IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING, OR THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR MAKING TIGHT JOINTS IN THOSE PARTS OF STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS, AND HYDRAULIC OR OTHER ENGINES, APPARATUS, AND APPLI- ANCES, AND OTHER CASES WHERE STEAM, AIR, GAS, OR WATER TIGHT JOINTS ARE REQUIRED, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER TIRES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Giles Henwood, India Rubber, Gutta Percha, &
Steam Packing Manufacturer, and James Henry Chapman, Mechanical
Engineer, both of 28, Budge Row, in the City of London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING, OR THE MEANS
EMPLOYED FOR MAKING TIGHT JOINTS IN THOSE PARTS OF STEAM ENGINES
AND BOILERS, AND HYDRAULIC OR OTHER ENGINES, APPARATUS, AND APPLI-
ANCES, AND OTHER CASES WHERE STEAM, AIR, GAS, OR WATER TIGHT JOINTS
ARE REQUIRED, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER
TIRES"
Sealed the 2nd May 1879, and dated the 26th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Giles Henwood and
James Henry Chapman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
26th February 1879.
"
FRANCIS GILES HENWOOD, India Rubber, Gutta Percha, and Steam Packing
Manufacturer, and JAMES HENRY CHAPMAN, Mechanical Engineer, both of
28, Budge Row, in the City of London. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF PACKING, OR THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR MAKING TIGHT JOINTS IN THOSE PARTS
OF STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS, AND HYDRAULIC OR OTHER ENGINES, APPARATUS,
AND APPLIANCES, AND OTHER CASES WHERE STEAM, AIR, GAS, OR WATER TIGHT
JOINTS ARE REQUIRED, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER
USES."
This Invention bas for its object improvements in the manufacture of packing, or
the means employed for making tight joints in those parts of steam engines and
boilers, and hydraulic engines, apparatus, and appliances, and other cases where
steam, air, gas, or water tight joints are required, which improvements are also
applicable for other uses, and which may also be adapted so as to be usefully
employed as cushions, or means of lessening the effects of pressure or sudden blows
in bridges, vehicles, railway rolling stock, ships, and other cases where the employment
of such is desired or required, and also in forming a cheap, durable, and efficient
substitute for many of the materials and plans at present in use for such and other
purposes.
In carrying out our Invention we tako prepared wood fibre or pulp in the state
known as "half-stuff" when used for the manufacture of paper, and by preference
that of such wood as is freest from resinous, acid, or other objectionable constituents,
Devine (1

page_text: especially the Swedish black poplar, as producing the longest fibre, and which is
prepared for use by the apparatus described in the Patent of Benjamin Brown,
Number 2466, dated September 19th, 1871, and having got it to the required state
of fineness, dampness, and plasticity, according to the conditions required to be
fulfilled by the product, we place the required quantity for the article to be manu-
factured, either cold or in a heated state, in the mould or suitable apparatus
employed to give it the required form, denseness, or solidity suitable to the purpose,
and subject it to pressure to force out the moisture and consolidate the mass. The
pressure may be given by means of an hydraulic or other suitable or convenient
press or arrangement, and continued sufficiently long to expel most of the moisture,
and ensure the material setting in the required form and of the required dimen-
sions, after which it may be exposed to the heat of steam, water, fire, heated air,
the sun, or other suitable and convenient means for baking or drying, so as to
ensure its freedom from moisture and maintaining its shape; or the moulds or
parts in which it is formed may be used heated to the required temperature as
desired or preferred. When the manufactured article is thoroughly dried, especially
where it is to be used as a packing for piston rods, slide rods, pump rams, valve
seats, jointing pipes, tanks, or other uses exposed to or in contact with steam or
water, we soak the same, either cold or in its heated state, from the hot drying part
of the process in oil, either cold or heated, or a mixture of oil with other suitable
waterproof materials or substances, until it is thoroughly saturated, and after
draining off as much of the superfluous oil as possible it is then ready for use. The
object of thus oiling is to destroy the tendency of the dry fibre to absorb moisture,
which it would do if not so protected, and in consequence be less suited to the pur-
poses for which it is to be applied.
In those cases where the packing is to be used for joints we form the material
into sheets of the required or desired thickness, and of suitable dimensions, either
by passing the fibre through or between rollers, heated or not as most suitable, or
subjecting it to pressure, or pressure and heat combined, between flat or other
surfaces, and in some cases we embed in the moist pulp or fibre before pressing or
forming it a part or parts of Muntz's metal, copper, brass, pewter, lead, zinc, tin, or tin
foil, or other suitable alloy, or brass, copper, iron, lead, zinc, or other suitable wire
gauze or netting, or a combination of two or more of the same; or we may take
the formed or dried sheet and cut it or otherwise form it into the required or
desired rings or other shapes, and build them up to the required thickness, inter-
posing a part or parts of the above named metals between them, attaching the same
by means of india rubber, or a suitable solution or compound of the same, and thon
subject the whole to suitable pressure, or heat and pressure combined, to secure
adhesion and the maintenance of the desired shape or form.
We also in certain cases when the material is to be formed into bearings for
shafts or similar uses, and also for packing, mix the pulp or fibre with powdered
steatite, mica, talc, oxide of zinc, French chalk, india rubber, or asbestos fibre,
either singly or in combination with any suitable number of the same, and when
thoroughly incorporated and in a suitably plastic condition place the same in
moulds, or otherwise suitably form it or them, and subject it or them to the
required pressure, or heat and pressure combined, as hereinbefore described. When
the rings or parts used for packing are formed the same may be cut into two or
more parts or segments, or have one cut made in it or them to allow of being placed
in the stuffing box as most suitable or convenient for its application.
We also form the packing for glands with grooves or channels in the same,
extending radially towards the exterior edges, so that when the packing is placed
in the stuffing box these grooves or channels may form receptacles to contain and
retain some of the lubricating material or condensed water, or the fluid or water
being worked by the pump, where the packing is so applied, and thus enable
friction to be reduced, and diminish the ill effects of neglect in supplying the lubri-
cant at proper times.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Giles Henwood and James Henry Chapman in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 26th August 1879.
FRANCIS GILES HENWOOD, India Rubber, Gutta Percha, and Steam Packing
Manufacturer, and JAMES HENRY CHAPMAN, Mechanical Engineer, both of
28, Budge Row, in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF PACKING, OR THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR MAKING TIGHT JOINTS IN THOSE PARTS
OF STEAM ENGINES AND BOILERS, AND HYDRAULIC OR OTHER ENGINES, APPARATUS,
AND APPLIANCES, AND OTHER CASES WHERE STEAM, AIR, GAS, OR WATER TIGHT
JOINTS ARE REQUIRED, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of packing, or
the means employed for making tight joints in those parts of steam engines and
boilers, and hydraulic engines apparatus and appliances, and other cases where
steam, air, gas, or water tight joints are required, which improvements are also
applicable for other uses, and which may also be adapted so as to be usefully
employed as cushions or means of lessening the effects of sudden pressure or sudden
blows in bridges, vehicles, railway rolling stock, ships, and other cases where the
employment of such is desired or required, and also in forming a cheap, durable,
and efficient substitute for many of the materials and plans at present in use for
such and other purposes.
In carrying out our Invention we take prepared wood fibre or pulp in the state
known as "half stuff" when used for the manufacture of paper, and by preference
that of such wood as is freest from resinous, acid, or other objectionable constituents,
especially the Swedish black poplar, as producing the longest fibre, and which is
prepared for use by the apparatus described in the Patent of Benjamin Brown,
No. 2466, dated September 19th, 1871, and having got it to the required state of
fineness, dampness, and plasticity, according to the conditions required to be fulfilled
by the product, we place the required quantity for the article to be manufactured,
either cold or in a heated state, in the mould or suitable apparatus employed to give
it the required form, denseness, or solidity suitable to the purpose, and subject it to
pressure to force out the moisture and consolidate the mass. The pressure may be
given by means of an hydraulic, or other suitable or convenient press or arrange-
inent, and continued sufficiently long to expel most of the moisture and ensure the
material setting in the required form and of the required dimensions, after which it
may be exposed to the heat of steam, water, fire, heated air, the sun, or other
suitable and convenient means for baking or drying, so as to ensure its freedom
from moisture, and maintaining its shape; or the moulds or parts in which it is
formed may be used heated to the required temperature, as desired or preferred.
When the manufactured article is thoroughly dried, especially when it is to be used
as a packing for piston-rods, pump-rams, valve seats, jointing pipes, tanks, or other
uses exposed to or in contact with steam or water, we soak the saine, either cold or in
its heated state from the hot drying part of the process, in oil, such as boiled linseed or
other drying oil, either cold or heated, or a mixture of oil with other suitable water-
proof materials or substances, until it is thoroughly saturated, and after draining off
as much of the superfluous oil as possible, it is then ready for use. The object of
this oiling is to destroy the tendency of the dry fibre. to absorb moisture which it
would do if not so protected, and in consequence be less suited to the purposes for
which it is to be applied.
In those cases where the packing is to be used for joints we form the material
into sheets of the required or desired thickness and of suitable dimensions, either

page_text: by passing the fibre through or between rollers, heated or not, as most suitable, or
subjecting it to pressure, or pressure and heat combined, between flat or other
surfaces, and in some cases we embed in the moist pulp or fibre before pressing or
forming it, or between the sheets of the same when pressed or formed, a part or
parts of Muntz's metal, copper, brass, pewter, lead, zinc, tin, or tin foil, or other
suitable alloy, or brass, copper, iron, lead, zinc, or other suitable wire gauze or
netting, or flax or cotton canvas, or a combination of two or more of the same, or
we may take the formed or dried sheet and cut it or otherwise form it into the
required or desired rings cr other shapes and build them up to the required thick-
ness for the purpose to which it is to be applied, interposing a part or parts of the
above named materials between them, attaching the same by means of india-rubber
or a suitable solution or compound of the same and then subject the whole to
suitable pressure, or heat and pressure combined, to secure adhesion and the main-
tenance of the desired shape or form, and then oil it as before described if desired
or preferred. This packing may be used for mudhole and manhole door joints.
We also, in certain cases, when the material is to be formed into bearings for
shafts or similar uses, and also for packing, mix the pulp or fibre with powdered
stenlite, mica, tale, oxide of zinc, French chalk, india rubber, or asbestos fibre, either
singly or in combination with any suitable number of the same, and when
thoroughly incorporated and in a suitably plastic condition place the same in
inoulds, or otherwise suitably form it or them and subject it or them to the required
pressure, or heat and pressure combined, as hereinbefore described. When the rings
or parts used for packing are formed, the same may be cut into two or more parts
or segments, or have one sloping cut made in it or them to allow of being placed in
the stuffing box, as most suitable or convenient for its application, and be oiled in
this case with a non-drying oil.
We also form the packing for glands with grooves or channels in the same,
extending radially towards the exterior edges, so that when the packing is placed
in the stuffing box these grooves or channels may form receptacles to contain and
retain some of the lubricating material or condensed water, or the fluid or water
being worked by the pump when the packing is so applied, and thus enable
friction to be reduced, and diminish the ill effects of neglect in supplying the
lubricant at proper times, and also permit the packing to run longer with less
lubrication.
We also form the packing when used for glands and other similar cases of a
series of flat rings or washers of any suitable or desired thickness, formed or cut
from a sheet or sheets of the desired thickness, the holes in one being a close fit to
the rod or part, and in the next of a larger size or loose fit, so that when built up
or placed alternately in the stuffing box a series of grooves may be formed in the
interior surface of the packing, extending round the rod or part in addition to the
radial grooves herein before described, and these may be used in combination if
desired.
We also form the rings used for packing out of long strips of the sheets of fibre
of the required width and thickness by winding them around a suitably sized
mandril or core, so that each turn shall pass over the last, until a ring of the
required breadth and thickness is formed, and the coils may be caused to adhere
together by smearing or covering the surfaces which come in contact with an
india-rubber solution or other adhesive material or substance, or the same may be
secured together by stitching or pegging.
In some cases we place thin or thick suitably formed flat rings or washers of
white metal or other suitable material, grooved or not, as desired, alternately with
the flat rings of fibrous packing, or we may use wire gauze, sheet rubber, canvas,
or other suitable material, singly or in combination, placed alternately with the
fibrous rings, taking care when the same are used loose, to place the openings or
sloping cut made in each, to enable them to be placed in the box, so as to " break
joint," and thus reduce any chance of leakage; and we also use in combination

page_text: rings or washers of white metal, vulcanite, or other suitable material, alternately
or otherwise round the interior openings of the rings when desired or preferred.
We also use our packing hereinbefore described to pack the grooves in the shells
or plugs of cocks, such as those described and shewn in the Patent, No. 189, of 1859,
granted to Richard Howell and Richard James Willder, and as it is prepared
without the use of chemicals or any other deleterious matter, and does not contain
anything capable of acting injuriously on the metal, we are enabled to provide and
employ a really anti-corrosive packing which has not hitherto been found to be
the case.
For this purpose we either mould the fibre for the packing into pieces or parts
of the size and form required for the grooves or other part, or we cut out
strips from the sheet, and pack the same edgewise into the grooves, so as to form a
packing of the required or desired depth and thickness, and also form the packing
acting on the top and bottom of the plug in a similar manner. If desired, india-
rubber solution or sheets or parts of white metal or other suitable material may be
used in combination in all or any of the parts forming the packing as desired or
preferred, or the fibre may be reduced to pulp, and whilst in this state, mixed with
oxide of zinc or other suitable substance or material as hereinbefore described in
the proportions desired, and then formed into packing.
We also arrange our packing so as to be employed between the fish plates and
the rails on railways or tramways, or similar cases where it is desirable to diminish
the ill effects of the jar and shake caused by the motion of the vehicles in passing
over the same, which causes the gradual loosening of the fastenings, either by
cutting a sufficient width and length from a sheet of the desired thickness, or by
moulding or otherwise forming the part of the shape and size required, and use it
in conjunction with sheet rubber, canvas, metal, gauze, or other suitable material
as hereinbefore specified, which part we place between the fish plate and the rail, or
other parts where it is desired to prevent the effects of concussion, so that on
screwing up the nuts, the fish plates shall bear against the packing, and force it
against the rail. We may also use our washers of this material between the heads
of the bolts and the fish plates, and also between the nuts and the plate.
Our packing will be found of great use when employed for deadening sound, and
as a non-conductor of heat or cold when applied as a lining to partitions, for placing
on roofs below the slates, tiles, or other covering employed, and may be used in
sheets or in the state of pulp. It may also be used for clothing boilers, steain
pipes, and in other cases where it is desired to prevent loss of beat, and also for use
in clothing refrigerators, in covering or lining ice chambers or cold rooms, safes,
and other cases where it is desired to prevent the loss of cold.
The accompanying sheet of Diagrams shews the packing formed in some of the
modes hereinbefore described, and also when applied to packing the grooves and
other parts of cocks.
Figure 1 represents one of our solid packing rings constructed as hereinbefore
described, shown cut in half across its diameter; a, a, the ring, b, b, the radial grooves
which may be as shewn, or in the form of a half diamond, oval, or square; c, the
sloping cut through the ring to enable it to be placed in the box, though if preferred,
it, as well as the other forms, may have two or more cuts made in it or thein, so as to
permit of each ring being placed in the box in several pieces, care of course being
taken to "break joint" with the cuts in each ring or layer.
Figure 2 is a similar section of one of our improved packing rings formed by
winding a strip or band of our improved material round a mandril as hereinbefore
described, a, a, being the packing, and c the sloping cut. We may sometimes use
this arrangement to surround a narrow ring of vulcanite, white metal, or other
suitable material when we employ this mode in the improved built up rings, or it
may alternate with flat or other rings of the same.
Figure 3 shews in similar section one of our improved packing rings, in which
the rings cut from a sheet of the material are built up to form a ring of the

page_text: required thickness, as herein before described: a, a, the layers of rings or washers;
c, the inclined cut. Any of the materials hereinbefore described may be used in
combination with this arrangement, or in fact with all or any, if desired or
preferred.
Figure 4 shews in similar section another arrangement of our built up rings, con-
sisting of alternate layers of the flat washers and the spiral ring or arrangement
shewn in Figure 2, and is a compound of the plans shewn in Figures 2 and 3.
a, a, the built up flat washers; d, d, the ring of spiral packing, of which there may
be one or more, as desired.
Figure 5 shews in similar section another arrangement of our built up rings
formed of alternate rings or washers of larger or smaller bore, as herein before
specified, to form the circumferential grooves. a, a, the rings or washers with the
smaller hole; d, d, the washers with the larger hole, placed as shewn, and producing
the
grooves; c, c, the inclined cuts. In some cases we may fill in the larger bore
with a ring of vulcanite or other suitable material.
Figure 6 shews in similar section another arrangement of our built up rings,
consisting of a combination of Figures 2 and 3, which are so arranged as to enable
the circumferential grooves to be obtained. a, a, the flat washer built up rings;
d, d, the spiral rings, or those with the larger holes; c, c, the sloping cuts.
Figure 7 shews in similar section another arrangement of our built up rings, in
which solid rings of the form shewn are used, but in which neither the radial or
circumferential grooves are shewn, though they may be employed if desired.
the rings with broadest internal surface; d,d, the rings with the narrowest internal
surface; c, o, the sloping cuts.
α, α,
Figure 8 shews in similar section another arrangement of our improved packing
rings, in which solid rings are employed formed with bevilled edges, which coming
together form the triangular circumferential grooves, and in which the radial grooves,
here of a diamond section, are used in combination. a, a, the top and bottom rings
of the series; b, b, the radial grooves; c, c, the inclined cuts; d, the intermediate
ring; e, e, the circumferential grooves.
Figure 9 shews in similar section another arrangement of our improved packing
rings, in which combined radial and circumferential grooves are employed, the latter
in this case having a square section obtained by the peculiar formation of the rings,
and the radial grooves being round, though they may be of any other forin, as
herein before described. a, a, the top and bottom rings of the series; b, b, the radial
grooves; c, c, the inclined cuts; d, d, the intermediate rings formed as shewn;
e, e, the circumferential grooves.
Figure 10 shews in vertical longitudinal section the shell or body of a cock, the
plug being removed, to which our improved packing is applied as herein before
described, shewing the vertical grooves f, f, for receiving the packing to act against
the sides of the plug, and the horizontal grooves or spaces f¹, f1, for the ring,
washer, or other form of packing below the plug and on the top of the same.
Figure 11 is a sectional plan shewing the grooves f,f, in which the packing,
composed in this case of thin strips placed edgewise as shewn, is placed, and which
the dovetail form of the grooves assists in retaining in its place.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to or may be performed or brought into practical use, we desire to state
that we not limit or confine ourselves to the precise details hereinbefore specified,
and shewn in the accompanying Sheet of Diagrams, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of our Invention; nor do we claim as of our
Invention the use of packing for making tight joints, as this is not novel, nor any
of the purposes or uses to which it is applied as new, but what we claim as of our
Invention, and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is,-
First. The application of the material hereinbefore described to the purposes and
in the manner herein before described and specified.
Second. The mode of manufacture and preparation of the material hereinbefore.
described, in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and specified,

page_text: Third. The arrangements shewn in the accompanying Sheet of Diagrams, in the
manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Giles Henwood, on behalf of myself
and the said James Henry Chapman, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Twenty fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
F. G. HENWOOD. (L.S.)