Improvements in Stuffing Boxes and Glands and in Metallic Packing for the same.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stuffing Boxes and Glands and in Metallic
Packing for the same.
We, THOMAS MUDD of the Central Engine Works, West Hartlepool in the
County of Durham Engineer, and JAMES AIREY of 17 Bellaby Terrace West
Hartlepool aforesaid, Superintendent Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has mainly for its object a rod and spindle packing, and consists
of rings of suitable metal cut to allow of contraction on the rod as wear occurs, and
kept to their work by a universal and simple form of spring, consisting of a short
helical coil. A number of these are applied in various positions to give vertical
and horizontal pressure where required, and the pressure on each can be adjusted
independently. The spring may, if desired, be pressed apart by spiral springs and
contracted or expanded by radial springs, or the radial springs may be dispensed
with and the rings adjusted radially by springs inserted in the splits. A single
wearing ring may be fitted to prevent the ridging which might be produced by the
instability of two rings, and this outer ring may be used with other forms of
packing where two rings are employed. The packing will preferably be on the
doating" principle, the abutments for the springs being within the packing itself,
or the abutment may be in the stuffing box.
66
It is also intended to aid the good working of the packing by applying a fluid
pressure behind the rings and supplying lubricant at suitable places in the packing,
by introducing, into the cavity behind the rings, a pipe led from a pump, which
pump will force oil into the cavity, and maintain a fairly uniform pressure
there.
Dated this 18th day of Auril 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stuffing Boxes and Glands and in Metallic
Packing for the same.
We, THOMAS MUDD of the Central Engine Works, West Hartlepool in the
County of Durham Engineer and JAMES AIREY of 17 Bellaby Terrace, West
Hartlepool, aforesaid Superintendent 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 :-
This invention has mainly for its object a rod and spindle packing, and comprises
rings of suitable metal cut to allow of contraction on the rod as wear occurs, and
kept to their work by a universal and simple form of spring. A number of the-e
are applied in various positions to give vertical and horizontal pressure where
required, and the pressure on each can be adjusted independently.
The invention may be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a stuffing box, showing the packing applied
between the gland and the cylinder end bush:
Figure 2 à front view of the packing ring, showing the segment of a packing
ring cut at an angle with the centre line;
Figure 3 a plan of the segmental packing ring and retaining band ;

page_text: Figure 4 a plan of the retaining band;
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 detail views showing packing rings formed with single
or double tongue piece, instead of being ent at an angle as in Figure 2;
Figure 10 a vertical section of our stuffing box applied to an existing engine;
Figure 11 a similar view of a stuffing box with more than one ring of
segments;
Figure 12 a section of a stuffing box with the packing rings inserted inside
where they are not exposed to view, and where the spring pressure in the direction
of the length of the rod as well as the lateral pressure is regulated by spiral springs,
the latter arranged radially;
Figures 13 and 14 depict two alternative arrangements of the improved
packing;
Figure 15 a detail view of the split ring with cavities for holding the springs
(shown in position in Figures 12 and 14);
Figure 16 a detail view of the unsplit ring (shown in position in Figure 13); and
Figure 17 an alternative form of retaining band.
Referring to Figure 1, the stuffing box is shown as a plain bush in cylinder end,
with a gland A of peculiar shape suspended or projected therefrom on a number of
studs or bolts B, which studs or bolts are fitted with spiral, helical, volute or other
springs D between the nuts (or keys, and the gland A, whereby the gland is
held towards the cylinder with a variable pressure dependent upon the amount of
compression given to the springs D. The upper face of the gland A or gland
bush a is made very accurate and true, and so also is the lower face of the neck
bush E or cylinder end bush. Between these two faces is placed the packing F
which consists in this arrangement of a metallic ring (depicted in plan in Figure 3)
ent into segments to allow of closure upon the rod as wear takes place. Around
the outside of this metallic ring there is a metallic band G, which may either be
itself a spring, whose tendency is to close upon the metallic packing ring F and
so keep its segments close to the rod, or it may be a band of metal as in Figure 17,
which fulfils the same function as just described by having its ends drawn together
by means of a separate spring or springs of any suitable shape.
From this description of Figure 1 it will be seen that the packing is held between
two flat faces by an adjustable spring pressure, and that it can (together with the
spring or springs effecting its closure upon the rod) oscillate or rock to and fro
upon these faces, following the side movements of the rod or spindle. The adjust-
ment of the pressure between the two flat faces of a and E is made by screwing
more or less tightly against the springs by means of the nuts C on the studs or
bolts B. The adjustment of the band pressure closing the segments F upon the
rod, is similarly made in the case of Figure 17, and in the case of Figures 3 and 4
by putting parallel liner bands around the segments F, and between them and the
spring band G. The segments may be cut parallel with the centre line of the rod,
or at an angle as in Figure 2, or may have a single or double tongue piece as in
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Figure 10 shows a similar arrangement as in Figure 1 adapted to any old or
existing engine, the old stuffing box being left undisturbed, and the new arrange-
ment as above described inserted in it.
Figure 11 shows the same as above described, but with more than one ring of
segments F, and more than one band string G.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 depict alternative arrangements of the improved packing,
from which it will be seen that the packing need not necessarily be exposed to view
outside the cylinder end but may be inserted in an ordinary box.
It will be noticed in Figure 13 that the springs 1 holding the packing with an
adjustable pressure between the two faces a and E may be applied between any
two rings of the packing F instead of arranging the springs beneath the gland A,
in which case the glaud A will be screwed up close to the stuffing box H. In
Figures 12 and 14 the packing rings K are held against the rod by means of a
mumber of spiral, helical, volute, or other springs, such as J, which may be inserted

page_text: in holes, grooves or recesses, in the hacks of said rings or segments thereof, as
indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 15, and these springs may bear against
the inside of the stuffing box or may bear against the inside of a
Hange or shell
ring L, these shell rings being free to move with the rod as before described.
In Figure 12, springs J for giving lateral pressure are arranged on each side of
the springs for giving pressure in the direction of the length of the rod, while in
Figure 14, the springs I are at the inner surface of the gland A itself, which is
screwed into the outer sleeve A'. The rings M for containing the springs I, shown
in Figures 12 and 13, for giving pressure in the direction of the length of the rod,
may be solid or uncut rings as depicted by way of example in Figure 16.
The packing rings or segments may be of any suitable metal, or may be of more
than one metal, as gun metal lined with white metal, etcetera.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. A rod and spindle packing having the combination of the segmental packing
rings F, located between the opposite faces of the gland and cylinder and bush,
and the spring band G surrounding the packing rings and adapted to close them
upon the rod substantially as described.
2. A rod and spindle packing in which there are two sets of springs one pressing
the packing rings in a lateral or radial direction and the other pressing them
longitudinally substantially as described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
3. The general combined arrangements and constructions of parts substantially
as described and shown.
Dated this 20th day of January 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.