IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING FOR STEAM AND OTHER MACHINERY
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris and
Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING FOR
STEAM AND OTHER MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Henry,
Greenough Huntington, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, in the United
States of America, but at present of Florence, in the Kingdom of Italy.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th July 1877.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING FOR STEAM AND OTHER MACHINERY."
A communication from abroad by Henry Greenough Huntington, of Boston, in
the State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, but at present of
Florence, in tlie Kingdom of Italy.
The Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of packing for
steam and other machinery, whereby it is enabled successfully to resist the action of
the high temperatures to which it is liable.
For this purpose, according to one plan, a quantity of asbestos fibres sufficient to
form a cord of the required thickness are put together. These fibres are afterwards
wrapped or covered by hand or machine with an asbestos texture made like hose,
spun and woven or braided to the required dimension. Or a cord or, rope may be
made of asbestos made into a paste, like solid macaroni, which can be covered, if
desired, with asbestos twine, as above mentioned. Or asbestos may be formed into
paper, and strips thereof twisted into the form of cord and that again into rope of
the size required. Or asbestos paper may be rolled tight to the size required, either
over a cord of hemp or it may be used by itself. By these means the asbestos comes
in direct contact with the metal and forms a substance which is both frictionless
and incombustible.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th January 1878.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING FOR STEAM AND OTHER MACHINERY."
A communication from abroad by Henry Greenough Huntington, of Boston, in
the State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, but at present of
Florence, in the Kingdom of Italy.
The Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of packing for
steam and other machinery by the employment of asbestos made into a packing or
cord, whereby it is enabled successfully to resist the action of the high temperatures
to which it is liable.
For this purpose, according to one plan, a quantity of asbestos fibres sufficient to
form a cord of the required thickness are put together longitudinally. These fibres
are afterwards wrapped or covered by hand or by machine with an asbestos texture
made.like hose spun and woven or braided.to the required dimensions. Or a cord
or rope may be made of asbestos made into a paste, like solid macaroni, which can
be covered, if desired, with asbestos twine or yarn as above mentioned.
The asbestos for the above purpose is conveniently made by first damping the
natural asbestos fibre with water, then passing it between a pair of millstones set
near enough together to render it soft and pliable but not to grind it into powder.
As the asbestos fibre comes from the millstones it is passed into vats where it is
constantly stirred or beaten by revolving arms or beaters until, like rags in the
manufacture of paper, it becomes a paste which is then pressed through holes as is
done with the paste or dough in the manufacture of macaroni. Or asbestos may
be formed into paper in the manner heretofore adopted, and strips thereof twisted
into the form of cord, and that again into rope of the size required. Or asbestos
paper may be rolled tight to the required size, either over a cord of hemp, or it may
be used by itself. By these means the asbestos comes into direct contact with the
metal and forms a substance which is both frictionless and incombustible.
Having thus described the nature of the 'said Invention and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is the
manufacture of packing for steam and other machinery by making asbestos into the
forin of cord or rope in manner substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
B. J. B. MILLS. (L.S.)