IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKINGS FOR PISTON RODS, PIPE JOINTS, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SUCH PACK- INGS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKINGS FOR PISTON RODS, PIPE JOINTS, AND OTHER
PURPOSES, AND IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SUCH PACK-
INGS." A communication from abroad by William Stebbins Fish,
of Mystic, in the County of New London and State of Connecticut,
United States of America.
Sealed the 30th May 1871, and dated the 4th April 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th April 1871.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County--
3 of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKINGS POR PISTON RODS, PIPE JOINTS,
AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SUCH
PACKINGS," a communication to me from abroad by William Stebbins,

page_text: Fish of Mystic, in the County of New London and State of Con-
necticut, United States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in packings for piston
rods, pipe joints, and other purposes, and consists in making the body
of the packing of any suitable filamentous or fibrous material in the
form of a rope or sliver, in which may be imbedded one or more
continuous cords or strands, which serve to impart to the otherwise
disconnected mass the desired longitudinal strength.
The cord or cords may pass through the centre of the packing, or a
number of parallel strands inclosing a square or cylindrical mass of
fibre may be employed; in either case the exterior of the packing is
protected and its form preserved by winding one or more strands spirally
round the same, or by encasing it in a cloth case, or by braiding or
weaving cords round the same.
Although various substances may be used in the manufacture of the
packing it has been found that asbestos or amianthus possesses decided
advantages as a packing material, inasmuch as it is indestructable by
heat, unaffected by moisture, and possesses natural lubricating properties
which permit it to be used without employing any other lubricant.
In preparing the packing crude asbestos or other fibrous mineral is
treated with suitable acids or by other means so as to disintegrate and
bring it to a fibrous condition and remove silicious matter, after which
it is subjected to the operation of "picking" by suitable machinery
similar to the operation of picking cotton and wool to bring it to a fine
flexible and loose or flocky condition. In this state the asbestos or
other fibrous mineral is suitable for packing journal boxes of car axles
and bearings of heavy shafting, and wherever loose packing can be used.
Such fibrous materials possess in themselves lubricating qualities which
render unnecessary in some cases the use of oil with the packing, but they
can be used with or without the addition of oil or other lubricators.
The mineral may be crushed, passed between corrugated rollers, and
then subjected to the action of a duster to remove the deleterious
particles, or the silicious matter may be removed by passing a fluorine
gas or other gas having a like effect through a mass of the mineral. ;
The packing can be made into a portable and merchantable shape
by forming it into a sliver or rope and cneasing it in a suitable covering,
and, if necessary, strengthening it by micans of longitudinal strands, as
before described.

page_text: Inasmuch as strands or cords of hemp cotton, or other similar fibre aro
destructible by heat, and are apt to rot when in contact with metal,
it is best to confine and strengthen the mass of prepared asbestos by
cords made of asbestos, which are imperishable and almost indestructible
by the usual influences to which packings are subjected. Such cords
may be braided, woven, plaited, or wound spirally round the body of the
packing material, which may be either asbestos or other substance, or
the cords may be wrapped round a body consisting of a roll of asbestos
or woven fabric.
Where a flat packing for pipe joints, heads of steam cylinders, and
the like is required, the fibres of asbestos are made into a lap in which
cords or strands are imbedded, and which is compressed to form a dense
sheet suitable for the purpose for which it is to be employed.
The second part of this Invention relates to a mode of and apparatus
for making the improved packing, and consists essentially in making
the said packing by passing a mass of flock like or filamentous material
through a condensing tube or chamber, which is alternately expanded
and contracted in diameter, the flock-like material being carried through
the said condensing tube by means of cords supplied from reels passing
through the tube. The said tube consists of a number of sections con-
nected to each other and combined with springs or their equivalents,
and a rotating ring having cam-like projections for forcing inwards the
several sections, and so condensing and consolidating; the asbestos or
other flock-like or filamentous material as it passes through the said
material is lapped with asbestos or other cord as fast as it issues from
the condensing tube, the finished packing being slowly drawn down
or onwards by means of a pair of drawing rollers between which it
is passed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Mid-
dlesex. Gentleman, send greeting.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Lettors Patent, bearing date tho Fourth day of April, in the year of

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special licenso
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might mako, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Islo of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PACKINGS FOR PISTON RODS, PIPE JOINTS, AND OTHER PURPOSES,
AND IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SUCH PACKINGS," a com-
munication to me from abroad by William Stebbins Fish, of Mystic,
in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, United States
of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the sumo
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Honry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner tho
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the lettors and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
The said Invention relates, first, to improvements in packings for
piston rods, pipe joints, and other purposes.
Figure 1 of the annexed Sheet of explanatory Drawings represents
a transverse sectional view showing one form in which the packing may
be made; Figure 2 is a similar view of another form; and Figure 3 is an
exterior view of Figure 2.
The body of the packing consists of any suitable filamentous or
fibrous material in the form of a rope or sliver, in which may be ;
imbedded one or more continuous cords or strands n which servo to.
impart to the otherwise disconnected mass the desired longitudinal
strength.

page_text: The cord or cords may pass through the centre of the packing, as
shewn in Figure 1, or a number of parallel strands inclosing a square or
cylindrical mass of fibre may be arranged as shewn in Figures 2 and 3,
in either case the exterior of the packing is protected and its form pre-
served by winding one or more strands spirally round the same, or by
encasing it in a cloth case, or by braiding or weaving cords round the
samc.
Although various substances may be used in the manufacture of
the packing it has been found that asbestos or amianthus possesses
decided advantages as a packing material, inasmuch as it is indestructible
by heat, unaffected by moisture, and possesses natural lubricating
properties which permit it to be used without employing any other
lubricant.
In preparing the packing crude asbestos or other fibrous mineral is
treated with suitable acids or by other means so as to disintegrate and
bring it to a fibrous condition and remove silicious matter, after which
it is subjected to the operation of "picking" by suitable machinery
similar to the operation of picking cotton and wool to bring it to a fine,
flexible, and loose or flocky condition. In this state the asbestos or
other fibrous mineral is suitable for packing journal boxes of car axles
and bearings of heavy shafting, and wherever loose packing can be used.
Such fibrous minerals possess in themselves lubricating qualities which
render unnecessary in some cases the use of oil with the packing, but
it can be used with or without the addition of oil or other lubri-
cators. When additional lubricating is preferred the asbestos or other
fibrous mineral is saturated with suitable oils, for example, as lard
oil, but much less in quantity is required than with cotton waste
packing.
The mineral may be crushed, passed between corrugated rollers, and
then subjected to the action of a duster to remove the deleterious particles,
or the silicious matter may be removed by passing a fluorine gas or other
gas having a like effect through a mass of the mineral.
The packing can be made into a portable and merchantable shape by
forming it into a sliver or rope, and encasing it in a suitable covering,
5 and if necessary strengthening it by means of longitudinal strands as
before described.
Inasmuch as strands or cords of hemp, cotton, or other similar fibre
are destructible by heat and are apt to rot when in contact with metal

page_text: it is best to confine and strengthen the mass of prepared asbestos by
cords made of asbestos which are imperishable and almost indestructible
by the usual influences to which packings are subjected. Such cords
may be braided, woven, plaited, or wound spirally round the body of the
packing material, or the cords may be wrapped round a body consisting
of a roll of asbestos or woven fabric.
Where a flat packing for pipe joints, leads of steam cylinders, and the
like is required the fibres of asbestos are made into a lap in which cords
or strands are imbedded, and which is compressed to form a dense sheet
suitable for the purpose for which it is to be employed.
The second part of this Invention relates to a mode of and apparatus
for making the packing which constitutes the first part of the Invention,
in carrying out which process peculiar mechanism may be employed,
the said mechanism being illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the
Drawing, Figure 4 being a vertical section of the apparatus; Figure 5, a
transverse section on the line 1-2, Figure 4; Figure 6, a transverse
section on the line 3-4, Figure 5; Figure 7, the same as Figure 6,
showing the parts in different positions; and Figures 8 and 9, perspective
views of detached parts of the machine.
A, A', A", A, represent parallel platforms which are supported by a
suitable frame, and B is a tapering tube or receptacle which is situated
between the platforms A, A", extending through an annular toothed
wheel D, turning in an opening in the platform A'. The receptacle B
consists of a series of strips or sections a, b, of metal fitted together so
as to form a tapering tube, the sections a being almost in contact with
each other, but bevelled at their edges so as to form spaces in which fit
nicely the triangular strips or sections b, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
The sections a have at their upper ends lugs c which extend into radial
recesses c¹ in a flanged annular plate C secured to the lower side of the
platform A, similar lugs at the lower ends of the sections extending into
radial recesses in a flanged plate C¹ secured in a recess in the plat-
form A, and through the flanges of the said plates C, C', extend set
screws C corresponding in number to the number of sections a. To
staples e, e, on the sections a, b, are connected springs e¹, e¹ll, which
are secured at their outer ends to the platforms (as shewn in Figure 1)
so that cach of said sections (when not under the control of other
devices described hereafter) will be drawn outward by the action of said
springs, the extent of this movement being limited by the set screws c

page_text: The sections when thus situated occupy the position shown in the
sectional view, Figure 7. At the inner edge of the annular cog wheel D
are projections fcorresponding in number to the number of the sections a,
and on the outer face of cach section a is a lug g so situated as to be
struck successively by cach projection f, when the wheel D revolves.
The simultaneous action of all the lugs upon all the sections being to
force the latter simultaneously inwards to the position shewn in
Figure 6.
By the alternate actions of the revolving wheel and of the springs
the tapering receptacle B is alternately reduced and then enlarged in
diameter throughout its whole length. A grooved pulley E revolves
parallel to the lower platform A™, and has a central opening x which is
directly below the opening in the annular plate C₁, and through hollow
projections on the upper face of this pulley extend adjustable rods h, on
which are bobbins F, each rod having an eye at the upper end for the
passage of the bobbin thread y.
In suitable bearings below the platform A turn the journals of two
winding rollers G, G¹.
In the platform A directly above the receptacle B is an opening which
coincides with an opening in a plate H, which is secured parallel to
but a short distance above the upper side of the said platform, and
from the latter project vertical rods i on which are placed a number of
spools or bobbins I, carrying the cord or yarn w.
The annular wheel D, the pulley E, and the drawing rollers are
connected by suitable gearing with any adjacent driving shaft or shafts
by means of which they may all be caused to rotate in the direction of
their arrows.
In using this apparatus the cords to from the various bobbins I, I',
are passed between the plate H and the platform A through the opening
in the latter and through the receptacle B (lying against the inner face
of the latter) through the openings in the plate C, and in the pulley E,
and completely round the upper drawing roller G. An attendant
fills the receptacle B as far as possible with the flock-like material, a
quantity of which is also placed upon the plate H. The machine is
now set in operation. As the rollers G, G¹, revolve they draw the
cords to slowly downwards and with them the mass of flocky material
enclosed by the cords in the receptacle B, the attendant continually

page_text: supplying additional material, and pressing it towards the receptacle.
As the annular wheel D revolves, carrying the lugs alternately against
and from the lugs 7 on the sections a, the receptacle B is expanded to
admit a larger quantity of material, and then instantly contracted so as
to condense this material, this hammering process condensing the
material more and more as it is drawn by the action of the traversing
cords towards the lower traversing end of the receptacle. It has been
found that another effect is produced by the traversing motion of the
cords, videlicet, the fibres of the floculent material are gradually brought
parallel to the said cords and to each other, by which disposition of the
fibres a denser, stronger, and more uniform product is obtained. As
the cords carrying the mass of material pass from the receptacle Ba
portion of the material will force its way outward between the cords
which will thus be slightly embedded in the material, which effectually
protects the cords from abrasion when the packing is used, and thus
preserves the integrity of the packing when it would otherwise bec dis-
integrated. After passing below the platform A" the thread or threads
of one or more of the bobbins F is laid spirally round the rope or sliver
forming a cover which effectually prevents the expansion of the material
maintaining the form and density of the packing and preserving it from
injury while being handled, or during storage or transportation. After
passing through the opening and round the drawing roller the rope-
like packing is received into any suitable receptacle.
It is not necessary that the condensing tube or receptacle shall be
round, as it may be square, triangular, or of any other desired form, an
oblong tube being used when a wide sheet suitable for packing joints is
to be produced, nor need the tube be tapering. When, however, a
tapering tube is employed it is not absolutely necessary that it be an
expanding and contracting tube as the action of the cords in drawing
the fibrous material towards the lower end of a tapering tube will of
itself condense the fibres. Instead of arranging the cords to so as to
traverse the inner face of the tube they may pass through the tube a
short distance from the face of the same or directly through the centre;
in the latter case a packing similar to that shown in Figure 1 is
produced.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to

page_text: be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. A packing composed wholly of asbestos or amianthus or
other fibrous mineral, and consisting of a mass of the said mineral
combined with cords or threads of the same material as described.
Secondly. A packing consisting of a mass of asbestos or other mineral
fibre formed into a sliver or rope and strengthened by a cord or cords
embedded or inclosing the same as specified.
Thirdly. A packing consisting of a mass of fibrous material enclosed
by parallel cords arranged in a circular or other tubular form and sur-
rounded by a cord or cords braided, plaited, or wrapped round the mass
of material as described.
Fourthly. A flat packing consisting of a sheet of asbestos fibres in
which cords are imbedded as specified.
Fifthly. The treatment for the purpose of making packing of asbestos
or other fibrous mineral with acids or with fluoric or other acid gas with
a view to the removal of the silica and other deleterious particles from
the same.
Sixthly. The application and use of asbestos or other fibrous mineral
for packing when treated with acids or with fluoric or other acid gas for
the purpose specified.
Seventhly. The manufacture of packing by passing a mass of flock-
like or filamentous material through a tube or chamber, which is
alternately expanded and contracted in diameter, substantially as
described.
Eighthly. The mode of carrying the flock-like material through a
condensing tube by means of cords passing through said tube, as
specified.
Ninthly. The combination with the said expanding and contracting
tube of a series of cords arranged to traverse the inner surface of the
tube as set forth.
Tenthly. The said tube consisting of sections a and b constructed and
fitted to each other as set forth.
Eleventhly. The combination with the said sections a and b, arranged
as described, of springs or their equivalents, and a rotating ring having
cam-like projections f, the whole operating as set forth.

page_text: Twelfthly. Tho general construction and arrangement of the parts of
the machine as herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson have to this
my Specification set my hand and scal, this Twentieth day of
September One thousand cight hundred and seventy-one.