Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 31st May, 1890

page_text: concave face of the ring 9 and forming the ball of said hall and socket joint. The
surface of the ring 9 boaring upon the rod is preferably provided with an annular
groove 16, so as to present as little surface as possible to the rod.
A tension device is provided which holds the two parts of the packing cage
together, and also holds the ring 9 against the ring 15, and the plane surface of the
ring 15 against the surface R. For this purpose, the rear side of the ring 8 is
preferably formed with a ball surface whose centre is at the centre of the rod, and a
tension ring 14 is arranged between the ring & and the surface A. This ring has
preferably one concave surface fitting the hall surface on the ring 8, and a plane
surface bearing against the surface A. The ring 14, being a spring clasp, is capable
of yielding to pressure and therefore holds the parts firmly together, and the parts are
so fitted together that, when the gland is tightly secured to the cylinder head, it will
bear with some pressure upon the ring 15, thus causing a spring tension upon the
enclosed parts. The clasp or tension ring 14 is concaved on one side to hold the ball
or convex end of the picking enge, and is placed at the bottom of the packing box or
at the rear of all the parts of the packing, to cause an equal and even tension on all
surface or concave or convex hearings.
These bearings or joints are movable or "live" joints, and the tension ring allows
the surface or flat joint to move laterally and the ball joints to oscillate while under
pressure without opening and causing a leak of steam to the atmosphere or a leak of
nir into a vacuum. It also creates an end friction on the stationary parts, to wit, the
surfaces A and B, thereby sustaining the parts and taking the weight off the piston
rod where it would otherwise rest in horizontal engines causing the rod to wear oval
or flat.
The rear ring 8, forming the female part of the packing cage, has preferably a
series of grooves 37 eut diagonally in its convex face, and the pressure of the steam
on this thee and the velocity of the steam passing through the groove cause the
packing to revolve with a slow movement around the rod, thereby changing its
bearings, and, should there be a hard spot in the packing rings, it will wear the rings
and rod smoother, and is less liable to wear a channel in the rod and less liable to
break than if it remained in one position. The upper or foremost ring, 9, forming the
male part of the packing cage, telescopes into the female part, making a close fit.
These parts of the packing cage should have no end hearing between themselvøs, or
the annular flange on one should not bear against the shoulder on the other, but,
instead, all of the end bearing from the inner or flat surfaces should be on the enclosed
packing ring.
The means described form a perfectly tight packing for any kind of valve, piston,
or other rod where it is desirable to form a steam or air tight joint while permitting.
considerablo freedom of movement of the rod.
It will be seen that this packing, while it prevents the escape of the steam or the
passage of any gas under pressure in one direction, does not act equally in the other
direction, and would not therefore exclude air from a vaenum such as would be formed
in a condensing engine, and therefore, where the packing is to be used upon an engino
of this kind, it is preferable to make it double and oppositely acting, as shown in
Figure 1. A solid ring 23 is arranged outside of the gland, and is provided with a
plane surface hearing against the outer face of the gland and with a curved surface
forming, with a second packing cage, a ball and socket joint, whose contre is at the
centre of the rod. The packing cage consists of a cylinder 24 and a ring 25 that tele-
scope together and enclose packing rings 11 and 12 and a clasp ring 13 similar to
those already described as located in the other packing cage. The ring 25 telescopes
into the cylinder 24, and said cylinder is also provided with a bevelleil shoulder 26.
A nut 27 is screwed into the gland, and is provided with a plane surface that is
opposite the shoulder 26 on the cylinder 24. spring tension ring 28 is arrangod
with an inclined face against the bevelled shoulder 20 and with a plane face against
the inner surface of the nut 27. The spring tension ring 28 holds the two parts of
the cage together and holds the packing ring 23 against the surface of the gland. It
will be seen that by this means two packings are provided acting in opposite directions,

page_text: one serving to prevent any escape of steam, and the other to prevent a leak of air to
a vacuum.
The sleeve 24 may be provided at its outer end with a socket forming a chamber
within which may be arranged a packing of suitable material to form a wiper for the
rod. The outer surface of the cylinder 24 may be screw threaded, and a nut 29 may
be arranged to close this chamber in the end of the cylinder, and a jam nut 30 may
also be arranged upon the cylinder.
In some instances, it is preferable to form the gland with a cylinder 32 that is
arranged outside of the cylinder head and forms a tight joint with the cylinder head
and with the main part of the gland, and to locate the packing within this cylinder, as
shown in Figure 4. In this instance, the gland itself will preferably be provided
with a chamber, within which may be arranged material to form a wiper for the rod,
collars 34 are then preferably arranged at each side of this packing material within
the chamber in the gland within which they are capable of lateral movement. For
the purpose of centring the gland, the nuts on the bolt 4 may be provided with curved
under surfaces, and washers having similarly curved surfaces may be arranged under
said nuts.
In case of breakage of one of the clasps or tension rings, it is preferable to provide
sectional rings, as shown in detail in Figure 6. The ring is formed in two sections
having dovetailed shoulders 35. These sections are held closely together in proper
position by means of the grooved holder 38 having a notch 39 through its outer
Hange in which the shoulders of the sections fit. The space between the members of
the clasp and the rod is filled by a louse section 44 lying upon the rod. If preferred,
the gland may be arranged to be divided longitudinally of the rod, being formed in
two or more sections so that it and the packing inay be applied to or removed from
the rod without removing the rod.
This packing may be used upon all piston, pump or valve rods wherever it is
desired to form a steam or air tight joint, and whether said rods have a reciprocating,
rotary or oscillatory movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the rod and the plane surface B, of the ring 15 having a
plane surface bearing on said surface B, and a curved surface, a packing cage having
a ball surface engaging the curved surface on said ring 15 and enclosing a series of
packing rings, and a suitable tension device, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the piston rod, of the packing cage formed of rings over-
lapping each other and enclosing sectional rings 11 and 12 and a tension or clasp
ring 13.
3. The combination with the piston rod and the fixed surface, of the packing
rings 15 and 23 arranged upon opposite sides of said surface and forming tight joints
therewith, rings upon said rod forming tight ball joints with said rings 15 and 23,
and oppositely acting tension devices engaging said rings on the rod, substantially as
described.
4. The combination with the piston rod and gland, of packing rings upon opposite
sides of the gland forming tight joints therewith, and oppositely acting tension
devices.
5. In a packing, a ring having in its surface a series of diagonal grooves for the
purpose set forth.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.