IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PACKING FOR PISTON RODS, PIPE JOINTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Stebbins Fish, of No. 166, Buchanan
Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PACKING FOR PISTON
RODS, PIPE JOINTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
Sealed the 8th March 1872, and dated the 1st January 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Stebbins Fish
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st January 1872.
I, WILLIAM STEBBINS FISH, of No. 166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PACKING
FOR PISTON RODS, PIPE JOINTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as
follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to improvements on that class of packing used
for piston rods, pipe joints, and other similar purposes, constructed of
asbestos or amianthus for which Letters Patent were granted to John

page_text: Henry Johnson, No. 897, A.D. 1871, and according to this Invention
the packing, in place of being manufactured after the manner described
in the Specification filed by the said John Henry Johnson, is twisted
together in continuous lengths either of one or several strands.
In constructing the packing according to this Invention, the asbestos
or amianthus is disintegrated into fibres which are combed out so as to
lie parallel to each other, in which state they are fit for spinning or
twisting into a continuous length. The spinning or twisting may be
performed by means of machinery analogous to that at present used for
spinning or twisting other fibrous substances, and the strands are
subsequently twisted together after the manner of constructing a
rope.
The essential feature of this Invention is the constructing of asbestos
or amianthus packing by spinning or twisting the fibres together, in
contradistinction to the modes hitherto adopted for making it into
packing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Stebbins Fish in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st July 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
STEBBINS FISH, of No. 166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
35th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Stebbins Fish, Her special license
that I, the said William Stebbins Fish, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Stebbins Fish,
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 make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PACKING FOR PISTON RODS, PIPE JOINTS,
AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Stebbins Fish, by an instrument in writing under
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Stebbins Fish, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :—
My said Invention relates to improvements in that class of packing
constructed of asbestos or amianthus alone or or admixed with other fibres,
and used in piston rod, pump rod, or plunger, and valve spindle stuffing.
boxes, also for the joints of pipes, manhole doors of boilers, cylinders, and
steam chest covers, and for other similar purposes.
It consists in a further developement of or improvements in such
packings constructed of asbestos or amianthus for which Letters Patent
were granted to John Henry Johnson, No. 897, A.D. 1871. As described
in the Specification filed by the said John Henry Johnson, the packing
is manufactured either in the form of a sliver or rope constructed of
asbestos or amianthus which has previously been reduced to a flock-
like condition, and thereafter encased in a suitable covering, being
strengthened by means of longitudinal stands or cords, or the asbestos or
amianthus is employed as packing in a loose condition, or it is formed
into dense sheets by being compressed.
Under the present Invention the asbestos or amianthus mixed or not
with other fibres is plaited, braided, twisted, or spun into continuous
lengths of one or several strands.
In constructing the packing according to this Invention, the asbestos
or amianthus is or may be disentegrated into fibre by treating it with
suitable acids, or by other suitable means as already set forth in the
Specification of the said John Henry Johnson herein-before referred to.
The fibres are then combed out, in which condition they are fit for
spinning, braiding, plaiting, or twisting into a continuous length.

page_text: The twisting or spinning may be performed by means of machinery
analagous to that at present employed for twisting or spinning other
fibrous substances, such for example as hemp, jute, flax, or other
vegetable or animal fibres, and the strands of asbestos or amianthus
after having been thus spun or twisted are subsequently again twisted,
plaited, or braided together in any desired numbers after the manner of
constructing a rope, or a single strand formed in any desired thickness
may be used for packing.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used
or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
the constructing of asbestos or amianthus packing alone or admixed
with other fibres by spinning or twisting the fibres together into strands,
and spinning, twisting, plaiting, or braiding them into continuous
lengths in contradistinction to the modes of making the said packing of
asbestos or amianthus either in a loose or flock-like condition, or by
encasing loose asbestos or amianthus in a covering, or by compressing it
into sheets as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Stebbins Fish, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
WILLIAM STEBBINS FISH. (L.S.)