IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE STEM SUPPORTS AND VALVE STEMS OR PISTON ROD PACKING FOR STEAM ENGINES AND SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VALVE STEM SUPPORTS AND VALVE STEMS OR PISTON ROD PACKING
FOR STEAM ENGINES AND SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by George Henry Richards, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States
of America, President of the United States Metallic Packing Company, of
Boston, United States.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Morgan-Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd August 1881.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of 38, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
London, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVE STEM SUPPORTS AND VALVE
STEMS OR PISTON ROD PACKING FOR STEAM ENGINES AND SIMILAR PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by George Henry Richards, of Boston, Massa-
chusetts, United States of America, President of the United States Metallic Packing
Company, of Boston, United States.
This Invention relates to improvements in valve stem supports and valve stems
or piston rod packing for steam engines and similar purposes, and has for one of
its objects to relieve the stuffing boxes or other packing or bearing of the valve
stem where it enters the steam chest, of the burden of sustaining the weight of
the said stem, and to thus prevent the wear of the parts involved thereby.
The Invention consists in the combination of the valve and its stem connected
therewith and adapted to permit independent movement of the valve to and from
its seat, with the elliptical springs held in place between the said valve and valve
stem, as hereinafter described, whereby the said valve stem is supported and its
packed bearing relieved of its weight.
Also in the combination of elliptical springs at the front and rear of the
valve with the connecting pieces at the sides of the valve forming with the said
springs a rectangular frame adapted to fit over the exhaust chamber of a

page_text: valve and be held in proper position thereby to provide a support for the valve
stem.
Also in the hereinafter described packing ring, having a cylindrical inner surface
to fit the rod to be packed and a spherical or zone shaped outer bearing surface
contained within a suitable receptacle to support the said packing ring in
operative position, the said spherical bearing surface permitting the packing ring
to rock and move freely and adjust itself to the movement and wear of the piston
rod.
Also in the packing and the packing receptacle having a bearing surface between
them, curved as hereinafter described, whereby the said ring is permitted to rock
freely and universally in the receptacle according to the requirements of the piston
rod, and also to be compressed by movement in a longitudinal direction over the
piston rod to compensate for wear.
Also in the packing ring having a zone shaped external bearing surface and
the receptacle therefore, combined with a spring and follower to press the said
ring into the receptacle to thereby wedge it into close contact with the piston
rod.
Also in the rod and partition through which it passes, combined with the
zone shaped packing ring and receptacle therefore, and the coupling to connect
the said receptacle to the said partition, it having a bearing for the said
receptacle, whereby the said receptacle is permitted to have free lateral
movement.
Also in the packing receptacle, packing ring therein, and follower and spring,
combined with a chock arranged to prevent the movement of the receptacle with
the packed rod, and thereafter to positively stop the said follower after the packing
has been moved from its bearing in the receptacle.
Also in a packing receptacle connected with the cylinder head or other partition
by a ball joint or spherical bearing surface, combined with packing having a
universal rocking movement in the said receptacle, as hereinafter described,
whereby the said receptacle is permitted to rock to accommodate lateral deviations
of the packed rod and the packing to rock to accommodate angular deviations of
the said rod and receptacle relative to one another.
Also in the packing receptacle connected with the cylinder head or other
partition, and having a curved or inclined outer surface, combined with a vertical
packed rod and the metallic packing located in the end of the said receptacle, and
wedged into close connection with the outside of the rod and the inside of the
receptacle, whereby water flowing along the packed rod is prevented from passing
between the rod and packing or entering the receptacle.
Also in the packing and its receptacle combined with the coupling to attach the
said receptacle to the cylinder head or partition, and an overhanging portion
or shield to cover and protect the joint between the said receptacle and its
coupling.
Also in the rod, its packing, and the receptacle therefor, and spring to press the
said packing to its seat or bearing, combined with an independent spring to press
the receptacle to its bearing in the partition that the packed rod is to enter.
Also in the packing provided with a spherical bearing surface and the receptacle
therefore, combined with the coupling for the said receptacle, the said coupling and
receptacle baving a spherical bearing surface, as hereinafter described, whereby
the said packing may have a universal movement to enable it to accompany
and properly fit the packed rod in its deviations from a true rectilinear
movement.
Also in the packing and its receptacle connected with the partition through
which packed rod enters by a joint permitting movement of the said receptacle
relative to the partition, combined with a shield to cover and protect the said
joint.
In steam engines as commonly constructed using the ordinary D slide valve
the valve stem is not positively connected with the valve, but usually terminates

page_text: in a yoke or bridle which embraces the said valve to cause it to accompany the
said valve stem in its movements relative to the valve seat and parallel therewith,
but permits an independent movement of the valve at right angles to its seat, so
that it will always be brought to a close bearing thereon by its weight or the
pressure of the steam without bringing any strain upon the valve stem as the face
of the valve and its seat wear away.
By this arrangement the valve and its seat afford no support for the valve stem
and its yoke, the weight of which is wholly sustained upon the bearing or packing
through which it enters the steam chest, and this Invention consists partly in
interposing between the valve and the yoke or bridle of the valve stem an
elliptical spring, which is shown as resting upon the outer flange of the valve at
its extremities and bearing upon it at its middle or curved portion the yoke or
bridle of the valve stem, the weight of which is thus supported primarily upon
the said opening, and secondarily upon the valve and its sent, so that the bearing
or packed passage through which it enters the steam chest is thus relieved of its
weight and the consequent friction and wear due thereto.
The valve stem supported in this way still permits the independent movement
of the valve in a direction at right angles to its seat, upon which it is pressed with
the additional weight of the valve stem transmitted through the said spring.
It is preferable in practice to so adjust the spring that its force is somewhat
more than the weight of the valve stein, when the latter is resting on its normal
position upon it, so that when the engine is first constructed the valve stem will
have a slight upward pressure upon its bearing in the end of the steam chest, and
thus as the valve wears away it will relieve the said spring until it first just
balances the valve stem, and finally no longer wholly balances it but allows it to
bear with a portion of its weight upon the lower side of its bearing in the steam
chest.
By this plan the wear will be distributed over the upper and under sides of the
bearing of the valve stem, instead of being confined wholly to the under side as it
would be if the spring just balanced the weight of the said stem before the valve
had begun to wear away.
The shape of the spring employed will vary somewhat according to the con-
struction of the steam chest and enclosed parts. When the valve stem is provided
with a yoke which surrounds the exhaust chamber or hollow portion of the valve,
the spring will preferably be formed as a rectangular frame of suitable size to just
pass over the said chamber and rest upon the flanges thereof.
The said frame is curved so that one pair of parallel sides form two elliptical
springs, the function of the other two sides being merely to retain the spring sides
in proper position. When the steam chest is too narrow to permit a yoke to
be used upon the valve stem, or when for other reasons the construction known as
a bridle is employed, two independent springs may be employed, they being
fastened to the said bridle by bolts or otherwise secured in proper position between
the valve and bridle.
The packing employed for the valve stem and which is equally applicable to a
piston rod forins another portion of the Invention, having for its object to produce
a more simple and readily constructed packing than those heretofore in use, the
same being self adjusting to compensate for wear and for irregularities in the
movement of the packed rod.
In one kind of metallic packing heretofore in use a rocking cup or receptacle is
employed having a spherical bearing piece upon the cylinder head, or a packing
case fixed thereto and having a conical or tapering passage through which the
piston rod passes.
The packing rings in this construction are made conical on their outside to fit
the passage in the said cup or receptacle, and cylindrical on their inside to fit the
piston rod. The object in making the packing rings and their socket in the
rocking cup tapering is to enable the said rings to be constantly wedged up to a
tight bearing upon the piston rod.

page_text: The spherical bearing piece in connection with the cup permits it to rock to
enable the packing rings to conform to the piston rod if the latter in its recipro-
cation deviates from the direct line owing to wear in its guides or from other
catises.
This present Invention has for its object to enable the spherical bearing pieces to
be dispensed with without loosing anything in the adjustability of the packing to
irregularities in the movement of the piston rod, thus simplifying and cheapening
the construction of the parts and making the packing move compact and
convenient.
The packing ring itself has a spherical or zone shaped exterior, and is contained
within a packing receptacle which supports the packing ring and permits the latter
to both rock and be moved longitudinally in the receptacle according to the
requirements of the piston rod, and to compensate for wear.
The surface of the ring and receiver in contact are of such shape that the wear
occuring between the ring and piston rod is compensated for automatically by
pressing the packing ring by a suitable follower and spring or by the fluid
pressure more deeply into the socket, the ring which may be split being thereby
closed or contracted to fit the piston rod.
The packing receptacle is connected with the cylinder head by a suitable union
or coupling in such manner that it has a free lateral movement to compensate for
deviations from right line movement of the rod.
The packing with slight modifications is specially adapted to be used in con-
nection with the air pumps employed on locomotives for compressing air to operate
the automatic train brakes now commonly used, it rendering the operation of such
pumps under certain circumstances more certain and effective than when provided
with ordinary stuffing boxes in the usual manner.
In this modification the packing receptacle where connected with the cylinder
head is shown as provided with a spherical bearing admitting of a universal
rocking movement, the said bearing surface having a different centre of motion
from the bearing surface of the packing in the said receptacle, so that by means
of these two spherical or ball-joints a universal adjustment is accomplished for
both lateral and angular deviations of the rod similar to that accomplished in the
other construction by one ball and one plane joint giving a rocking and sliding
movement.
In the air pumps before mentioned, which are used in connection with the well
known Westinghouse compressed air brakes, the air compressing cylinder is usually
placed vertically beneath the steam cylinder, and a single piston rod forms the
direct connection between the pistons in the said two cylinders.
By this arrangement the lower cylinder employed for pumping the surrounding
atmosphere into a receiver follows the changes of temperature of the atmosphere,
and in cold weather the steam which leaks or escapes from the upper cylinder
condenses and runs down as water upon the piston rod whence it finds its way,
where an ordinary stuffing box is used, into the fibrous packing thereof, and
sometimes passes into the air cylinder; and as soon as the pump is at rest, if the
weather be very cold, the water will freeze in the said air cylinder and stuffing
box, and thus prevent the proper action of the air pump, and put it in danger of
being broken or injured in its subsequent operation.
The packing ring employed in this Invention fits so closely to the piston rod
that any water which may run down the said rod will be caused to pass over the
outside of the said packing instead of between it and the rod and the packing
receptacle, and the union or coupling by which it is connected with the cylinder
head are so shaped that the said water shall always have a free passage over the
outside of the said parts, and be prevented from entering at any point within
the cylinder or into any joint between the working parts.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a steam chest containing a valve, valve stem, and
packing constructed in accordance with this Invention; Figure 2, a similar view
of the packing on a larger scale; Figure 3, a top view of the valve and the end of

page_text: the valve stem and its connected yoke detached; Figure 4, a rear elevation thereof;
Figure 5, a plan view of the supporting springs detached; Figure 6, a plan and
side elevation of a modified form of spring adapted to be used with a bridle
connection; Figure 7, a plan view of a valve and valve stem connected therewith
by a bridle instead of a yoke, and Figures 8 and 9, sectional views of modifications
of the packing intended for use in connection with air pumps, or to prevent water
or other material from entering the cylinder from the outside.
The steam chest a, valve seat b therein, slide valve c, c¹, and valve stem d with
its connecting yoke e may be of any usual construction, the said yoke permitting
an independent vertical movement of the valve c towards its seat b, and the said
valve of itself providing no support for the weight of the valve stem and yoke.
In order to relieve the packing f, hereinafter fully described, of the weight of
the said valve stem d and yoke e, which would otherwise be borne thereon, two
supporting springs g, h, are interposed between the flange portion c¹ of the valve
and the yoke e which thus rests upon the said springs, by means of which its
weight is sustained ultimately upon the valve seat b instead of on the packing f
without however interfering with the independent movement of the valve c, c¹, in
the yoke e, so that the said valve is free to adjust itself in the usual manner to its
seat without bringing any strain upon the valve stem or its bearing.
In the form shown in Figure 5, the springs g, h, are connected by cross pieces i, j,
at their extremities, with which they form a rectangular frame of proper size to
just fit over the exhaust chamber c of the valve, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, so
that the said springs are retained in place without any fastening.
In some instances, owing to the design of the engine, there will not be sufficient
room for the connecting pieces i, j, at the ends of the valve chamber c, and in such
instances the well known bridle construction illustrated in Figure 7 is usually
employed instead of the yoke e to connect the valve stem d with the valve.
In such instances the springs g, h, may be of the form shown in Figure 6, they
being provided with a bolt-hole 2 or other means to enable them to be readily
fastened to the underside of the yoke or bridle; or they may be forked or slotted
at their ends, as shown at 3, to embrace suitable studs on the flange portion c¹ of
the valve.
The springs g, h, will preferably be of such curvature and stiffness that when first
put in place, as shown in Figure 1, before the face of the valve and its seat are
worn away, the said springs will exert a pressure on the yoke e more than sufficient
to balance its weight, so that the valve stem will have a slight upward pressure
on the packing f, and the tendency to wear will be greater at the upper side 4 of
the valve stem than at the under side thereof; but as the valve and its seat wear
away the said valve will drop relative to the yoke e and thus relieve the spring,
until finally it fails to wholly sustain the weight of the valve stem which will
then bear more forcibly on its under than on its upper side.
It will be seen that an elliptical spring, such as berein shown, can be used in the
narrow space between the valve and yoke or bridle to support the latter at just
the proper height, while if it were attempted to use spiral springs acting longi-
tudinally across the said narrow space it would be impossible to obtain a uniform
distribution of the pressure, or to retain the said pressure sufficiently nearly
uniform in total amount for any length of time.
In the packing f, shewn in Figures 2, 8, and 9, the packing receptacle k is
connected with the cylinder head or other partition m, through which the packed
rod d passes by the union or coupling 1, shown in Figure 2 as fastened to the
cylinder head m, or the usual stuffing box projection m³ thereon by bolts n, the
said receptacle being free to move laterally on its bearing 5 on the said coupling
to compensate for lateral vibration or change in position of the rod d.
In the form shown in Figures 8 and 9, the coupling is screwed directly upon
the projection m³, and has a spherical or ball and socket bearing b for the
receptacle k.
The said packing receptacle k is provided internally with a curved socket

page_text: furnishing a bearing surface 7 shaped as a zone of a sphere to receive and support
the packing rings o zone shaped externally to properly fit within the said socket,
and shaped internally to bear evenly on the outside of the packed rod d.
The packing rings o will preferably be acted upon as usual by the follower p
and springs to press the packing rings into their socket in the direction of the
arrow 8, the pressure of the steam or other fluid in the cylinder also having the
same tendency.
Owing to the spherical shape of the bearing surface 7 between the packing
receptacle and the packing rings o, the latter are perfectly free to rock in any
direction, and to permit the inner bearing surfaces of the packing rings to remain
always in contact with the packed rod d, and since the internal bearing surface of
the receptacle is of larger diameter at one than at the other end, the packing rings
when pressed into the receptacle in the direction of the arrow 8 will quickly and
easily be wedged or contracted by the said surface 7 into close contact with the packed
rod d, the spherical surface between the ring and the receptacle, as herein shown
and described, performing the functions of the conical surface in the packings
heretofore in use, and also of the rocking bearing piece.
In this Invention the packing itself always has a free rocking movement, and as
it wears will also sink more deeply into the packing receptacle in the direction of
the arrow 8, and will thus always maintain a tight fit on the packed rod.
The chock t upon which the spring 8 in this instance has its bearing prevents
the packing receptacle k from being carried back in a direction opposite to the
arrow 8, in case the packing adheres to the rod a when moved in that direction;
and the said chock is arranged, as shown, to permit the follower p and packing o
to move a small amount in this direction after the receptacle k has been stopped,
to thus remove the packing slightly from its bearing in the current surface 7, 80
that it will no longer be pressed or wedged thereby against the rod d.
After a sufficient movement to thus relieve the pressure on the packing, the
follower is itself positively stopped by the chock t, and the adhesion between the
rod and packing overcome without bringing too great a strain upon the spring 8,
which without the arrangement of the chock t would have to overcome the said
adhesion by the gradual increase in pressure, or usually by the shock received
when the coils of the spring are brought wholly together, thus straining the said
spring.
It is not necessary that the coupling should have its bearing on the extreme
end of the packing receptacle k, as shown in Figure 2, the said receptacle being in
some instances provided with a shoulder or flange to be engaged by the said
coupling, in which case the said receptacle may extend out from the partition m
beyond the said union 7, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.
One or more packing rings like o may be employed, and they may be either split
or not as desired, it being found that the metal of which they are formed will
compress and conform itself to its socket and the piston rod as the latter acts upon
it to wear it away.
Packing rings have been made oval externally, but it is obvious that an oval-
surfaced ring cannot rock freely as can the zone-shaped ring, the bearing surface of
which is a portion of a perfect sphere.
In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9, the packing receptacle k has a
shoulder made with a spherical surface 9, having a bearing in the union or
coupling screwed upon the partition m or tubular projection m¹ therefrom. This
spherical bearing surface of the packing receptacle le permits it to have a free
rocking movement in all directions, and in the said movement the packing ring o
is moved bodily from its position in line with the axis of the tubular projection m¹
and the rod b when in its normal position, so that when the said rod is bodily
moved from its central position in the opening m³ and passage m¹ through the
partition m, as shown in Figure 9, it rocks the packing receptacle on the bearing 9,
as shown, while the packing o rocks in its receptacle k to admit of the angular

page_text: deviation of the latter or the angular displacement of the rod d, which may take
place independently of or in connection with its lateral displacement, which is
shown greatly exaggerated in Figure 9.
In the form shown in Figure 8 the spring a reacts between the follower p and
the partition m, to which its force is transmitted through the bushing u and
bearing ring v of the said spring, which thus holds both the packing o up to its
bearing in the receptacle k, and the latter up to its bearing in the coupling or
union, but in the construction shown in Figure 9 an independent spring 8' is
employed to hold the packing receptacle up to its bearing in the coupling l.
In this construction the said packing receptacle k is provided with a shoulder 10
to receive the spring f, and the portion of the said receptacle which contains the
packing is made detachable from the portion having its bearing on the coupling 7,
the two portions being shown as screwed together at 12.
When the packing is employed in the air pump cylinder of a Westinghouse
brake apparatus, water of condensation from the steam cylinder above will some-
times run down the rod d, but the packing o is pressed so tightly upon the said
rod that the said water will not pass between the rod and packing, but will
flow over the outside of the said packing at the point 13.
In order to prevent this water from collecting upon the upper portion of the
packing receptacle or the coupling 7, by which the said receptacle is connected with
the partition m, as it would be likely to do if the parts were constructed as in the
form shown in Figure 2, the outer surface of the packing receptacle is made curved
or inclined, as shown at 14, to cause the said water to flow off at once, and in order
to prevent this water from entering the space at 15, between the packing receptacle
and the coupling g, an annular hood or shield w is placed around the receptacle k
above the said space 15, so that the water flowing down over the outer surface of
the receptacle k falls over upon the upper surface of the coupling g, which is also
curved or inclined, as shown, to shed the water, so that its falls upon the upper
surface of the partition m, where it can do no harm, and whence it may be led if
necessary by any suitable passage or channel.
In the construction shown in Figure 9 the screw-threaded flange w¹ of the upper
portion of the packing receptacle may be made to overhang the space 15, so as to
perform the function of the hood or shield w in preventing the water from entering
the said space 15, where it might freeze and interfere with the working of the
parts.
When the coupling is employed the shield w or bearing portion 9 will have to
be made detachable from the receptacle k.
The said shield may be made in two semicircular portions clamped together
tightly on the receptacle k, which may have a shallow annular groove therefor, or
in the construction shown in Figure 8 the shield w may be made as an annular
ring, and fitted tightly or screwed upon the said receptacle.
It is obvious that the packing receptacle k might have its spherical bearing in
the partition m suitably connected therefore, and the coupling would in such
construction be dispensed with.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
1st. The valve and its stem connected therewith, and adapted to permit
independent movement of the valve to and from its seat, combined with the
elliptical springs g, h, adapted to be held in place between the said valve and valve
stem, whereby the said valve stem is supported and its packed bearing relieved of
its weight, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2nd. The elliptical springs g, h, combined with the connecting pieces i, j, forming
there with a rectangular frame adapted to fit over the exhaust chamber of a valve,
and to be held in proper position thereby to provide a support for the valve stem,
substantially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 3rd. The herein described packing ring having a cylindrical inner surface to fit
the rod to be packed, and a spherical or zone shaped outer bearing surface contained
within a suitable receptacle to support the said packing ring in operative position,
as described, the said spherical bearing surface permitting the packing ring to
rock and move freely and adjust itself to the movement and wear of the piston rod,
substantially as described.
4th. The packing and the packing receptacle having a bearing surface 7 between
them curved as described, whereby the said ring is permitted to rock freely and
universally in the receptacle according to the requirements of the piston rod and
also to be compressed by movement in a longitudinal direction over the piston rod
to compensate for wear, substantially as described.
臭
5th. The packing ring having a zone shaped external bearing surface and the
receptacle therefore, combined with a spring and follower to press the said ring into
its receptacle to thereby wedge it into close contact with the piston rod,
substantially as described.
6th. The rod and partition m through which it passes combined with the zone
shaped packing ring and receptacle therefore, and the coupling to connect the said
receptacle to the said partition, the coupling having a bearing for the said receptacle
whereby it is permitted to have free lateral movement, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
7th. The packing receptacle, packing ring therein, and follower and spring, com-
bined with the chock t, arranged to prevent the movement of the receptacle with
the packed rod, and thereafter to positively stop the said follower after the packing
has been moved from its bearing in the receptacle, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
8th. A packing receptacle connected with the cylinder head or other partition
by a ball joint or spherical bearing surface combined with packing having a
universal rocking movement in the said receptacle as described, whereby the said
receptacle is permitted to rock to accommodate lateral deviations of the packed
rod and the packing to rock to accommodate angular deviations of the said
rod and receptacle relative to one another, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
9th. The packing receptacle connected with the cylinder head or other partition,
and having a curved or inclined outer surface combined with the vertical packed
rod and the metallic packing located in the end of the said receptacle, and wedged
into close connection with the outside of the rod and the inside of the receptacle,
whereby water flowing along the packed rod is prevented from passing between
the rod and packing or entering the receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
10th. The packing and its receptacle combined with the coupling to attach the
said receptacle to the cylinder head or partition, and an overhanging portion or
shield to cover and protect the joint between the said receptacle and its coupling,
substantially as described.
11th. The rod, its packing, and the receptacle therefore, and the spring 8 to press
the said packing to its seat or bearing, combined with an independent spring 8¹ to
press the receptacle to its bearing in the partition that the packed rod is to enter,
substantially as described.
12th. The packing provided with a spherical bearing surface and the receptacle
therefore combined with the coupling for the said receptacle, the said coupling and
receptacle having a spherical bearing surface as described, whereby the said
packing may have a universal movement to enable it to accompany and properly
fit the packed rod in its deviations from a true rectilinear movement, substantially
as described.
13th. The packing and its receptacle connected as described with the partition
through which the packed rod enters by a joint, permitting movement of the said

page_text: receptacle relative to the partition, combined with a shield w to cover and protect
the said joint, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WP. MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)