Year: 1888

page_text: I, FRIEDRICH OSWALD FRANKE, residing at Langgasse, St. Gall, Switzerland,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This metallic packing comprises two bodies, triangular in section, forming two
helices. These are screwed one into the other, as a screw into a nut, and are thus
of cylindrical form. The inner surface is adapted to be pressed against a piston or
other rod, while the outer surface or circumference is pressed against the inside of the
stuffing-box. In producing an endways pressure, the packing becomes tight on the
side of the piston rod as well as on the side of the stuffing-box.
The gland of the stuffing-box is in two parts: one part forms the flange or
collar, the other, the box; and they are kept apart by strong spiral springs. When
the flange is tightened by the usual screws and nuts (with which it is fitted),
the pressure of the springs alone acts on the packing, and automatically tightens
it as it wears; the pressure of the springs remaining the same in the direction of
the piston rod.
Dated this 17th day of February 1888
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stuffing Boxes and Packing therefor.
I, FRIEDRICH OSWALD FRANKE, residing at Langgasse, St. Gall, Switzerland,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
may be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide engines of all descriptions with a
stuffing-box packing which is absolutely tight without running hot, which produces
the minimum of friction for the piston-rod, and which when wearing off, tightens
itself automatically.
For this purpose, as shown in the annexed drawing, I combine two helical, metallic
bodies, of triangular section, a and b, Fig. 1, which fit one into the other, like a screw
in a nut. The inner part a forming the screw is pressed against the rod, and the
outer part or the nut, against the inside of the stuffing-box. The tightening on
both sides is produced by a pressure exerted on the packing in the direction of
the rod.
The gland of the stuffing-box is composed of two separate pieces; one forms the
flange or collar A, the other the box B, Figs. (1 and 2). They are kept apart by a
number (3) of helical springs c, which are maintained in cylindrical cavities c¹ of the
flange and box, placed opposite each other. In tightening the flange with the nuts d,
the springs c alone exert a pressure on the box B and consequently on the packing.
During the wearing out of the packing, the tightness is maintained automatically by
the springs c, their pressure operating continually in the direction of the rod, so that
no retightening is necessary by means of the nuts. When the packing can not be
passed over the rod, or when a new packing is necessary and the parts are .not to
be dismounted, the packing can be made in two or more parts separated by interposed
longitudinal cuts.
Having now particularly described the nature of my invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare, that I claim :
1. A metallic stuffing-box packing, composed of two helical bodies a and b of
triangular section.
2. A metallic stuffing-box packing, composed of two helical bodies a and 6 of
triangular section, in combination with the stuffing-box gland composed of flange A
and box B with interposed springs c boxed in the cavities c', as described and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 15th day of October 1888.