Improvements in Metallic Packing for Pistons, Piston-rods, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by THOMAS TRIPP, of Avon, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Mechanical Engineer.]
Improvements in Metallic Packing for Pistons, Piston-rods, and
the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to metallic packing for pistons, piston valves, piston rods,
and the like for engines, pumps, and the like and it is designed as an improvement
upon Letters Patent No. 2442 dated February 16th 1887.
The said invention has for its object, the production of packings that will be more.
efficient than other packings now in use; and that will be especially adapted for use
in piston valves, in pistons of cylinders of large diameter, and for plungers of large
size. The said packings are also especially adapted for use under high pressures of
steam, or other gases, and fluids.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a packing composed of six separate pieces of
the single lip type.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of same.
Figure 3 represents in front elevation a packing composed of six separate pieces of
the single lip type the same as shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the exception of the
changes necessary to adapt the same for use upon piston rods and the like.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of same.
Figure 5 represents in front elevation a packing composed of six separate pieces of
the double lip and flange type.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of same.

page_text: Figure 7 represents in front elevation a packing composed of six separate pieces
the double lip and flange type, same as shown by figures and 6 with the exception
of the changes necessary to adapt same for use in pistons, piston valves, and the like.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of same.
Figures 9 and 10 are, respectively enlarged side and front views of the single 5
lip pieces of packing 62 composing in number one half the packing represented in
figures 1 and 2.
Figures 11 and 12 are, respectively enlarged front and side views of the single
lip pieces of packing 63 composing one half the packing, represented in figures 1 and 2.
Figures 13 and 14 are, respectively enlarged side and front views of the double lip
and flange type pieces of packing 64, of the packing represented by figures 5 and 6.
Figures 15 and 16 are respectively enlarged front and side views of the double
lip and flange type pieces of packing 65 of the packing represented by figures and 6.
Figure 17 represents packing, drawn to a small scale, in front elevation composed
of twelve separate pieces of the single lip type.
Figures 18 and 19 are respectively side and front views of the single lip pieces
of packing 26, of the packing, represented in figure 17.
Figures 20 and 21 are, respectively front and side views of the single lip pieces of
packing 27, of the packing, represented by figure 17.
Figure 22, represents in side elevation, the packing (figure 8) as applied to pistons
for cylinders and the like showing the cylinder in central section.
Figure 23 is an inverted plan of figure 22 with the piston follower removed, and a
cross-sectional view of the cylinder.
Figure 24, represents in side elevation, the packing (figure 4) as applied to
piston rod all other parts necessary to show mode of application of the packing
being shown in central section.
AL
Figure 25 is a plan of figure 24 with gland, sliding ring, and cone joint ring
removed.
The packings may be made of any well known suitable material. Packing for
use in cylinders, steam chests, and the like of cast iron, should preferably be made
of cast iron.
Packing for use about rods and the like of wrought iron or steel should pre-
ferably be made of babbitt metal and composition. That portion of the packing
which comes in wearing contact with the rod being made of babbitt metal, and
the remainder of the packing being made of composition.
A packing
The packings are intended to be used in the usual well known manner.
for use in cylinders and pistons and the lips is held in the usual manner betweer
the plates of the piston or piston valve and the packing is held against the bore
of the cylinder by pressure exerted, preferably by springs, in the common and
usual and well known manner.
Packing for use about piston rods and the like are held in position about th
rod by pressure excited preferably by springs in the usual well known manner
the packing being commonly enclosed and held in place by a gland.
In placing upon the market the packings described in the said Letters Pater
a want, was discovered that could not be perfectly or satisfactorily met by usin
the packing made in accordance with said Letters patent for the following reasons:-
The packing being made of four pieces.
First. The cylinders of large diameter the packing must necessarily be made
too thick a ring, and the packing in use had a tendency to wear the cylind
out of its circular shape into the shape of a four leaf clover.
Second. For use on plungers of large diameter the packing would have to be ma
of too thick a ring and a ring too clumsy in its size.
Third. For use in piston valves, the packing had a tendency when running off t
ports to tip and catch on the ports. It also had when running off the ports a tenden
to collapse under the steam pressure.
Fourth. For the reasons above stated and other minor reasons it was evident t
while the said packing as made in four pieces of the single lip type was a super

page_text: packing, yet, if made in more than four pieces would be a great and valuable improve-
ment. Therefore a great deal of time and money has been spent in experimenting to
obtain the result desired without success until a geometric principle of construction
was discovered which enabled the attainment of the much desired result.
The said geometric principle may be expressed as follows:-
A metallic packing composed of an even number of separate pieces, the joint line
of which will represent a chord of a circle, the number of chords of equal length. of
which will be equal to the number of pieces of separate packing, the joint line of
each joint of the separate pieces of packing forms the base of an isososceles triangle,
the equal sides of which are formed by radial lines from the centre of said circle and
the angle, in degrees, formed at the apex of said triangle by said equal sides, must be a
number which if multiplied by the number of pieces composing the packing will equal
three hundred and sixty degrees.
.
By the use of this geometrical formula packings may be made as desired, having
any desired even number of pieces.
The packing of the single lip type as illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, and 12
is made as follows:-
It is composed of an even number of picces six. Three of 62 and three of 63.
the single lip type the pieces are alike therefore 62 and 63 are alike.
The piece 62 Figures 9 and 10 is constructed as follows:-
It is provided with the flange 28 and the projecting side lip 29.
The piece 63 Figures 11 and 12 is in a like manner constructed as follows:-
In
It is provided with the flange 30 and the projecting side lip 31. The sides are
made to dimensions, so that when assembled they will form the packing as represented
by Figures 1 and 2 which is constructed as follows, in accordance with said
geometrical formula.
First. It is composed of an even number of pieces, six, three of 62 and three
of 63.
Second. The joint line 32 represents a chord of the circle 33.
Third. The number of joint lines 32 or chords which are of equal length are
six in number and they are equal in number to the number of pieces of separate
packing.
Fourth. Each joint line 32 of each joint of each separate piece of packing forms the
base of the isosceles triangle 34, the equal sides of which are formed by the radial
dotted lines 35 from the centre of the circle 33.
Fifth. The angle 36, in degrées 60 formed at the apex of triangle 34, multiplied
by the number of pieces, six, composing the packing equals three hundred and sixty
degrees.
The packing as constructed and as represented in figures 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12 to
be used about piston rods, plungers and the like should have the points or edges of
the flange portion of the separate portion of the separate pieces of packing cut away
as shown in Figures 3 and 4, for the obvious reason to permit the packings to
advance towards the centre of the rod or plunger which it embraces to compensate
for wear.
The packing as represented in Figures 5, 6, 13, 14, 15 and 16 is of the double lip
and flange type and is made as follows:-It is composed of an even number of pieces;
six pieces, three of 64 and three of 65. Each piece 64 is made as shown in
figures 13 and 14 and is constructed with the flange 37 and the projecting
lips 38 and 39.
Each piece 65 is made as shown in figures 15 and 16, and is constructed with the
flanges 40 and 41 united by the centre piece 42.
The pieces are made to dimensions, so that when assembled they will form the
packing as represented by Figures 5 and 6, which is constructed as follows in
accordance with said geometrical formula.
First-It is composed of an even number of pieces, six, three of 64, and three
of 65.

page_text: Second-The joint line 43 or chords which are of equal length are six in number
and they are equal in number to the number of pieces of separate packing.
Fourth Each joint line 43 of each separate piece of packing forms the base of the
isosceles triangle 45 the equal sides of which are formed by the radial dotted lines 46
from the centre of the circle 44.
Fifth The angle 47 in degrees 60 formed at the apex of the triangle 45 multiplied
by the number of pieces, six, composing the packing, equals three hundred and sixty
degrees.
The packing as represented by Figures 5, 6, 13, 14, 15 and 16 to be used in pistons
for cylinders and the like should have the points or edges of the lips and centre pieces
of the separate pieces of packing cut away as shown by Figures 7 and 8 to allow the
requisit contracting of the packing in use without the said edges coming in contact.
The outside diameter of the packing is diminished so that the contact surface against
the inside of the cylinder, of the lips and centre piece will be a surface of some width
instead of a line which would be liable to injure the interior of the cylinder.
The inside diameter of the packing is also sometimes diminished as shown in
Figures 7 and 8 in order to strengthen the packing which has been reduced in strength
by the reducing of its outside diameter for the same as stated.
The packing of the single lip type as illustrated by Figures 17 to 21 inclusive is
made as follows.
It is composed of an even number of pieces, twelve, six of 26 and six of 27. This
packing being of the single lip type the pieces 26 and 27 are alike. The piece 26
Figures 18 and 19 is made as follows. It is provided with the flange 48 and the
projecting side lip 49. The piece 27 Figures 20 and 21 is in a like manner constructed
as follows. It is provided with the flange 50 and the projecting lip 51.
The pieces are made to dimensions, so that when assembled they will form the
packing as represented in Figure 17 which is constructed in accordance with my said
geometrical formula as follows.
First-It is composed of an even number of pieces, twelve, six of 20 and six
of 27.
Second The joint line 52 represents a chord of the circle 53.
Third-The number of joint lines 52 or chords which are of equal length are
twelve in number and they are equal in number to the number of pieces of separate
packing.
Fourth Each joint line 52 of each joint of each separate piece of packing forms
the base of the isosceles triangle 54 the equal sides of which are formed by the radial
dotted lines 55 from the centre of the circle 53.
Fifth The angle 56 in degrees 30, formed at the apex of the triangle 54 multiplied
by the number of pieces, twelve, composing the packing equals three hundred and
sixty degrees.
In Figures 22 and 23 the packing, figures 7 and 8 is fitted between the pisto
head or spider 66 and the follower plate 67 in the usual manner within the cylinder 68
The follower plate is securely bolted to the piston head in the usual manner by mean
of bolts not shown. The packing is held in contact with the cylinder by means o
spring pressure obtained by the use of the spiral springs 69. The piston head i
provided with the piston rod 70.
In Figures 24 and 25 the packing figures 3 and 4 is fitted around the piston rod 7
which is represented in connection with a portion of the cylinder head 72 of a
ordinary steam engine. The packing is held in contact with the rod by means o
spring pressure obtained by the use of the plate springs 73. The packing is place
about the piston rod within the double case 74 as shown and is held in its positio
against the cone joint ring 75 near the head of the case by means of packing, followe
Between t
ring 76 and spiral spring 77 two of which are shown in Figure 24.
packing and the head of the case are placed the cone joint ring 75 and the slidi
ring 78. The function of these rings 76, 75 and 78 and spiral springs 77 is
follows. In any sidewise movement of the rod the packing is free to go with the r

page_text: for the reason that ring 78 may slide on the inner surface of the head of the case
while the follower ring 76 is free to move or slide for the reason that it is supported
by the spiral springs; and if the rod does not run in line the packing is free to go
with the rod for the reason that the cone joint ring 75 may tip in the sliding ring 78
the follower ring 76 being supported by spiral springs permits such tipping. The
double case is securely bolted to the cylinder head by bolts not shown in the usual
manner.
This packing or any other consisting of an even number of pieces if constructed in
accordance with geometrical formula may be adapted for use in pistons, piston valves
and the like or for piston rods, plungers and the like of the single lip or double lip
and flange type at pleasure in a manner similar to packings as represented in
Figures 7 and 8 or 3 and 4 respectively.
The tendency of the times being the use for power purposes, of high pressures, it
is very necessary that packings for use in pistons and piston valves should not be
likely to collapse. It will be seen that as the number of pieces composing a packing
is increased its liability to collapse is decreased as the greater the number of packing
pieces and consequently joint lines or chords, the more circular in shape would be the
outline of the figure made by said chords and the nearer parallel would one chord be
to its mate or adjoining chord thereby diminishing its liability to collapse.
It is also very desirable especially for use in piston valves to make the packing of
the double lip and flange type. For the reason that the packing pieces are more
thoroughly interlocked thereby increasing its efficiency.
It will be noticed that all packing pieces composing the packings made as described
and shown whether of the single lip or double lip and flange type are radially
interlocked, that is to say, the packing pieces by reason of their interlocking
construction move as a unit radially.
The improved packing for piston valves is a packing that in its use permits a
freedom and safety of motion of a so-called plug piston valve, yet possessing the
qualities of a packed piston valve, that is, a piston valve that will wear tight and that
will not stick, that will not collapse and that will not break. Such a packing is
represented in Figures 7 and 8.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First A metallic packing composed of an even number of separate packing pieces,.
more than four, the joint line of each of which will be a chord 32 of a circle 33; the
number of chords as 32 of equal length will be equal to the number of pieces of
separate packings; each joint line of each separate piece of packing forming the
base of an isosceles triangle, as 34, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second A metallic packing composed of an even number of packing pieces more
than four provided with projecting side lips' and flanges by means of which the
packing pieces are compelled in use to move radially in unison substantially as
described.
Third A metallic packing composed of an even number of packing pieces one
half of said pieces being provided with a flange 37 and lips 38 and 39 and the
remainder of said pieces being provided with a centre piece 42 and flanges 40 and 41
substantially as and for the purposes, set forth.
D
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تيمم
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1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.