Improvements in Packings for Valve Stems and Piston Rods and the like.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Packings for Valve Stems and Piston Rods
and the like.
.3
I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Theodore Safford Peck and Frederick George
Brownell of Burlington in the State of Vermont United States of America and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The Invention consists in a packing for valve stems or piston rods and the like,
parts of which are constructed and arranged for operating in the manner herein-
after described the object being to obtain a cheap efficient and durable packing of
the kind named.
In the accompanying drawing is represented in longitudinal. central section, a
packing made in accordance with the Invention.
A is a portion of the steam chest, and B is a portion of the valve stem. C is the
stuffing box bolted to the steam chest at a; its rear end enters the steam chest and
in an opening therein is a flanged bearing sleeve D, having on each side of its
flange a hub, one of which forms a guide for the spring E, and the other of which
enters the steam chest, or that end of the stuffing box which extends into the
steain chest and forms a guide for the valve stem. The flange itself forms a rest
or bearing for the spring E which presses and holds in its seat the sleeve D.
Within the stuffing box is a loose collar F which is provided on its face adjoining
the spring E, with a hub which is encircled by and forms a guide for the spring.
The outer face of this collar is concave or cup-shaped. The gland is represented
at G. That end of it which enters the stuffing box is concave or cup-shaped like
the collar F, and in the space between the two is asbestos, soapstone, flax or other
suitable packing H. The shapes of the concaves on the ends of the gland and
collar are such that but very little pressure is required upon the packing H. in
order to force it up against the valve stem. The bolts and nuts by which the
gland and stuffing box are drawn and held together are represented at L. Between

page_text: the meeting flanges of the gland and stuffing box is interposed a lead or copper
wire gasket b to make a steam tight joint between them. The spring is confined
between, and supported, steadied and guided, by the collar F and flanged sleeve D,
the latter furnishing also a guide for the valve stem.
Steam as it follows the valve stem out through the sleeve will condense or
partly condense in the stuffing box, and this water will by the action of the
succeeding steam be pressed up through the collar and against the packing thereby
making a water packing and steam tight joint, and serving to some extent also to
keep the stem. lubricated. To afford thorough lubrication to the stem the gland is
'cast with a recess or chamber c in its top which extends from the outside to the
inside of the gland and, is intended to contain woollen or other substance d to hold
the oil and supply it to the valve stem, and to keep grit or dirt from drawing into
the packing.
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,
The stuffing box C the gland G provided with a concave inner face the corre-
spondingly concave collar F provided with a guide hub the packing H the flanged
sleeve D provided on one side of its flange with a guide hub for the spring, and on
the other side with a hub that enters the steam chest and forms a guide for the
valve stem at that point, and the spring E confined between said sleeve and collar
and encircling the hub thereon all constructed and arranged as herein before shewn
and specified.
I