IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PISTON ROD PACKING
Year: 1888

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I, THEODORE FALK, of 84 La Salle Street, Chicago, County of Cook and State of
Illinois, United States of America, Artisan, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PISTON ROD PACKING" 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 this invention is to provide a metallic packing for piston rods and
valve stems;
and the same consists of certain novel features in the construction,
arrangement and operation of the several parts, as will be hereinafter set forth in
detail, and pointed out in claims.
Figure 1. is a longitudinal section of a stuffing-box, showing the relative position
of the packing, the piston rod being in elevation.
Figure 2. is an exterior view of the packing-gland.
Figure 3. a view of the outer or lower end of the packing-ring proper, and
Figure 4. a section of the same in the plane 4, Fig. 3.
In the drawings, A represents the stuffing-box, a the packing chamber, and B the
piston or similar rod working through the same.
The open packing ring C is cut clear through on one side as at a' and will be
composed, ordinarily of some suitable soft metal. This packing-ring is provided with
a number of longitudinal grooves or scores, as at a², which are originally only
partially cut through in the inner or upper end of the ring, (see Fig. 4). From
thence these grooves take a diagonal course, growing gradually more shallow until
The number of grooves in
they run out at the lower end, as shown in Fig. 4.
each ring will usually be determined by the diameter and the required degree of
elasticity. The exterior upper part of the ring is in the form of a conical bevel, as
at a³, reducing the end to a thin wearing-edge. The interior surface of the cap-ring b
corresponds to that of the conical end of the packing-ring, and sets over the same in
the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The exterior surface of the cap-ring is provided
with the shoulder a', to provide a bearing for one end of the coiled spring a', which

page_text: is confined between said cap and the bottom of the stuffing-box. The seat ring b
rests upon the packing-gland and forms a seat for the outer or lower end of the
packing-ring. The ring is provided with the spherical seating surface, as at 62, the
contacting end of the packing-ring being correspondingly rounded, whereby the friction
of these parts is reduced to a minimum and a free adjustment imparted to the
packing-ring causing the same to adhere closely to and follow the vibrations of
the piston rod. An annular space is left between the different rings and the inclosing
sides of the stuffing-box as shown, in order to leave room for the usual play of the
parts. The surface of the seat-ring 61, bearing against the piston rod, is cut away
on a bevel, leaving only the inner edge in actual contact with the rod, thus preventing
the seat-ring from having a tendency to follow the longitudinal movement of the rod.
As the packing-ring is worn away by the friction of the rod, the diagonal grooves
gradually open so as to, provide the proper amount of elasticity to permit the beveled
end of the packing-ring to yield sufficiently to the annular pressure of the cap-ring /
and the coiled spring to have a continuous and uniform bearing on the piston rod,
thus automatically compensating for the wear on the packing-ring until the same is
entirely worn out, when a duplicate can be conveniently inserted. The steam-
pressure in the packing chamber also assists in keeping the different parts in their
proper relative position.
The packing-gland D may be of any desired shape, and secured to the stuffing-box
in any suitable manner, to form a steam tight joint. In this case provision is made
to attach the same by means of tap-bolts. This gland is provided with the lubricating-
chamber d, which will be filled with cotton waste or some similar absorbing substance
to receive the lubricant supplied from the oil-cup d', thus keeping the piston rod in a
constant state of lubrication and greatly lessening the wear on the frictional parts.
The chamber d in the gland is closed by the screw-cap d³, and the ring or washer d³,
inside of the same has a close annular bearing on the rod, and serves to prevent the
waste from working out.
The cap is prevented from working loose by means of the stem of the oil-cup,
which is inserted through the threaded part of the cap and the gland, thus locking the
parts together. By this arrangement a packing is provided that can be inserted and
used in almost any ordinary stuffing-box without requiring a special reconstruction of
the parts. It will also be observed that the packing will always adjust itself and
follow the movements of the rod no matter how much the same may be working out
of line.
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. A metallic packing-ring provided with a number of longitudinal grooves which
are cut through for a portion of the length of said ring and then gradually growing
more shallow until they run out substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2 A metallic packing-ring having a conical beveled end and provided with a
number of grooves extending from end to end, and which are only cut clear
through for a portion of the length of said ring, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. The combination, with a metallic packing-ring having a conical beveled end and
provided with a number of graduated grooves, as described, of a cap-ring fitting over
the conical end of said ring, and a spiral spring interposed between said cap-ring and
the bottom of the stuffing-box, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination, with the metallic packing-ring C, provided with a number of
diagonal grooves, as described, of the loosely-arranged seat-ring ', beveled on the
inner edge next the piston-rod and having a spherical bearing surface for the
contacting end of said ring, which has a corresponding surface, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination with the packing-ring C, having a conical beveled end and
longitudinal grooves, as described, of the cap-ring b, fitting over the conical end of

page_text: said packing ring and provided exteriorly with the shoulder at, the coil spring aº,
the seat-ring b¹ and the packing-gland D, all constructed and arranged substantially
as set forth.
6. The combination with the packing-gland D, provided with the lubricating
chamber d, of the ring or washer d³, the screw-cap d², and the oil-cap d², substantially
as set forth.