IMPROVEMENTS IN STUFFING BOXES FOR PISTON RODS AND FOR PUMP RODS AND PLUNGERS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Ogilvie, of Chittlehampton, in the
County of Devon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STUFFING
BOXES FOR PISTON RODS AND FOR PUMP RODS AND PLUNGERS."
Sealed the 30th June 1871, and dated the 13th May 1871.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Robert Ogilvie at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 13th May 1871, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
OGILVIE, of Chittlehampton, in the County of Devon, send greeting.
"IMPROVEMENTS
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for
IN STUFFING BOXES FOR PISTON RODS AND FOR PUMP RODS AND PLUNGERS," and
have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have
made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Ogilvie, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully

page_text: describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed in and by the following statement :-
:-
The object of this Invention is to render steam-tight the openings in
the covers of the cylinders of steam engines, through which the piston
rods pass with less friction and more perfectly than in the stuffing
boxes ordinarily used. Also to render water-tight the similar openings
through which the piston rods or plungers pass of pumps for pumping
water or other fluids. Also to render air-tight or gas-tight the similar
openings through which the piston rods or plungers pass of ongines
driven by air or gas or of pumps for pumping air or gas.
For the purpose of rendering steam-tight the openings in the covers
of the cylinders of steam engines through which the piston rods pass,
I make a short tube of leather, vulcanized india-rubber, flexible metal,
or other suitable material surrounding the piston rod at the part where
it passes through the cover of the cylinder, and I make the upper part
of the tube curve outwards and downwards (supposing the piston rod
to work vertically), and I make such curved part end in a flange
extending horizontally, which flange is held firmly between the top of
the cylinder cover or a suitable flange formed upon it and a corre-
sponding flange upon a gland. This gland is formed with an opening
in the centre through which the piston rod passes, and with a recess
underneath which fits the top of the curved part of the tube already
described. The hole in the cylinder cover through which the piston
rod passes is sufficiently large to allow the lower end of the short tube
described to pass freely partly or entirely through it.
By this apparatus as described the steam has access to the outside of
the short tube, and to the underneath of the curved part of the top of
the tube which is closely fitted to the inside of the gland, and by its
pressure presses the tube into steam-tight contact with the piston rod
which works through it with comparatively little friction. For steam
cylinders I prefer instead of leather for the tube to use thin metal or
vulcanized india-rubber (with or without layers of canvas in it) lined
with metal, or cork lined with metal, and I sometimes arrange springs
in order to keep the tube in contact with the piston rod when the
pressure of the steam is removed or is insufficient.
Figure 1 shews this Invention applied to the piston rod of a steam
engine; A is the piston rod; B is the cylinder cover; C is the short

page_text: tube embracing the piston rod and having its upper part curved down-
wards and outwards as shewn at D and ending in the flange E. The
gland F is screwed firmly down upon the flange E, and its interior is
made to fit accurately the outside of the part D as shewn. By being
made to fit accurately in this manner the tendency of the pressure of the
steam to force the curved part D against the piston rod is avoided and
the tube is thus rendered much more durable.
Where this Invention is applied to the piston rod or plunger of a
pump for raising or forcing liquids I use a somewhat similar arrange-
ment, but where the liquid is cold or is not such as to act injuriously
upon leather I prefer to make the short tube as described of leather
instead of thin metal or other suitable substance.
Figure 2 shews my Invention applied to the plunger of a pump for
forcing water. A is the plunger; B is a flange upon the upper part of
the pump; C is the short tube of leather embracing the plunger and
having its upper part curved outwards and downwards, as shewn at D,
and ending in the flange E. The gland F is screwed firmly down upon
the flange E and its interior is made to fit accurately the outside of the
part D, as shown. As already described and shewn in Figure 1, the
pressure of the liquid is thus prevented from distorting or injuring the
curved part D by any tendency to press it against the plunger, and the
tube C fits in a perfectly water-tight way against the plunger A which
passes through it with comparatively little friction.
In applying this Invention to the piston rods or plungers of engines
worked by air or gas, or of pumps forcing air or gas, I use arrangements
similar to those already described and shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and
though I prefer to make the short tube of leather where the air or gas
used is not injurious to it, where advisable I make the short tubo which
embraces the piston rod of thin metal, of metal lined with plain or
vulcanized india-rubber, or cork, or other suitable clastic substance, or
of wood, gutta percha, or any other substance of sufficient flexibility and
durability. And I do not confine myself to the exact forms and pro-
portions of the apparatus as described and shewn in the Drawings, but I
vary the particular mode of adapting it to the various engines and
pumps to which it is applicable.
And I claim as my Invention the application of the short flexible
tube surrounding the piston rods of steam engines and having the upper
part, which is curved outwards and downwards, fitted into a corre-

page_text: sponding gland and ending in a flange by which it is held in the manner
described and shewn for the purpose of making steam-tight openings
for such piston rods to pass through.
Also, the application of substantially similar apparatus for the purpose
of making water-tight openings for the piston rods or plungers of
for forcing liquids to pass through.
Also, the application of apparatus substantially similar for the purpose
of making air-tight or gas-tight openings for the piston rods or plungers
of air or gas engines or pumps to pass through.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Ogilvie, have hereunto set 1
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-one.