Metallic Packing Rings and Springs applicable to Stuffing Boxes, for Preventing Leakages of Steam, Gases, or Liquid from the same.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Metallic Packing Rings and Springs applicable to Stuffing Boxes,
for Preventing Leakages of Steam, Gases, or Liquid from the
same.
THOMAS READING 80 Bentinck Street, Birkenhead in the County of Chester,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Consisting of two, or more cast iron or any other metal rings in halves, bored to
approximately the same diameter, or a little larger than the rod, spindle, or
plunger to which it is desired to apply my invention. The outer diameter of the
said rings corresponding with the inner diameter of the stuffing box, so that they
will slide into the same. The said rings having a circular groove of suitable shape
in one end, and a spigot ring on the other corresponding with the circular groove,
so that when in position the spigot end of one ring slides into the circular groove
of the next ring, thus interlocking the halves, by the joints being placed at
opposite angles. It will be seen that my simple method of securing the halves is.
a great advantage, as it dispenses with insertion joints, and other more complicated
ways of preventing leakages between the collar-bush, stuffing-box and joints of the
before mentioned rings. The said rings being provided with one or more
circumferential grooves or recesses on the inside face at suitable distances apart,
each of which is made to receive a metallic packing ring and spring or springs.
The said metallic packing rings being made of any suitable metal, and formed in
three, or more segments, the ends of the segments being cut so as to overlap each
other, or otherwise, each ring being provided with a groove or grooves in the back,
in which one or more coiled spiral, or crimped springs are placed, the said spring or
springs forming a belt or belts round the outside of the ring and thus keeping the
ring up to the rod. The springs being adjustable, thus the friction on the rod can
be reduced to a minimum. This packing is easily drawn from the stuffing-box,
overhauled and adjusted. It can be applied to, and is just as efficient in a one inch
spindle, as in the largest rod.
Dated this Seventh day of April 1891.
THOMAS READING.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Metallic Packing Rings and Springs applicable to Stuffing Boxes,
for Preventing Leakages of Steam, Gases or Liquid from the
same.
THOMAS READING of 80, Bentinck Street, Birkenhead, in the County of
Chester, 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:-
.
Two, or more metal rings made, and formed in halves and bored to approximately
the same diameter, or a little larger than the rod, spindle, or plunger to which it
is desired to apply my invention, their outer diameters corresponding with the
inner diameter of the stuffing box, so that they will slide into the same.
Each of the said rings having a circular groove of suitable shape in one end, and
a spigot ring on the other, corresponding with the circular groove (a dovetail, T,
or square are suitably shaped sections) so that when in position the spigot ring on
the end of one ring slides into the circular groove in the end of the next ring, thus
interlocking and securing the halves together, by the joints being placed at opposite

page_text: angles, and so converting the two or more rings in halves into one self-containing
ring or holder, this holder being provided with two or more circumferental grooves
or recesses on the inside face, at suitable distances apart, each of which is made to
receive a metallic packing ring, or segments, and spring or springs. The said
metallic packing rings being made of any suitable metal, and each formed in three
or any number of segments, (four and six being the most suitable), the ends of such
segments being cut and formed so as to overlap, or otherwise. I purpose those
cut and formed as hereafter described by the aid of drawings hereto annexed,
segment ends so cut, and formed become self-adjusting, and the joints of such ends
being always close no dirt can possibly get in between them, and as the rod, spindle,
or plunger wears away the inside face of the said segments they close in on the
same by the novel shape and angle of the said segment ends, and springs, which
form a belt or belts around, or any portion of the way round the outside of the said
packing rings or segments, the said rings being provided with suitably shaped
grooves in the back, in which the above mentioned spring or springs are placed.
The springs being adjusted in a suitable manner to maintain sufficient grip on the
said packing rings or segments, to keep them up to their work, and thus the friction
on the rod, spindle, or plunger can be reduced to a minimum. The above
mentioned packing rings, or segments and springs being applicable to stuffing-boxes
without the holder if so desired, in this case the packing rings or segments are
made to rest upon each other, and lie floating in between the inner end of the gland,
and that of the collar bush at the bottom of the stuffing box, the said ends being
faced up true. The gland is provided with a collar at a suitable distance from the
end, which slides into the stuffing-box, so that when the gland is in position the
collar comes in contact with the top of the stuffing-box & so forms a tight joint,
and at the same time allowing the packing rings or segments to float freely in
between the end of the gland, and that of the collar bush at the bottom of the
stuffing-box.
The springs are made of any suitable metal wire, steel, or otherwise of any size
or section, and formed in two rows of coiled spiral parts, at suitable distances apart,
and any suitable pitch, the first coiled spiral part being made commencing on
row No. 1, this coil being made the wire is crimped in a suitable manner to row
No. 2, and another coiled spiral part is formed, the wire then being crimped back
again to row No. 1, and so on until the required length of spring is made this
spring being a combination of coiled spiral and crimped parts. I term it a coiled
spiral or crimped spring or springs. The advantage gained by this novel spring
being very considerable, they are more elastic than any spring made of a facsimile
wire, less liable to break, take up less space on the flat, will not get jammed up
with dirt, will not weaken by extending, the coiled spiral parts can be extended
until they come in contact with the bottom of the circumferental grooves or recesses
in the holder, and so press the packing rings or segments up to the rod, spindle, or
plunger. This metallic packing is held in the stuffing box by the ordinary gland,
or otherwise.
The beforegoing being a general description of the nature, object, and purpose
of my invention-I will now set forth the same more fully by the aid of drawings
hereto annexed, and which form a part of the Specification. In the drawings I
have two rings to form the holder, such rings being in halves as before said, and the
one half of each being removed to enable me to set forth the method of interlocking
and securing them together; like letters representing like parts throughout.
Fig. (1) end view, Fig. (2) side view, Fig. (3) side view of two different shapes
for segment end joints; Fig. (4 & 5) two views of packing ring or segments and
springs, Fig. (6 & 7) two views of spring. A, A, Fig. (1 & 2) one half of each ring,
or holder, B spigot ring, C circular groove, D metallic packing rings or segments,
E joints of segment ends, F springs, G piston rod, H, H, joints of holder,
I circumferental grooves or recesses, J grooves in the back of packing rings or
segments D, N crimped parts of spring, M coiled spiral parts.
By sliding the half ring A, in the direction of the arrow until the joints H

page_text: and H¹, come in line the spigot ring B, will slide round in the circular groove C,
and so form one half of the holder. Do likewise with their corresponding halves,
by placing the two halves so formed on the rod G, (the packing rings, or
segments, D, and springs, F, are received into the circumferental grooves or
recesses, I), the packing rings or segments D, being held on the rod, G, by the
springs, F, the half rings, A, A' meeting their corresponding halves exactly fair, the
joints H, H, being then in line, by turning either ring, A, or A, one quarter of a
turn, the joints H, H', will be placed at opposite angles, the spigot ring B, sliding
round in the circular groove, C, at the same time, and thus interlocking and
securing the halves, A., A', and their corresponding halves, and forming them into
one ring or holder, E, E', Fig. (3) two different shapes for segment ends, in the
transversed direction. D, Fig. (4 and 5) segments or packing ring, E, joints of
segment ends, F, springs, T, method of adjusting M, coiled spiral parts of spring, N,
crimped parts, J, grooves in the back of packing ring or segments.
Segment, D, Du, Fig. (4), will be seen to form a kind of dovetail, the ends of
which form the joints (E), E being about the angle of 45°, that being the most
practicable angle to enable segment D, D", to close in equal with segment D', D".
It will be seen as the rod G, wears away the inside face of segment D', D, and
their ends being in touch with, and corresponding to the dovetail shaped segment
ends, D, D, the joints E being perfectly close, the action of the ends of
segment D', D, upon the ends of segment D, D, will be perfectly clear D, Du
must close in, by sliding on the ends of segment D', D) (D, D, being acted upon
by the springs F. The springs F, being placed in the grooves J, and forming a
belt around. or any portion of the way round the outside of the packing ring or
segments. The springs F, being adjusted as shewn at T, or any other suitable
method, T, being small pegs fastened in the back of segment D', D", the coiled
spiral parts M, being made to slip on the pegs T, and so the springs F, can be
adjusted. Another method is shewn in Fig. (1) and (2), T being a small hook,
cach end being turned up, and made to slip into the coiled spiral parts M, thus,
the springs, F, may be adjusted and joined. In case of six segments being used
instead of four, to form the before mentioned packing ring the angle of the
segment ends would be 60°. M Fig. (5 and 6) coiled spiral parts of spring, two
coils in each, N crimped parts, M' coils extended.
This spring is made, and formed in two rows of coiled spiral parts at suitable
distances apart, and any suitable pitch. The first coiled spiral part being made
commencing at its base, and then by crimping the wire in a suitable manner from
the top of.it, to the base of the next coil on the other row, and so on, until the
required length of spring.
am aware of the different kind of metallic packing applicable to stuffing boxes,
therefore I make no claim for metallic packing broadly.
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.
1st. The manufacture, and use of metallic packing rings and springs applicable to
stuffing-boxes, for preventing leakages of steam, gases, or liquid from the same,
consisting of rings in halves, provided with circular grooves, and spigot rings in,
and on their ends, by which means they are made to interlock, and secure themselves
together by the joints being placed at opposite angles, and thus forming one ring or
holder, as set forth, (2) metallic packing rings or segments, and the cutting and
forming of such segment ends as set forth, (3) the coiled spiral or crimped spring
or springs as set forth.
2nd. In a stuffing-box the combination of rings, made of any suitable metal, and
formed in halves, with circular grooves, and spigot rings in, and on their ends
corresponding to each other, by which they are made to interlock and secure
themselves together by the joints H, H¹, Fig. (1 & 2) being placed at opposite
angles, and thus forming the holder substantially as described.

page_text: 3rd. In a stuffing box the combination of metallic packing rings or segments D,
the cutting and forming of such segment ends at an angle (forming the joints E)
by which means the said segments become self adjusting substantially as described.
4th. In a stuffing box the combination of springs F, with or without other parts
substantially as described.
5th. In a stuffing-box the combination of the above metallic packing rings or
segments, and springs with or without the holder substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of August 1891.
THOMAS READING.
80, Bentinck Street, Birkenhead.