Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 27th Aug.. 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept.. 1888
We WILLIAM ELLSWORTH BROCKETT (Machinist) and FREDERICK GEORGE BROCKETT
(Machinist) both of Park City in the County of Summit, Territory of Utah, United
States of America do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to packings applicable to high and low pressure and compound
condensing and other engines, to pumps for hot and cold water, and other mechanical
structures including expansion joints for pipes and other paris. This invention is
however specially designed for piston rods, valve stems, and other parts to which
stuffing boxes are usually applied, and it consists both in a novel construction of
metallic packing, and in the stuffing box as a whole, substantially as hereinafter
described.
The packing is composed in part of a series of fractional packing rings arranged
one upon another within the stuffing box, each of said rings being composed of a
number of packing blocks having an angular space between them and having sloping
backs or of such configuration as to fit in the stuffing box whose interior is inade
taper. At the bottom of the stuffing box there is a conical ring which forms
a continuation of the interior of the box but is more acutely taper so as to form an
obtuse angle with the inner walls of the box. The blocks are preferably arranged so
that the blocks of the one series break joint with those of an adjacent series.
An outer ring is interposed within the box between the outer series
packing blocks and the gland to act as a follower in forcing the packing blocks to
their places, and between the follower and the gland may be arranged, if desired, an
asbestos or other gasket to give additional security against leakage.
of
The several fractional rings (and preferably the follower ring also) are constructed
with recesses or grooves on their inner circumferential sides which are filled with
asbestos or other lubricant. By this construction there is no necessity to repack or
change the whole packing to meet the exigencies of wear, as the packing blocks in
wearing will be forced through the conical ring or support at the inner end of the
box, the several series of packing blocks never being removed but being used up till

page_text: quite worn out. All that is necessary, as wear takes place is to remove the follower
ring and to insert from time to time as required another outer fractional ring
or set of lecks.
The angular spaces between the blocks we propose to fill with graphite or
black lead.
In applying the packing to an ordinary stuffing box, that is, to one having a straight
cylindrical interior, we insert a tapering sleeve or lining in the box and secure the
conical ring to this sleeve by screws or otherwise.
The conical ring is made in halves screwed together and the taper sleeve is also
divided longitudinally and the two pieces fitted together before they are bored and
turned so as to leave no opening between them.
The stuffing box when combined with the conical ring virtually forms a single
structure or case of varying tapering construction on its interior having gradually
sloping sides and a quickly tapering or funnel shaped inner end or base for the packing
blocks to slide against and be forced inward and wear as described.
Dated this 5th day of December 1887.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stuffing-box Packings.
We WILLIAM ELLSWORTH.BROCKETT, Machinist, and FREDERICK GEORGE BROCKETT,
Machinist, both of Park City in the County of Summit, and Territory of Utah, United
States of America 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 :-
This invention relates to packings applicable to high and low pressure and compound
condensing and other engines, to pumps for hot and cold water, and other mechanical
structures, including expansion joints for pipes and other parts. This invention is, how-
ever, specially designed for piston rods, valve stems and other parts to which stufting
boxes are usually applied, and it consists both in a novel construction of metallic
packing and in the stuffing box as a whole, substantially as hereinafter described and
pointed out in the claims."
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a stuffing box
embodying our invention with a piston or other rod, in part, working therethrough.
Figure 2 is a transverse section upon the line y-y in figure 1. Figure 3 is a view as
seen from its inner face or end of an inner conical portion of the packing; and
figure 4 is a section, upon the line in figure 1. of one of the packing blocks.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of an ordinary stuffing-box with our improved
packing applied and a piston or other rod, in part, passing through the box. Figure 6
is a transverse section upon the line - in figure 5. Figure 7 is an inner face or
end view of an outer split gland-like ring used in the packing. Figure 8 is a
longitudinal view of a split inner conical sleeve or lining, with the inner conical ring
or portion of the packing attached and figure is a view as seen from its inner
face or end of the conical ring or portion of the packing detached.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Referring in the first instance, to the first four figures of the drawing, A is a
stuffing box, B its gland, and C the piston or other rod passing through them.
The interior of the stuffing box A is inade tapering from its outer towards its inner
end to receive the metallic packing within it. Said packing is composed, in part, of a
series of fractional packing rings, placed one upon or against the other, said packing
rings being composed of as many detached metallic packing blocks D, D', as will fit
snugly around the rod C, leaving an angular space & between them, and of sloping
configuration on their backs to conform, that is, the several outer fractional rings or
several outer circular series of detached blocks D, to the interior taper of the box A,
and the inner fractional ring or circular series of detached blocks D' to conform on
their backs to the interior of an inner guide or ring E, of conical configuration on
its interior and of a more acute taper than the interior of the box A, so as to form an
obiuse angle therewith and to meet or nearly so, on its inner end, the rod C.
The several packing blocks D, D' are preferably arranged so that the blocks of the
one series break joint with the blocks of an adjacent series.

page_text: Upon tightening down the gland B of the stuffing-box, the blocks D, D¹, will by
reason of the inner tapering walls of the stuffing-box A and conical interior of the
guide or whole ring E. (which combined form a tapering enclosure or support for said
Blocks) he pressed against the rod C so as to make an approximately close joint. An
outer gland-like ring F is interposed within the box A, between the outer series of
packing blocks D) and the gland B to act as a follower in forcing the packing
blocks D, D' to their places, and between the follower F and the gland B, may be
arranged if desired, an asbestos or other gasket d to give additional security against
leakage.
The several fractional rings or blocks D, D¹ (and preferably the follower ring F
also) are constructed with recesses or grooves e on their inner circumferential sides,
which grooves or recesses are filled with asbestos or other lubricant to lessen the
friction of the rod C. This will be found of great advantage in a metallic packing,
By this construction as described of this metallic packing and the shape of the
blocks D, DI, there is no necessity to repack or change the whole packing to meet
the exigencies of wear, as the packing blocks in wearing will be forced through the
conical ring or support E, the several series of packing blocks never being removed,
but being used up till quite worn out. All that is necessary, as wear takes place is
to remove the follower ring F, and to insert from time to time as required, another
outer fractional ring or set of blocks D.
The angular spaces b, between the blocks D, D', we propose to fill with graphite or
black lead g to lubricate the packing and the rod passing through it.
In figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the drawing, substantially the same construction of
packing is shown, but as adapted to an ordinary stuffing box, that is a stuffing
box A which is of straight cylindrical contour on its interior. This provides for
applying the packing to stuffing boxes now in use.
To this end, there is inserted within the box A, an independent sleeve or lining h,
the interior surface c of which is of tapering form corresponding with the interior of
the box A, in figure 1, and which is virtually the same as the tapering box. To
this sleeve is attached by screw i or otherwise, the conical ring E, which is suitably
constructed to receive the sleeve partly over it, as shown in figure 5.
The conical ring E is made in halves secured together by screws & or otherwise
to hold them in place, and the taper sleeve is divided longitudinally and the two
pieces fitted together before they are bored and turned, so as to leave no opening
when in position in the stuffing box for the escape of vapor or fluid. By making
the conical ring E, the taper sleeve (where such is used) and the follower F in
halves, (as shown in figure 7) the packing may be fitted in place in the stuffing-box
without removing the rod C or detaching any parts or pieces attached to said rod.
While not restricting ourselves to any precise number of packing blocks D, or D',
in each fractional ring, we find from experience that five of such blocks adjust
themselves most perfectly to the rod working through the packing, and that the angles
formed by the blocks at their contact with the rod is less acute and the block at
such part is less liable to crumble or break off, than if a less number of packing
blocks were used in each fractional ring.
It should here be observed that the stuffing-box A when combined with the conical
ring E virtually forms a single structure or case of varying tapering construction
on its interior, having gradually sloping sides and a quickly tapering or funnel
shaped inner end or base for the packing blocks D, D' to slide against and be forced
inward and wear as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is.
1. The gland-like packing ring or follower F, having a lubricant holding groove e
in its inner peripheral portion, in combination with the fractional packing rings
composed of independent packing blocks D, D', having sloping backs and grooves or
recesses e in their inner surfaces, the lubricating material in said recesses or grooves

page_text: and the stuffing-box A of varying tapering construction on its interior, substantially
as described.
2. The combination, with the internally tapering stuffing-box A, and its ring or
base E, of the packing blocks D, D¹, constructed to leave angular spaces b between
them, and the lubricating material or packing g, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the stuffing-box A, of the axially divided ring follower F,
the similarly divided tapering lining or interior portion h of said box, the corre-
spondingly divided conical ring E, and the packing blocks D, D', arranged in series
between the follower and ring to break joint and form spaces between the blocks of
each series for the packing y essentially as specified.