Improvements relating to Stuffing Boxes, Glands, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1898
Complete Snonification Loft 12th Cab
1900
1000
Date of Application, 13th May, 1898
Complete Specification Loft, 13th Feb., 1000 Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Stuffing Boxes, Glands, and the like.
I, DUGALD CLERK, Consulting Engineer, of 18, Southampton Buildings; Chancery
Lane, London, W.C. (a communication from abroad by Ugo Bagnoli, Engineer,
of Orbetello, Italy), do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My invention relates to improvements in connection with the packing and
lubricating of stuffing-boxes, glands and the like.
The object of my invention is to overcome the difficulties in connection with the
packing of piston, or valve, rods of steam-engines, and other machines in which
packing is used for the purpose of obtaining a joint which is fluid-tight and at the
same time to prevent excessive friction on the moving rod.
My invention consists in the employment of a number of suitable metal balls
placed in an annular concentric space surrounding the packing in a stuffing box,
and so arranged that when pressure is applied to the balls at one or more points
it will be transmitted uniformly to the whole surface of the packing in a manner
analogous to the transmission of fluid pressure. My invention may be carried into
effect, according to one modification in which it is applied to the piston-rod of a
steam-engine, in the following manner:
I provide a stuffing-box, or gland, which can be fixed by bolts, or in any suitable
manner, to the cylinder cover. It is adapted, when fixed, to hold the packing
longitudinally in position. The outer part of the stuffing-box fits the piston-rod
loosely while the inner part (namely the part next the cylinder cover) is very con-
siderably wider than the piston rod, so that when the packing is in position there
is a concentric annular space between the body of the box and the packing. Two
chambers (which may be tubular) lead from this annulus to screwed apertures
formed opposite one another and at right angles to the axis of the box. These
chambers are open at one end of the annular space above-mentioned while their
other ends are closed by headed screws.
In applying my invention the packing (fibrous or metallic) is first secured to the
piston rod loosely. The stuffing box is then slid along the rod into its position
and bolted or otherwise secured to the cylinder-cover. The packing material will
now be held firmly in position longitudinally. One of the above mentioned screws
is now removed from the tube and a number of metal balls are put into the annular
space surrounding the packing. When a sufficient number of balls has been put
in the screw is returned to its place. By adjusting either or both of the screws
the packed joint can be made perfectly fluid-tight and at the same time the pres-
sure over the whole of the packing will be uniformly distributed and perfectly
concentric.
When fibrous packing is used it will be found necessary to add fresh balls to the
annular space from time to time as the volume of the packing gets reduced owing
to the pressure.
Instead of two chambers formed in the inner part of the shifting box as above
described I may use one or more chambers filled with screws. Or one or more
of these chambers may be fitted with pistons and springs to give elastic pressure.

page_text: In the case where metallic packing is used it is preferable to apply the pressure
on the balls through such a device giving elastic or following pressure.
Lubricators may be fixed on the stuffing-box so as to supply oil to the annular
space surrounding the packing. By this construction of stuffing box very perfect
lubrication is obtained as the oil in the annular space is absorbed by the packing
and a greater surface of the rod is lubricated than is possible with the ordinary
stuffing box.
Improvements relating to Stuffing Boxes, Glands, and the like.
I, DUGALD CLERK, Consulting Engineer, of 18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, London, W.C. (a communication from abroad by Ugo Bagnoli, Engineer,
of Orbetello, Italy), do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in connection with the packing and
lubricating of stuffing-boxes, glands and the like.
The object of my invention is to overcome the difficulties in connection with the
packing of piston or valve rods of steam engines, and other machines in which
packing is used for the purpose of obtaining a joint which is fluid-tight, and at the
same time to prevent excessive friction on the moving rod.
My invention consists in the employment of a number of suitable metal balls in
an annular concentric space surrounding the packing in a stuffing-box, and so
arranged that when pressure is applied to the balls at one or more points, it will
be transmitted to the whole surface of the packing in a manner analogous to the
transmission of fluid pressure.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one modification of my invention
as applied to the stuffing-box of a steam engine
Figure 1 is a section of a stuffing-box in which metallic packing is used; Fig. 1^
is an end view showing the method of dividing the packing rings, and Figure 2
is a section of a stuffing-box in which soft packing is used.
Referring to Figure 1, A is the stuffing-box in which metallic packing rings B, B,
which I prefer to split, as shown in Fig. 1, are held longitudinally between the
neck bush C and the rings D, E, under the gland F, which is held on by bolts G
in the usual manner. The ring D) is curved as shown at the part upon which the
gland F bears to allow for any oscillation of the rod I, which may be due to wear
of the guides, or to any other cause which tends to produce oscillation. The con-
centric annular space surrounding the packing B, B, is adapted to contain a
number of suitable metal balls H, which may be of steel or other sufficiently hard
metal. The upper part of this space communicates as shown with the space con-
taining the hollow screwed piston K, which may be prevented from rotating therein
in any suitable manner. Pressure may be applied to the balls H, and hence to the
packing B, B, by means of the screw L which may be caused to travel the piston K
inwards. The spring and piston M are provided to prevent the application of
excessive pressure by the screw L. They also produce an elastic or following
pressure to prevent any jamming of the balls which may occur with metallic pack-
ing.

page_text: The space occupied by the balls may be kept constantly supplied with lubricant
from the cup P. The moisture formed by condensation on starting the engine may
be drawn off by the cock R.
Referring to Figure 2, which illustrates a stuffing-box in which soft packing
is used, B, is the soft packing held longitudinally between the neck bush and ring
under the gland which is held on by bolts, as in Figure 1. Pressure is applied to
the balls H by the screw plug L, which is hollowed out to contain a spring by
which the pressure is transmitted to the piston M. In this way the application of
excessive pressure by means of the screw plug L is avoided. In this case, owing
to the compression of the soft packing, it may be found necessary to introduce
fresh balls from time to time. The screw plug N may be provided for this purpose.
Lubricant may be constantly supplied to the space occupied by the balls by a
similar arrangement to that shown in Figure 1, but in this case it may be sufficient
to introduce a suitable quantity of lubricant periodically, as, for instance, when
fresh balls are introduced, since the soft packing absorbs a large quantity, and
distributes it very uniformly over the surface of the rod, thus securing very perfect
lubrication.
In the above, I have described the use of a single pressure applying screw, but
I may use a greater number if desired. I may also use one or more pistons and
springs to give elastic pressure.
By the above described arrangements of stuffing-box with metal balls and pres-
sure applying screws, it is possible to produce a pressure which is perfectly con-
centric, and which is uniformly distributed over the surface of the packing. By
proper adjustment of the pressure applying screws, the joint between the rod and
the packing, can be made absolutely fluid-tight, and at the same time, owing to
the uniform pressure, on the packing, excessive friction is avoided.
This construction of stuffing-box also admits of the employment of materials
such as hemp, paper, etc., for packing, because, owing to the large oil space pro-
vided, the oil keeps the packing cool, and prevents charring, which hitherto has
been a serious drawback to their use, particularly in the case of large engines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
my
said
1. In stuffing-boxes, applying a uniformly distributed pressure to steam or other
packing by means of balls, substantially as herein before described.
2. In stuffing-boxes such as claimed in Claim 1, a yielding pressure device,
such as M, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. In stuffing-boxes such as claimed in Claim 1, a pressure applying device
such as piston K with adjusting screw L, substantially as described with reference
to Figure 1.
4. The construction and general arrangement of stuffing box, substantially as
described with reference to Figure 1.
5. The construction and general arrangement of stuffing box, substantially as
described with reference to Figure 2.
Dated this 18th day of February 1800
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.