Improvements in Packing for Stuffing Boxes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Packing for Stuffing Boxes.
ROBERT BAIRD, 134, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvement consists of a metal ring of a T or other suitable cross section
having the cross flange next the rod and the centre web extending into the packing
space.
The cross flanges next the rod, are of a width, preferably about equal to the space
between the rod and the wall of the stuffing box, so that when two or more rings
are placed round the rod, the centre webs cross or partially cross the packing space
and form a number of divisions. Between these divisions I place packing of a
flexible or elastic nature.
To facilitate the application of the rings and packing, I combine them as
follows:
To allow the rings to circle the rod they are in halves across their diameter.
In the centre web which forms the extreme diameter of the ring I have a number
of holes.
Before placing in the stuffing box the halves of the ring are clasped on the
circumference of the rod, and a full turn of soft packing is put round the bosom of
the outer web and the cross flange, and suitable sprigs or nails are driven through
the holes of the central web into the soft packing, or it may be sewn with thread or
wire, thus fixing the rings on the rod, and holding the soft packing in a form suitable
for insertion in the stuffing box.
A combined metal ring and a turn of flexible packing is put in the stuffing box
alternately so that the soft packing fills each side of the metal ring.
When the stuffing box is full the cross flanges present a nearly complete metal
surface to the rod, and the central webs cross or partially cross the packing space
and form divisions between each turn of soft packing.
Dated this 13th day of May 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Packing for Stuffing Boxes.
ROBERT BAIRD, 134, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Engineer, 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 :-
My improvements in packing for stuffing boxes consist of a combination of metal
rings and soft packing which will be better understood by referring to accompanying
drawing.
Fig. 1 is a part longitudinal section of stuffing box and rod.
Fig. 2 is a half cross section of stuffing box and rod.
In both views similar letters of reference refer to same parts.
I employ one or more metal rings, of a cross section as shown at B. B. B. B. Fig. 1,
having the flanges next the rod A and the centre web extending into packing space,
between which is filled in soft packing as marked by C. C. C. C. C. Fig. 1.
The metal rings are preferably put round the rod in halves and fastened
together by thread or wire passing through holes at the butts as shown between
B. B. Fig. 2.
Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of packing space with soft packing and metal
packing alternately. Thus at the bottom of stuffing box a turn of soft packing is

page_text: inserted C, then a metal ring B and so on until the box is full, always finishing with
soft packing next the gland E.
The pressure exerted by gland E. completely fills the cross section of packing
space and keeps the metal rings in position, with a gentle pressure, on the rod.
The flanges, of the metal rings next the rod are kept apart from each other
enough to enable the soft packing to be pressed into position and leave room for
a certain amount of wear.
The central web of metal ring B. does not completely cross the packing space
but leaves sufficient room between the walls of the stuffing box to admit of a picker
being inserted for the purpose of extracting the packing.
The combination when ready for work presents nearly a complete metallic
surface to the rod. The soft packing between filling up and sealing all openings,
at the same time giving the metallic packing all the elastic advantages of an
ordinary boxfull of soft packing while the metal rings act to a great extent as a
shield, preventing the soft packing from being worn away by friction or charred by
extra hot steam.
Between any of the metallic rings I may employ one or more spiral coils of
spring wire to further increase the elasticity. The coils would be put round the
inner bosom of the metallic rings and applied the same as the ordinary soft packing
as herein described.
The conformity of the cross section of the metal rings is such, that when any
soft or elastic packing is pressed between them, they are held steadily in position
on the rod and a pressure is communicated between the cross flanges and the wall
of the stuffing box and by means of a slight chamfer at the butts, the gripping
surface of the ends is reduced so that this pressure is sufficient to gradually close
the openings as the rings wear away through friction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The employment of a series of one or more metal rings of nearly a T shaped
cross section in combination with soft or elastic packing for stuffing boxes,
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The chamfering of the butts whereby the surface is reduced so that the
openings may be pressed together and not jammed by the soft packing substantially
as described.
Dated the ac
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