Improvements in or relating to Stuffing Boxes for Valves.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1891--Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Stuffing Boxes for Valves.
We, Jons ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSOx both of the firm of
J. Hopkinson & Co. of Huddersfield in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to valves, and more particularly to improved means for
packing the valve spindle so as to render the same liquid or fluid tight.
In carrying our invention into practice we form the stuffing box at its inner or
lower end with a conical bore, and we fit into the said couical bore a white metal
or other suitable metal conical bush. The bush is constructed to fit the stuffing
box and valve spindle accurately. We fill the space between the end of the said
metal bush and the stuffing gland with asbestos or other fibrous packing in
combination with any other suitable packing or lubricant. The' gland may be set
down by any of the well known methods and the compression thus effected of the
fibrous or other top packing above referred to ensures tightness of the metal bush
both around the spindle and in the stuffing box itself, and also lateral extension of
the fibrous material so as to secure fluid tightness in the stuffing box and around
the rod or spindle with the least possible friction.
In some instances we construct the aforesaid metal bush with a flat top on which
the asbestos or other packing material is pressed; in other instances we form the
bush with a conical shaped top.
In a modification of our invention we rely entirely on the metal bush for packing
the valve spindle; and in this case we preferably arrange that the said bush shall
project upwards or outwards from the stuffing box and be surmounted by a gland
or cap for keeping it in position.
The said gland or cap is recessed to receive the upper or outer end of the metal
bush which end may be made cone shaped and the said recess in the bush also be
made conical to correspond, the two being constructed to accurately fit each other.
We may however form the cap or gland with a recess for the reception of asbestos
fibre or other packing material, which is arranged when the said cap or gland is
screwed down to press upon the flat or conical end of the metal bush.
Dated this 15th day of May 1891
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Stuffing Boxes for Valves.
JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSON both of the firm of
J. Hopkinson & Co. of Huddersfield in the County of York Engineers 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
Our invention relates to stuffing-boxes for valves and consists in an improved
method of packing the same so as to render them liquid or fluid tight.
The chief feature of our invention consists in the employment, in the stuffing
box, of a conical metal bush preferably constructed of soft metal, and used in
combination with a soft or yielding packing, such as asbestos or other fibrous
material, or other suitable soft substance.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings we have shown our invention applied to the cover
of a stop valve.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the stuffing-box, and.
Figure 2 is a central section of the same."
Figure 3 is an external view of the conical bush hereinafter described.
A is the valve-spindle, B is the body of the stuffing-box, and C is the gland or
cap thereof which is secured in place and is pressed or set down as required by
screw bolts D. The bolts D are provided with T-heads which engage with
T-shaped recesses E formed in the sides of the stuffing-box.
These recesses are covered, when, the bolts are in position, by a metal ring F.
The interior of the stuffing-box we form taper or conical at its inner end as
shown at a and into this conical part we insert a conical metal bush which is bored
internally to fit the valve spindle and is turned externally to accurately fit the
aforesaid conical part a. This bush is preferably constructed of a suitable soft
metal as for instance an alloy of lead and tin. After the said bush is placed in
position we pack the stuffing-box above the bush with a soft or yielding packing e
preferably consisting of a mixture of fibrous asbestos and plumbago. Or we may
use other soft or compressible packing with or without a lubricant. We then
place in position the gland C and set it down by means of the bolts D.
The compression of the packing material thus effected by the gland exerts a
gentle and flexible pressure on the bush forcing it into its seat with sufficient
pressure to make a fluid-tight joint around the external portion or cone of the
bush. This endwise pressure exerted on the bush also tends to make it fit closer
to the valve spindle and prevents to a great extent the escape of fluid between the
bush and the spindle and so protects the top fibrous or other packing from the
pressure, and deteriorating action of the fluid.
In ordinary stuffing boxes, where the fluid tightness around the spindle is secured
by the compression of flexible packing only, a very large quantity of packing is
required and very great pressure must be exerted in order to compress the packing
to make it sufficiently solid to resist the action of the fluid under pressure, whereas
our combination of a metal cone with soft or flexible packing arranged substantially
as above described ensures a perfectly fluid tight joint with the least possible
friction.
We have shown the metal bush & with a flat top, but in some instances we make
it with a conical or curved top.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our, said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
First. A stuffing-box provided with a conical metal bush in, combination with a
soft or yielding packing such as that hereinabove described, for the purpose
specified.
Second. The stuffing-box constructed substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of November 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.