IMPROVEMENTS IN STUFFING BOXES AND PACKING THEREFOR, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE PISTON RODS OF STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STUFFING BOXES AND PACKING
THEREFOR, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE PISTON RODS OF STEAM ENGINES."-A
communication from abroad by Edwin Webster Brown, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 26th February 1872, and dated the 14th September 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th September 1871.
1
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake; & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STUFFING BOXES AND
PACKING THEREFOr, chiefly Designed for the PistoN RODS OF STEAM ENGINES," a
communication, to be as follows:-
i
This Invention relates more particularly to stuffing boxes for use in
connection with the piston rods of steam engines, although it is applicable

page_text: for other similar purposes. The said Invention consists mainly in a
novel arrangement of sectional rings within the box about the piston
rods in combination with spiral or other springs so applied as to hold
the said sectional rings with an elastic and yielding pressure about
the rod and to keep the joint always tight by compensating for the wear
of the bearing surfaces of the sectional rings and rod in the inward and
outward movement of the piston rod.
The stuffing box, which may be provided with a removable head formed
of two plates, is constructed in any suitable manner for being secured in
position for use; through the centre of the head it is provided with a
circular opening of about the size of the rod to which it is to be applied.
The sectional rings composed of two series are arranged within the box,
one series is in six distinct parts of similar size and shape and adapted by
flaring ends to be nicely jointed together, three of the parts when placed
together constituting one ring, the internal diameter of which is the same
as the external diameter of the rod. The two rings thus made are placed
one upon the other, breaking joints. Surrounding this series is the other
series of rings in three similar parts or sections flared at their end and
adapted to be nicely jointed together and to break joints with the inner
series. Each section of the ring series is provided with a conical head
upon which fits a plug or head conically countersunk and arranged to be
guided and play within a tube secured in position by sliding its end plate
into ways made in the inner periphery of the stuffing box. Within each
tube is arranged a spiral spring to press and confine the plug of the tube
to its bearing on its section of the ring series and thus press them
about and adapt them to the piston rod. To more fully provide
against leakage of steam through the rings their contiguous surfaces are
provided with a rib and groove, which may be either of a square, round,
triangular, or other shape in transverse section.
In lieu of arranging the springs to press on the ring series through the
plug as described, they may be arranged with the tube as a part of the
plug and adapted to move therewith, and with conical heads on sectional
rings at their joints and split in continuation of such joints. A projecting
cylindrical head is placed on the inner periphery of the stuffing box or
case to fit within the tube of the moveable heads and to seal the said
tubes against the entrance of steam.
In a modification of this Invention the series of rings are constructed
with a rib and groove joint to interlock one ring of the one series with

page_text: the similar ring of the other series, and so on. The several sections of
the ring series and also the separate rings of the inner series are con-
structed and arranged one with the other to break joints and thus to
obstruct and prevent the passage of steam through them. The several
sections of the outer series are constructed with angular projections
with the split through them. By 'these angular projections the ring
series fit within corresponding shaped seats of blocks arranged within
the box and each adapted by springs in different planes to bear with an
clastic and yielding pressure on the said ring series; ribs are formed on
the internal periphery of the box to form guides for the blocks.
To prevent the passage of steam from the piston cylinder to the
outside of the stuffing box one ring of the two series nearest to the
piston cylinder should be made much thinner than the succeeding rings.
A plate or disc is placed on one end of the sectional ring series, between
which and the moveable head plate are arranged spiral springs to hold
the rings in place and to counteract the tendency of the steam to
dislocate them between the ends of the box.
A hole is formed in the case communicating with its interior to allow
what steam may possibly pass through the sectional rings into the box
to escape and also the water from condensed steam. By arranging two
springs to act upon each of the bearing blocks the ring series are adapted
to adjust themselves to rods, taper; or otherwise uneven, as they are
allowed lateral motion.
5
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give

page_text: and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake my
executors, administrators, and 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STUFFING BOXES AND PACKING THEREFOR, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE PISTON
RODS OF STEAM ENGINES," a communication to me from abroad by Edwin
Webster Brown, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, 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 Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
The present Invention relates to stuffing boxes more particularly
designed for use in connection with the piston and valve rods of steam
and other engines. It is applicable to piston and valve rods of pumps
and other apparatus where it is desirable to have a water, or steam, or
air-tight joint about the rod.
The said Invention consists mainly in the use of rings, either one or
more, about a piston or equivalent rod, that through their thickness in
radial lines or nearly so, or in lines parallel or nearly so with the
diametrical line of the rings, are divided or split into more or less sections
or parts in combination with more or less spiral, bent, rubber or other
springs, when the said springs are so disposed or arranged in connection
with the sectional rings as to act against their outer edge or face and to
be held thereto by a bearing or rest for the springs in a plane or line out-
side of and beyond the outer periphery of the ring.

page_text: The said Invention also consists, in combination with the above, in the
arrangement of spiral, bent, rubber, or other suitable springs within the
stuffing box case, enclosing an arrangement of sectional rings and
springs substantially as above described, to bear upon said sectional
rings in a direction across or in a line with their thickness.
The said Invention also consists in the construction of the rings and
arrangement of other parts in connection therewith, whereby the
practical operation of the packing is more perfectly ensured as will be
apparent from the detail description herein-after given.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a plan of the interior of a stuffing box constructed together
with its packing according to this Invention. Figure 2 is a transverse
vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 are similar
views to Figures 1 and 2, but shew modifications in detail of the con-
struction and arrangement of some of the parts in the said Figures 1 and
2. Figures 5 and 6 are views in detail of some of the parts shown in
Figures 3 and 4. Figures 7 and 8 are a plan and a transverse vertical
section of a series of sectional rings one above the other, shewing a
modification in the construction of the rings. Figure 9 is a plan and
Figure 10 a sectional view, shewing a modification of the construction
and arrangement of rings and other parts to be herein-after described.
!
A represents a stuffing box made in the present instance of a cylin-
drical shape and provided with a removeable head B. This box A
exteriorly may be constructed in any suitable manner for being secured
in position for use, and through the centre of both head plates it is
provided with a circular opening C of about the size of the rod to which
it is to be applied. D and E are rings, the one D within the other E,
their external and internal diameters being suitable therefor. These rings
D and E are both divided by radial lines in Figure 1, and by lines
parallel or nearly so with the diameter, thereof in Figure 3, into sections
or parts a shewn as three, and when placed the one within the other are
located so that the dividing line of their several parts will break joints.
The number of these rings D and E in the present instance is six, three
of cach, and they are arranged as described one upon another and by
preference so that the line of split will break joint as much as possible.

page_text: The external surface of the inner rings and the internal surface of the
outer rings are constructed with a joint as shewn at b, which joint is
composed of a rib c on the edge of each ring suitably formed for the two
ribs c to complete the entire thickness of the rings, but to pass the one
rib by the other. The rings D and E constructed and arranged as
described are located within the stuffing box A about the rod F, which is
to move through such stuffing box; the internal diameter of the inner
ring corresponds or nearly so to the diameter of the rod, and the external
diameter of the outer rings E is less than the internal diameter of the
box, leaving a space G. Within this space G are placed spiral springs H
(but they may be bent, rubber, or other springs), which springs H
through blocks I at one end bear against the outer periphery of the
ring E to which they are confined by an abutment and rest on the
internal periphery of box A.
In the Drawing these blocks I are made hollow to receive the springs,
and at one end they have a triangular recess f to fit over triangular-
shaped projections y of the rings. The springs H are shown in Figures
1 and 2 as bearing directly against the internal periphery of the box A,
but in Figures 3 and 4 they bear through hollow blocks K which are held
in proper position by ways of the box A. These blocks K act to guide
the movement of the blocks I. The springs H may be arranged for each
row of the rings, or one spring for the series, of rows. The rings D and
E and springs H are arranged within the box A as described, and before
securing the head B in place a plate or disc L fitting about the piston
rod is located on the outside face M of the end rings of the series, and on
that plate one or more spiral, bent, or other suitable shaped springs or
rubber cushions N are located, so that by placing the head B on the box
and securing it in any suitable manner by screws, bolts, or the like, the
rings from end to end will be confined between the bottom O of the box
and the inner face P of the head with an elastic yielding pressure. The
springs N could be arranged to bear directly on the sectional rings, but
it is best to arrange them to bear through a plate L, as fewer springs are
necessary and a more even action is obtained.
With sectional rings backed by springs substantially as above described
a complete and perfect joint is made with the rod, producing but little
friction thereon. In lieu of six sectional rings more or less may be used,
and in lieu of one ring within another only one sectional ring may be.

page_text: employed, but it is preferable to use one ring within another. Also.in
lieu of a sectional ring within a sectional ring the outer or enclosing:
ring may be solid or continuous, and have within it the spiral or other
springs to act on the sections of the internal ring. This construction is
shown in Figures 9 and 10. And in lieu of cach row of rings being
sectional the end rows may be solid with the intermediate ones sectional
or reverse.
Should simply one sectional ring be employed, a construction thereof
such as shown in Figures 7 and 8 is preferable, from the fact that a
direct slit through the ring is avoided. This construction of the ring
consists in the attachment to or formation in one end of each section of:
the ring of an arm P projecting beyond its line of split with the next
section which is suitably cut away to receive said arm P, completing the
continuity as it were of the inner periphery of the ring. The arm's when
one sectional ring is to be disposed on another are made thinner at one
edge than the other, to produce a breakage of joints of the arm. P of one
ring with the arm of the ring next above or below it, or both above and
below it.
!
The joint between the ring series D and E is shown in Figure 4'as
made with a rib o and groove p, the purpose of this construction being
to destroy a continuous channel between the rings D and E for the steam
to pass.
The advantage of the construction of joint shown at Figure
2, lies in the fact that it is simpler and casier made than the rib and.
groove constructed as in Figure 4, while the same result is secured. The
springs H may be arranged to bear directly on the sectional rings, but it
is best to have them bear through blocks I, and as to the springs N they
may be also disposed to bear directly on the top of sectional rings in lieu
of through the plate L; it is preferable however to use the plate L. ;
'
The modification of construction shown in Figures 5 and 6 relates to
the blocks I and springs H, and by an inspection of these Figures the
modification is obvious without particular description. In the applica-
tion of springs H' within the solid ring, shown in Figures 9 and 10, they
are illustrated as located within blocks adapted to be slid into position
within the solid ring that is cut out suitably for their reception; they
might, however, be placed directly in sockets of the ring either from the
inside or the outside, if from the latter I close the holes by screw or other
stoppers inserted therein. The rings E, in Figure 4, in lieu of being three,
T

page_text: one on top of the other, are simply one ring divided into sections through
its thickness, as shown in Figure 3. n is a hole in the box A for the
escape of what steam may get into the box through the joints of the rings,
this escape of steam preventing any pressure therefrom on the rings.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same,
I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A packing for stuffing boxes composed of one or more sectional
rings in combination with springs arranged to act against the said rings
and to be confined thereto by a bearing in a plane outside of the external
periphery of the ring, substantially as herein described for the purpose
specified.
'
Second. In combination with the above the arrangement of a spring
or springs to bear upon the sectional ring or rings in the direction of
their thickness, substantially as described.
Third. A stuffing box constructed with ring scrics D and E in sections
in combination with springs H, adapted to hold the said rings D and E
against and about the rod moving in the core or opening of the stuffing
box, substantially as set forth for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The scrics of sectional rings D and E, cach constructed with a
rib o and groove p, in combination with the bearing blocks I and springs
H, all constructed substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The disc L and bearing spring N in combination with the
sectional rings D and E, and the blocks I with their springs H, all
arranged and operating substantially as set forth.
.
Sixth. The sectional rings D and E having the square joint b, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Seventh. A sectional ring constructed for the one section to pass by
the line of its split with the next section and to lie within the same,
substantially as described for the purpose specified.
1
Eighth. A sectional ring within a solid ring in combination with
springs arranged in the solid ring to bear on the sections of the sectional
ring, substantially as described.

page_text: Ninth. The hole n for the escape of steam from the box A, substantially
s and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
EDWARD C. JACKSON.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)