of Steam, Hydraulic or other Fluid Pressure Engines.
Year: 1885

page_text: of Steam, Hydraulic, or other Fluid Pressure Engines.
I, ALFRED AUSTIN RICKABY of Bloomfield Engine Works, Sunderland, in the
county of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The improvements consist in the mode of fitting in position round the rod and
providing for adjustment required by wear. Metallic packing both in the cases
of rods which allow the rings of packing to be passed over their ends, and those in
which the packing must necessarily be in halves to enable it to be introduced into
the stuffing boxes.
The packing which I propose to use is made of any suitable metal or alloy of
metals in rings of pyramid section, the base sides next the rod, and outside these
rings another set of pyramid section the base sides against the inside of a cylindrical
case which is smaller than the cavity of the stuffing box in which it is free to move
with a very important object which I will presently explain. This case containing
the rings rests with the lower ring or bottom of cavity or on the neck bush
and the upper ring of outer set, which will be of half pyramid section projects
above the top of case. A washer which fits the diameters of rod and of the cavity
of stuffing box is placed over the top ring and a turn or more of soft packing placed
over it upon which the gland presses when screwed in by the bolts the pressure
causing the inclined backs of the outer rings to set the inner rings close up to rod
while the outer rings are confined by the cylindrical case.
Should the rod be out of true line the cylindrical case moves with the packing
rings in the stuffing box to accomodate the want of truth of the rod instead of, as
in existing metallic packing, either unequally wearing the packing or the rod itself
with a serious amount of friction. In applying my invention where it is not
possible to fit the packing and cylindrical case except in halves, as in the piston
rods of inverted engines for instance, I plan the packing rings in the stuffing box
round the rod in balves and then put round the rod the cylindrical case also made
D

page_text: in halves which may conveniently be joined at their edges by being dovetailed one
into the other and the joint may if necessary be completed with a little solder thus
forming a perfectly flush cylinder which is then pushed up into the stuffing box
over the packing rings, a washer in halves inserted with a turn of soft packing
against which the gland is screwed up. The joining of the two halves of the case
may be effected by other means, as by half lapping the edges or by forming feathers
on one balf with overlapping grooves on the other half but a flush joint is
preferable.

page_text: 5444
of Steam, Hydraulic, or other Fluid Pressure Engines.
I ALFRED AUSTIN RICKABY of Bloomfield Engine Works, Sunderland in the
County of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The improvements consist in the mode of fitting in position round the rod and
providing for adjustment required by Wear-matallic packing; both in the cases of
rods which allow the rings of packing to be passed over their ends, and those in
which the packing must necessarily be in halfs to enable it to be introduced into
the stuffing boxes.
The packing which I propose to use is made of any suitable metal or alloy of
metals, in rings of pyramid section, the base sides next the rod and outside these
rings another set of pyramid-section, the base sides against the inside of a cylindrical
case which is smaller than the cavity of the stuffing box in which it is free to move
with a very important object which I will presently explain.
This case containing the rings rests with the lower ring on bottom of cavity or
on the neck-bush and the upper ring of outer set, which will be of half pyramid
section projects above the top of case a washer which fits the diameters of the rod
and of the cavity of stuffing box is passed over the upper ring and a turn or move
of soft packing placed over it upon which the gland presses when screwed in by
the bolts the pressure causing the inclined backs of the outer rings to set the inner
rings close up to the rod while the outer rings are confined by the cylindrical case.
Should the rod be out of true line the cylindrical case moves with the packing
ranges, in the stuffing box to accomodate the want of truth of the rod instead of as
in existing metallic packing either unequally wearing the packing or the rod itself
with a serious amount of friction.
In applying my invention where it is not possible to fit the packing and
cylindrical case except in halves, as in the piston rods of inverted engines for
instance, I place the packing rings round the rod in halves and then put round
them the cylindrical case which is also made in halves which may conveniently be
joined at their edges by being dovetailed one into the other and the joint may if
necessary be completed with a little solder thus forming a perfectly flush cylinder
which is then pushed up into the stuffing box with the packing rings within it
with a turn of soft paching against which the gland is screwed up.
The joining of the two halves of the case may be effected by other means as by
half lapping the edges or by forming feathers on one half with overlapping grooves
in the other half but a flush joint is preferable.
As a further improvement with this form of metallic packing with the object of
facilitating the distribution of the lubricant between the rod and the packing.
I propose to perforate the surfaces of the packing rings next the rod with swall
holes which in relation to piston packing rings forms part of my patent Nº 1735
dated April 12th 1882 and still in force.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a section through a stuffing box fitted with packing applied according
to my invention to a piston rod which allows the packing rings cylindrical case &c.
to be passed over its outer end.
Figure 2 is a section through the stuffing box of an engine in which the outer
end of the piston rod does not allow the packing rings, cylindrical case, &c. to be
passed over it or where for other reasons it may be more convenient to apply
these in halves to avoid disconnecting the piston rod.
Referring to both figures P, R, is the piston rod working freely in the neck of
the stuffing box S, B and in the gland G, C is the cylindrical case containing the
metallic rings R and having its outer diameter smaller than that of the cavity of
stuffing box in which it is free to move and adjust the packing to any slight
distortion or want of truth in the piston rod-A washer W supports the end of
the cylindrical case at the inner end of cavity and another washer W¹ is inserted
over the outer ring of the packing and between it and the gland a turn of soft
packing P is put in.
In Figure 2 the packing rings, enclosed in the cylindrical case, the washers and
turn of bard packing are shewn resting upon the gland ready to be pushed up into
the cavity of stuffing box.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 show various methods of joining the halves of cylindrical case
when so fitted and these figures require no explanation.
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
For packing piston or other similar rods of steam, hydraulic or other fluid pressure
engines, the application of metallic packing rings enclosed in a cylindrical case
with which they are free to move laterally within the cavity of the stuffing box
the gland acting upon their inclined backs with the inside of case as a fulcrum to
keep the inner rings in adjustable contact with the rod, the surfaces of these rings
next the rod being preferably perforated to facilitate lubrication; the whole
constructed and operating substantially as described and illustrated with the
objects herein before stated.
1000