IMPROVED METALLIC PACKING FOR PISTON-ROD AND OTHER STUFFING-BOXES to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVED METALLIC PACKING FOR PISTON-ROD
AND OTHER STUFFING-BOXES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to improved metallic packing for piston-rod and other
stuffing-boxes, which packing is applicable for use in steam-engines, pumps,
stop-valves, and other machinery or apparatus.
My improved packing is made of a metal or metallic alloy which will present
a soft smooth surface for the rod or shaft (for which the packing is required) to
bear against, and which will moreover be very durable and the melting point of
which is about 250 degrees Celsius.
Each ring of the said packing is composed of two incomplete or discontinuous
annular sections of such shape that the two sections when pressed together exert a
wedge-like action upon each other so that one of the said sections has a tendency
to contract whilst the other section has a tendency to expand, that is to say, one of
these annular sections is bevelled or inclined towards its interior circumference and
the other of the said annular sections is bevelled or inclined towards its exterior
circumference so that it will fit into the conical recess in the former. It is evident,
therefore, that, when a ring of packing composed of two annular sections as above
described, is in a stuffing-box, the pressure of the steam or other fluid on one side
thereof, as well as the pressure of the gland (when screwed up) on the other side
thereof will tend to press the said annular sections together and thus force one of
the said sections towards the sides of the stuffing-box and the other of the said
sections towards the rod or shaft. And the greater the pressure of steam or other
fluid the more tightly will the packing be pressed against the rod or shaft and the
sides of the stuffing-box.
When a brass-bush is employed in the stuffing-box it is preferably made flat at
the top instead of with the usual conical recess.

page_text: To pack a stuffing-box, I insert a series of these rings of metallic packing, and
I prefer to insert above the same a ring of hemp or Tuck's packing; the gland is
then inserted and screwed up by means of studs and nuts in the ordinary manner.
The pressure of the gland upon the packing may be very slight if desired, as the
pressure of the steam or other fluid in the cylinder or other chamber acts on the
aforesaid annular sections and presses them against the rod or shaft and the sides
of the stuffing-box with sufficient force to prevent the escape or leakage of the
steam or other fluid. The said packing will operate efficiently for a long period of
time without the necessity for screwing up the gland.

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVED METALLIC PACKING FOR PISTON-ROD
AND OTHER STUFFING-BOXES" and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improved metallic packing for piston-rod and other
stuffing-boxes.
My improved packing is applicable for use in steam-engines, pumps, stop-valves,
and other machinery or apparatus. It consists of rings or annular pieces, of soft
metal or metallic alloy, of such shape in transverse section that, when they are
properly arranged in a stuffing-box and pressure is applied to them, they will exert
a wedge-like action upon each other, tending to cause the contraction of some of
the rings and the expansion of others thereof, so that the greater the pressure
of the steam or other fluid, or of the gland upon the packing, the more tightly the
said packing will be forced against the interior surface of the stuffing-box and
against the rod or shaft which passes through the same.
I prefer to use, in the manufacture of my improved packing, a metal or alloy
which will be very durable, and to which a smooth surface can be imparted in
order to reduce or diminish the friction between the packing and the rod or shaft
around which it is placed.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section shewing a stuffing-box provided with my
improved packing.
Figure 2 is a plan of the said stuffing-box with the gland removed.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating a slight modification of my
invention.
a indicates the stuffing-box, b the gland, and c part of a piston, or other, rod
passing through the same.
In Figures 1 and 2, d, e indicate the metallic rings or annular pieces which
constitute my improved packing. Each of these rings is made in two parts or
segments, the ends of which, when the ring is in place, must not be in contact.
It will be seen that each ring d is bevelled at one side of its inner edge to
forn a conical recess or cavity in the said ring, and that each ring e is bevelled at
one side of its outer edge, so that it will fit the conical recess or cavity in an
adjacent ring d.
When the rings d, e are arranged in the stuffing-box a as shewn, and the
pressure of the steam or other fluid acts upon them, or the gland is screwed down
or tightened, a wedge-like action will be exerted by the rings d upon the rings e
and vice versa; the rings e will thus be caused to slightly contract and press
against the rod c in the direction indicated by the arrows 1, 2 in Figure 2, whilst
the rings d will be caused to slightly expand and press against the interior of the
stuffing-box a, as indicated by the arrows 3, 4 in Figure 2. It is obvious therefore,

page_text: that, as above stated, the greater the pressure of the steam or other fluid, the more
tightly the stuffing-box will be packed.
It is evident, moreover, that there will be no necessity to tighten the gland
except for the purpose of retaining the rings of packing in place. Therefore the
wear and tear of the rods and the friction between the rods and the packing will
be considerably diminished.
When a brass bush is employed in the stuffing-box, it is preferably made flat at
the top as shewn at f, instead of with the usual conical recess or cavity.
I prefer to insert, between the uppermost or outermost ring and the gland b, one
or more rings of hemp packing with india-rubber core, Tuck's packing, asbestos
packing with india-rubber core, or other suitable packing. The gland is secured
and adjusted by means of studs and nuts in the ordinary manner.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, d', d² and
e¹ indicate the rings or annular pieces which constitute my improved packing.
It will be seen that each ring d' is bevelled at one side of its outer edge, and each
ring d³ is bevelled at one side of its inner edge so that, when placed together as
shewn, there is a V-shaped annular recess or cavity between the rings d, d².
It will be seen, moreover, that each ring e' is arranged in combination with a
pair of rings d¹, d' and is bevelled at one side of both of its edges so as to form
a V-shaped annular rib or projection which will fit the said V-shaped recess or
cavity. In this case, when the rings are acted upon by the pressure of the steam or
other fluid, or by the tightening of the gland, a wedge-like action will be exerted
by the ring e¹ upon the rings d¹, d³, so that the rings d¹ will be pressed against
the rod c, whilst the rings d³ will be pressed against the interior surface of the
stuffing-box a.
Although I have hereinbefore described the said rings as formed in two parts or
segments, and prefer to make them in this manner, yet they may, if desired, be
made in one incomplete or discontinuous piece, or in three or more parts or
segments, without departing from the nature of my invention.
Amongst other advantages afforded by my improved packing I will mention the
following, vizit will operate efficiently for a long period of time without the
necessity for tightening the gland; it will keep a stuffing-box steamtight under
very high pressure; it will keep the rods clean and free from scratches; the wear
of the brass bushes and glands will be considerably diminished by its use; moreover,
valve-rods packed with it are not liable to stick, although they may be left in one
position for a long time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The improved metallic packing consisting of the rings or annular pieces
so formed that, when they are properly arranged in a stuffing-box and pressure is
applied to them, they will exert a wedge-like action upon each other, substantially
as, and for the purpose, specified.
Second. The modification of my invention wherein the rings or annular pieces
are so formed and arranged that a wedge-like action will be exerted by each ring e¹
upon a pair of adjacent rings d¹, d, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings for the purpose specified.
D L
2
T
11007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.