Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 28th June, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by CHRISTIAN ROHN, of Newark, County of Essex, New
Jersey, United States of America, Engineer.]
I, SAMUEL SIDNEY BROMHEAD of 97 Newgate Street, London, Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my present invention is to provide an improved packing for piston
rods of Steam Gas Water and other Engines, and for like purposes, which will be
perfectly air and gas tight at all times, and which will be hermetically sealed under
all pressure of the gas or other fluid therein, the piston rod being capable of its proper
reciprocating movements with the least possible friction and wear upon the parts, and
at the same time be capable of a limited movement or play laterally to accommodate
itself to the incorrect construction of the engine as it has been found to be very
difficult to construct an engine that will not require its piston-rod to be out of line
with the axis of the cylinder during a portion of the time of its action. A further
object of my invention is to provide improved means for automatically taking up the
wear upon the packings around the piston-rod as the same are worn away, and to
improve the parts in minor details so that they shall possess superior advantages in
points of simplicity and durability of construction and accuracy and efficiency of
operation.
Referring to the Drawings of which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through
a piston-rod packing embodying my improvements.
Fig. 2 shows a modification of my device.
Fig. 3 are detail sectional views of parts of my invention, detached.
Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the main gland for packing.
Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding
parts in all the figures, A designates the reciprocating piston-rod of a gas, steam, or
other engine and through which the piston-rod reciprocates.

page_text: C designates the main gland which is fitted in the outer extremity of the stuffing-
box B, and this outer gland is surrounded by a packing, C, of any approved class,
which is fitted around the inner end of the main gland and in a recess of enlargement
of the stuffing-box B, at the outer extremity of the latter.
E designates a gland surrounding the main gland C, and bearing at its inner edges
against the outer edge of the packing C, and through the main and auxiliary glands C
and E, just described, are passed threaded rods F, which are screwed or otherwise
suitably secured in the outer extremity of the stuffing-box B, as clearly shown in
Fig. 1. These threaded rods carry binding-nuts near their inner ends, which bear
against the auxiliary gland E and serve to keep the latter and the packing C in their
proper positions and against retrograde movement, and against the main gland C
bear coiled pressure-springs F, that encircle the said threaded rods F and are housed
within hollow washers or sleeves g, against which bear the nuts 9, which are held
against movement on the threaded rods by means of jam-nuts g, as shown. The main
gland C of the packing is provided with an enlarged chamber at its inner end, and
the inner wall, c, of this chamber is ground water and air tight to prevent the escape
of the pressure-fluid, as will be more fully hereinafter explained, this main gland being
shown in detail in Fig. 3 of the drawings.
I make the gland C in two parts cc for the purpose of removing the bolts F F, and
the auxiliary gland E, in order that the packing C can be easily inserted or removed
as the case may be.
H designates a sleeve, which is fitted around the piston-rod A, and is located
cen trally within the chamber of the stuffing-box B, as shown. The inside diameter of
this sleeve is a little larger than the diameter of the piston-rod, so as to leave or
Provide a space or chamber, h, between the inner surface of the sleeve and the
Periphery of the piston-rod, in which a thin sheet or film of fluid is at all times main-
tained, and at or near its center the sleeve is provided with a number of holes or
ports, h, through which the quid under pressure is admitted to the chamber or
space h.
I designates the boxes for the packing for the piston-rod, which are arranged at
opposite ends of the sleeve H, and which surround the piston-rod. These boxes are
provided with an enlarged chamber, i, that leaves a depending circumferential
Hange, i, at one end-the outer end thereof, as shown." The diameter of the
chamber i of the packing-boxes is equal to the exterior diameter of the sleeve H, and
the said chambered ends of the packing-boxes fit over and surround the extremities of
the sleeve H. Metallic or any suitable packing, I, are interposed between the piston-
rod and the walls of the chamber of the packing-boxes I and fill the chamber i thereof,
and these packings I are inclosed within the inner edges of the flanges i and outer
edges of the sleeve H, to form a complete packing on the piston-rod to prevent escape
of fluid around it.
J designates a bushing, which is fitted around the piston-rod and interposed
between the inner wall of the stuffing box B and the packing-box I, in proximity
thereto, and the surfaces of the said bushing J and of the packing-box I in contact
therewith are ground water and air tight, so as to effectually prevent the escape of
the pressure-fluid.
It will thus be seen that the packings I and the stuffing-boxes very closely surround
the piston-rod and are capable of a slight movement or play therewith, and a space or
chamber is provided in the sleeve H around the piston-rod, in which a thin film of
fluid under pressure is maintained at all times. The bushing J and the stuffing-box I
in contact there with effectually prevent the escape of the fluid under pressure from
that end of the apparatus, and the other packing-box I fits within or is housed in the
enlarged chamber c of the main gland C, the end of the packing-box I that comes in
contact with the wall c of the chamber c within the main gland being also ground
water and air tight to prevent the escape of the fluid under pressure from that end of
the apparatus.
The packings I serve to effectually close the ends of the chamber between the
sleeve and the piston-rod, as it has been found impracticable to make flanges i of

page_text: the packing-boxes fit into the piston-rod so tightly as to prevent the escape of the
fluid under pressure, and the openings in the flanges of the packing-boxes are made
of slightly greater diameter than the rod, so as to reduce the friction between the said
parts. The function of these flanges in the stuffing-boxes is to insure a larger and
better bearing on the packing and to prevent the escape of the packing if it is of a
vegetable nature into the chamber of the sleeve.
The packing boxes I and the intermediate sleeve, H, are arranged within the main
fluid chamber or compartment of the stuffing-box B of the apparatus and out of
contact with the surrounding walls thereof, so as to leave a space or chamber K,
which is filled at all times with a fluid, as shown, that is supplied thereto through
a port or opening, k, in the main stuffing-box B from a receptacle or reservoir, L,
which may be located some distance from the apparatus and be connected therewith
by an intermediate pipe; but I prefer to mount the said reservoir upon the stuffing-
box A, as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. This reservoir L is a
vessel of cylindrical or other form, which has a base, l, through which is formed an
outlet channel or passage, m, through which the liquid under pressure enters the
chamber K of the stuffing-box. The base of the reservoir has a valve or cock, m, by
means of which the supply of liquid or fluid to the stuffing-box can be controlled, and
in the reservoir works a piston, M, which bears or presses upon the fluid therein, and
is normally impelled downwardly by means of a pressure-spring, M, preferably of the
coiled class, which encircles the piston-rod and bears upon the head thereof and against
the closed end of the reservoir.
The reservoir is provided with a removable cap, m, by means of which the fluid can
be supplied to the reservoir when it has become exausted, and through a suitable
opening in the cap of the reservoir works the rod or stem of the piston, as shown.
The reservoir L is generally supplied through a small pipe (not shown in drawings)
situated near the bottom of the reservoir L. In this pipe is a small valve, and from
which extends another small pipe with a bend downward to allow it to be put into the
oil or fluid of an oil can or vessel. When the valve is opened, the piston M is raised
by means of the small hand-wheel on the piston-rod of the fluid reservoir, and the oil
or fluid is by suction drawn into the reservoir L.
In some cases this oil reservoir is filled through branch-having opening leading
the central opening m and thence into the interior of the said reservoir. In this case
a three-way cock will have to be used to prevent the oil entering the packing when
the reservoir is being filled.
N designates an escape or outlet valve, which communicates with the fluid-
chamber K through a port, n, in the stuffing-box, and this valve is located on the
opposite side of the chamber K to the reservoir, so that a circulation of fluid can be
maintained in the chamber K and around the piston-rod and its packing-boxes and
sleeve for the purpose of cooling the piston-rod and the boxes I and the intermediate
sleeve, as is sometimes necessary for instance, when the device is applied to air
and gas engines. This escape or outlet valve is provided with a regulating valve or
cock, N, of any approved pattern, by means of which the escape of the fluid from the
chamber K can be cut off or regulated, as may be desired.
The chamber and hole in the bushing J are made a little greater in diameter of the
piston-rod, so that the piston-rod is capable of a limited lateral movement or play in
the said gland and stuffing-box. I have found by practical experiment that if the
hole in the main gland and the bushing J, through which the piston-rod reciprocates,
be made about one-sixteenth of an inch larger, the piston-rod will have sufficient
lateral or side-wise play in order to compensate for the piston-rod running out of a
straight line.
This being the construction of my improved piston-rod packing, the operation is as
as follows: The fluid under pressure is admitted from the reservoir through the inlet
port or channel to the fluid-chamber K, and thence to the space or chamber h, inter-
mediate of the piston-rod and the sleeve H. The piston-rod reciprocates freely back
and forth through the chambers in the main gland and the bushing J, and also
through the sleeve H and the packing I of the boxes I therefor, and the said sleeve H

page_text: and the boxes, together with their packings, are capable of free motion or lateral play
in the fluid-chamber K with the piston-rod, when the latter runs out of a straight line
and plays in the chamber of the main gland and the bushing J, which play is caused
by the piston-rod not running in a straight line, and also the steady wearing down
in horizontal engines, as it has been found difficult and expensive and almost
impracticable to so construct and arrange the parts of an engine that the piston-rod
will work in a perfectly straight line in the axis of the cylinder. When it is desired
to establish a circulation of fluid around the piston-rod and the sleeve and packing-
boxes, in order to cool the said parts, the cock N in the valve N is opened and the
fluid passes through the chamber K and reservoir and into and through the valve N,
and thence to an escape-pipe, as will be readily understood, from a larger reservoir.
The packings I of the boxes I effectually prevent the escape of the fluid from the
recess or chamber h, surrounding the piston-rod, and the packing-boxes, in connection
with the main gland and the busing J, likewise prevent the escape of the fluid at
the extremities of the stuffing-box B. The spring normally presses upon the main
and auxiliary glands to force the latter inwardly of the stuffing-box B in order to take
up the wear on the several packings automatically, or as it takes place, and thus prevent
the parts from becoming loose, as is obvious.
The modification shown in Fig. 2 shows how my invention can be used on a straight
stuffing-box to enable it to be applied to old engines already in use, without boring
out or changing the stuffing-box.
The only vital change in Fig. 2 is in the gland C. It will be noticed that it is not
only constructed differently, but is held in place by the packing c, pressing against the
edge of the auxiliary gland E.
Although I show a special designed fluid reservoir I am aware that my invention
will work equally as well with the ordinary oil cup placed on top the packing box in
place of my improved reservoir.
I do not desire to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein shown
and described, as an embodiment of my invention, as I am aware that numerous
changes therein can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the
advantages of my invention.
Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by
Letters Patent, is-
1. The combination, with the fluid-chamber of a stuffing-box and a reciprocating
piston-rod working therein, of the packing-boxes fitted on the piston-rod and of less
diameter than the diameter of the said chamber, the sleeve fitted on the piston-rod
between the packing-boxes and having a chamber surrounding the piston-rod, which
chamber is in communication with the fluid-chamber at all times to constantly
maintain a thin film of fluid around the piston-rod, and the packings fitted in the
packing-boxes to effectually close the ends of the chamber of the sleeve, substantially
as described, for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination, with the stuffing-box of an engine having a fluid-chamber to
be filled with a pressure-fluid, of a piston-rod having a packing in contact with the
rod, but independent of and out of contact with the sides of the fluid-chamber, the
packing-boxes for receiving the said packing, and the sleeve between the packing-
boxes having a chamber surrounding the piston-rod and in communication with the
fluid-chamber of the stuffing-box, the said packing-boxes having the ground faces i c
in contact with and sliding freely on the faces of the bush in the stuffing-box and the
inner face of the main gland, whereby the packing, the boxes therefor, and the inter-
mediate sleeve will move freely in the fluid-chamber with any lateral or side play of
the piston-rod and still be perfectly tight to prevent the escape of the fluid under
pressure in the said chamber, substantially as described.
3. The combination of the sleeve surrounding the piston-rod and arranged out of
contact therewith, except at the ends of the sleeve to form an intermediate space or
chamber, h, in which a thin film of fluid is maintained, the packing-boxes disposed on
opposite sides of the sleeve, and the packings housed within the packing-boxes and

page_text: arranged on opposite sides of the sleeve to close the ends of the chamber h, substantially
as described.
4. The combination of a fluid-chamber, the sleeve surrounding the piston-rod and
arranged out of contact therewith, except at the ends of the sleeve, to form an inter-
mediate chamber, h, and having the ports in cominunication with the fluid-chamber,
the packing-boxes inclosed within the fluid-chamber and arranged on opposite sides of
the sleeve, and the packings housed within the packing-boxes on opposite sides of the
sleeve to close the ends of the chamber h, substantially as described, for the purpose
set forth.
5. The combination of the fluid-chamber, a sleeve surrounding the piston-rod to
leave an intermediate chamber, h, and having the ports opening in the chamber h
and the fluid-chamber, the reservoir in communication with the fluid chamber, the
packing-boxes on opposite sides of the sleeve and the packing-rings housed within the
packing-boxes, substantially as described.
6. The combination of a sleeve, the packing-boxes having the packings housed
within the same, a fluid-chamber, a reservoir in communication with the fluid-chamber,
and a piston working in the reservoir, substantially as described.
7. The combination, with a fluid-chamber, the sleeve, and the packing-boxes housed
within the chamber, of the reservoir in communication with the fluid-chamber, a
piston working in the reservoir, and a spring for normally forcing the piston upon the
fluid of the reservoir to compress the same, substantially as described.
8. The combination, with a fluid-pressure chamber, a sleeve inclosed within the
latter, and the packing-boxes, of a reservoir in communication with the fluid-chamber,
a piston working in the reservoir, and a cut-off valve or cock intermediate of the
reservoir and the fluid-chamber for controlling the admission of fluid to the latter,
substantially as described.
9. The combination of a fluid-chamber through which the piston-rod reciprocates,
the sleeve inclosed within and in communication with the chamber and surrounding
the piston rod, out of contact therewith, except at the ends of the sleeve, to provide
an intermediate chamber, the packing boxes connected to the extremities of the sleeve,
the packings housed within the packing-boxes, a reservoir in communication with the
fluid-chamber, a piston working in the reservoir, a valve intermediate of the reservoir
and the chamber, and an escape-valve having a cock and in communication with the
chamber, substantially as described.
10. The combination of a stuffing-box having the fluid chamber, the main gland
fitting in the outer end of the stuffing-box, a bushing, J, a sleeve inclosed within the
fluid-chamber and surrounding the piston-rod out of contact therewith, except at the
ends of the sleeve, to form the intermediate chamber, 4, the packing-boxes connected
to the extremities of the sleeves, and the packings housed within the boxes, substantially
as described.
11. The combination of a stuffing-box having the fluid-chamber, the main gland
fitted in the outer end of the stuffing-box, the bushing J, the chambers of the said
gland and bushing being of a slightly larger diameter than the piston-rod, the sleeve
inclosed within the fluid-chamber and arranged around the piston-rod and out of
contact therewith, except at the ends of the sleeve, to form the intermediate chamber,
the packing boxes connected to the ends of the sleeve, and the packings housed within
the boxes, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
12. The combination of the stuffing-box B, having the fluid-chamber, the main
gland fitting in the outer end of the stuffing-box, the packing intermediate of the
main gland and the stuffing-box, the auxiliary gland surrounding the main gland and
bearing upon the packing, the threaded rods passing through the main and auxiliary
glands, the nuts fitted on the rods and bearings upon the auxiliary gland, the springs
bearing on the main gland, the washers within which the springs are housed, the nuts
bearing on the washers, the sleeve H, the packing-boxes, one of which is fitted within
the main gland, and the packings housed in the boxes, substantially as described.
13. The combination, with an engine, the piston-rod and stuffing-box, through
which the piston-rod reciprocates, a fluid-chamber, and two packings surrounding the

page_text: piston-rod and inclosed within the chamber, of two packing-boxes and an intermediate
sleeve between the two packings, the packing-boxes fitting over the ends of the sleeve
to form a complete packing on the piston-rod, that by the enlarged chambers
surrounding the packing-boxes and the plain air and water tight ground faces on the
outside extremities of the packing boxes and the ground faces on which the boxes
move the packing can move freely with the piston-rod in any direction without escape
of fluid from the stuffing-box, substantially as described.
14. In a packing for piston-rods, the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, operated
in connection with the fluid reservoir L shown in Fig. 1, or with any ordinary oil cup
substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
15. In a packing for piston-rods, the construction shown in Fig. 2 to be applied on
old engines already in use without boring out or changing the stuffing-box substantially
as set forth.
16. In a packing for piston-rods, the main gland C, made in two parts substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.