IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC PACKINGS FOR PISTONS, AND IN LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS THEREFOR
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Keirby, of Rochdale, in the County of
Lancaster, India-rubber Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC PACKINGS FOR PISTONS, AND IN
LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 17th March 1865, and dated the 4th January 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Keirby at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th January 1865.
I, EDWARD KEIRBY, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, India-rubber
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC PACKINGS FOR PISTONS, AND IN
LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in manufacturing elastic packings for the pistons of
steam engines or pumps in the form of a flat rope or web composed of two or
more strands or plaits of hemp or other fibrous substances united together in
a loom or other suitable machine by a binding weft. Each plait or strand
contains by preference an elastic core of vulcanized india-rubber or other
suitable elastic material. The width of the packing must be about equal to
the width of the groove in the piston to be packed, but the thickness of the

page_text: packing is considerably less than the depth of the groove, so that the packing
must be wound two or more times round the piston to fill up the groove, thus
avoiding the jump joint heretofore requisite in hemp packings, or the strands or
plaits with an elastic core may be used singly or combined by plaiting together
instead of being woven together as above described.
Another part of my Invention consists in combining with the tallow and oil
or other ingredients employed to lubricate the packings of pistons a certain
proportion of soda ash or other suitable alkali to allow the steam to penetrate
the packing, and thus prevent it being burnt. I have found about one part
of soda ash or other suitable alkali to three parts of tallow and other
lubricants to give a good result, but do not limit myself to this proportion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Keirby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th June 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
KEIRBY, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, India-rubber Manufacturer,
senil greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Edward Keirby, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Keirby, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Edward Keirby, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC PACKINGS FOR PISTONS, AND IN LUBRICATING
COMPOSITIONS THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edward Keirby, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Keirby, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):
:-
My Invention consists in manufacturing elastic packings for the pistons and
piston rods of steam engines or pumps in the form of a flat rope or web com-
posed of two or more strands or plaits of hemp or other fibrous substances
united together in a loom or other suitable machine by a binding weft, as
shewn at Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings. In this
instance I have shewn a web composed of four plaited strands, but a greater
or less number of strands may be employed. Each plait or strand is formed
by plaiting together any convenient number of yarns of flax, hemp, or other
suitable fibrous material in a braiding machine of the ordinary construction,
and each plait or strand contains by preference an elastic core of vulcanized
india-rubber or other suitable elastic material marked a, a; this partially
formed strand is then covered with yarns of flax or other fibres in another
braiding machine, and then saturated in the improved lubricating composition
herein-after described, or in any other suitable lubricating compound. The
strands thus prepared are united by a binding weft in a loom of suitable con-
struction. The flat rope or web thus prepared is then passed between a pair
of smoothing rollers to make it flat and even, and then again passed through
the lubricating compound. When cool the packing is ready for use. The
width of the packing must be about equal to the width of the groove in the
piston to be packed, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, which represent a small piston
marked 6 with a single coil of the improved packing. The thickness of the
packing is considerably less than the depth of the groove, so that the packing,
must be wound two or more times (I prefer three times) round the piston to
fill
up the
groove, thus avoiding the jump joint heretofore unavoidable in hemp
packings. If the coil of packing should be found too too thick to enter the
cylinder the packing must be unwound from the piston and gently hammered
on a smooth hard surface to flatten it; this operation must be repeated until
the packing is sufficiently reduced in thickness to allow the piston to enter the
cylinder. In large pistons and in pump buckets two or more coils of packing
may be required to fill up the groove. Figure 5 represents a section of a
stuffing box for a piston rod with my improved elastic packing. The coils of
packing are successively placed in the stuffing box c either by hand or by the
aid of a flat-ended piece of wood if the box is too deep for the operator to
reach to the bottom by hand, the lid d is then screwed down gently. When the
engine is at work the steam penetrates the elastic packing, and by entering the

page_text: core causes the packing to expand, thus forming a perfectly steam-tight fit;
or the strands or plaits with an elastic core as above described may be used
singly or combined by plaiting together instead of weaving together as above
described.
Another part of my Invention consists in combining with the tallow and
oil or other ingredients employed to lubricate the packings of pistons a certain
proportion of soda ash to allow the steam to penetrate the packing, and thus
to prevent it being burnt. In manufacturing my improved lubricating com-
positions I have found the following ingredients combined in the propor-
tions given to produce the desired results, but I do not limit myself to the
details-One part by weight of soda ash, three parts of oil or tallow, one
part of lead ore, and two parts of soap. In order to mix these ingredients
together I make use of an iron pan or vessel in which a small quantity of
water is placed sufficient to cover the bottom; the pan is then placed over a
fire and heated, the soda ash and soap are then put in the pan and mixed
together until both are dissolved. I then add the oil or tallow and the lead
ore, and the heat is increased until the whole is thoroughly dissolved; the
mixture must be agitated occasionally to assist the operation. The strands
and web are passed slowly through the hot composition in order that every
part thereof may be well saturated.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner
of performing the same, I declare that I claim,-
First, the improved manufacture of elastic packing and the mode of fitting
the packing to the piston or stuffing box to avoid jump joints, as shewn and
described.
7 And, secondly, the improved lubricating composition manufactured in the
manner described, and particularly the application of soda ash to render the
packing pervious to the steam.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Keirby, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five.
EDWARD KEIRBY. (L.S.)