of its length is thus
prevented. In order to prevent the escape of pressure between the outside of the
rings E and the bore of the stuffing box A, a single ring F is placed between each
pair of rings E, this ring is parted by a thin slot which allows it to spring open
when free so that when in position it accurately fits the bore of the stuffing box.
These rings are arranged in the order described and illustrated in sufficient number
to prevent all escape of pressure either along the surface of the piston rod or
bore of the stuffing box in which they are placed and are held in position so as to

page_text: freely expand or contract without lateral play by means of the adjustable gland B
which is held firmly in position by the lock nuts C.
To ensure the perfect fit of the rings E on the piston rod and at the same time
allow them to continually close upon it they are held in an expanded state after being
slotted by the chuck G and screwed cap H while being bored to the exact size of the
piston rod on which they are intended to fit. .
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The arrangement of rings accurately fitting the piston rod and continually
closing upon it in combination with rings accurately fitting the bore of the sleeve or
stuffing box in which they are placed and tending to continually open or press
outwardly against it substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. The arrangement or grouping of the rings fitting the piston rod and continually
closing upon it in pairs with their slots in different directions radially such groups
or pairs being divided by a single ring accurately fitting the bore of the sleeve or
stuffing box and tending to continually open or press outwardly against it substantially
as hereinbefore described and represented in the drawings annexed.
3. The improved arrangement of stuffing box and adjustable gland with lock nuts
on each side of the flange in combination with the arrangement of packing rings
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
4. The improved arrangement of chuck for holding the rings in an expanded state
while they
are being bored to fit the piston rod substantially as hereinbefore described
and represented in Figure 4 of the drawings annexed.
La 1007
Dated
December
1007
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.