Improvements in and relating to Packing for Piston Rods, Valve Rods, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Packing for Piston Rods, Valve
Rods, and the like.
We, FRANCIS PATRICK MARTIN, of Easton in the County of Northampton
and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Machinist, and JOHN
THOMAS MARTIN of Scranton in the County of Lackawanna and State of
Pennsylvania United States of America, Attorney at Law 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 :-
Our invention relates to packings for rods, valve-stems, and other similar
purposes, and the object thereof is to provide a steam packing, consisting of a
series, comprising any required number of similar, cleft packing rings encircling the
rod, each ring lying within a separate chamber, closed save as to the openings for
the admission of steam behind the rings, the construction being such that the
packing may be built up, or extended, to any suitable degree according to the
length of the stuffing box.
Another object is to combine with the cleft packing rings and with the piston-
rod, or valve-stem, wear-plates which lie upon each side of the packing rings and
have an opening closely fitting the rod, whereby, should there be any play of the
rod, the packing-rings and wear-plates will move together, in contradistinction to
one sliding, or moving upon the other thus avoiding any perceptible, or material
wear upon these parts..
Another object is to provide a ring adapted to separate two adjacent ring-
chambers from each other, said ring being so constructed that it will hold the
separating rings upon each side thereof at such distance therefrom as to permit the
introduction of the cleft-packing rings, together with the wear plates, if desired,
and prevent said separating rings from being crowded against the packing rings,
thereby preventing said rings from interfering with the free play of the packing-
rings, and from obstructing their compression and release.
Another object also, to provide novel means whereby a steam-tight joint may be
formed by the insertion of the gland within the end of the stuffing box, and
whereby, also, a delicate and accurate adjustment may be made to compensate for
wear, or for differences in the length of the stuffing boxes in different engines.
Our invention also comprises certain novel improvements in construction, whereby
the steam thrown in behind the packing rings may be taken from different points:
in certain novel forms of construction for uniting the divided sections of the parts
enclosing and separating the packing-rings; and finally in various modifications of
construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the packing is adapted to modified
forms of stuffing-boxes, to different means for closing the same, and to the different
methods of admitting the steam which is thrown in behind the packing rings.
A still further object is to combine with the steam-housing containing the
packing, an outer enclosing box and to provide means whereby the steam may have
free passage to the interior of the steam-housing, in order that it may exert its
force upon the outer faces or backs of the packing-rings and clamp them upon
the rod.
The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and new
combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a stuffing box provided with our
invention and closed by a gland having our improvements connected with, or
embodied in the same.

page_text: Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of one form of separating ring lying between
the ring chambers.
Figure 3 is a diametrical longitudinal section of a gland and stuffing-box showing
a slight modification in construction and arrangement of parts.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing a modification of the form and
arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 4.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation showing one manner of forming the steam-joint
at the mouth of the stuffing-box, and illustrating one method of using the gland to
compress the sealing ring upon the end of the housing.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, in the said drawings, the reference
numeral designates the stuffing-box of any ordinary cylinder which differs from
the latter only in that it may have a perfectly flat face upon the outer surface of the
cylinder-end enclosed by said stuffing-box.
Within the stuffing-box 1 and resting upon the face of the cylinder is placed a
washer 2 having a concave face adjacent to the cylinder, forming a steam-chamber 3
which receives live steam through the piston-opening 4, which passes through
grooves or chambers 5, formed in the periphery of said washer to permit the
unobstructed passage of the steam entering the chamber 3. This washer is
mounted loosely upon the rod 6, and its periphery may have a close fit upon the
inner wall of the stuffing-box, to prevent the ready escape of steam at any point.
save through the chamber 5.
Upon the rod 6 is next slipped a wear plate 7, preferably of circular form and
of less diameter than the washer 2 and lying against this wear plate which has a
central opening surrounding the rod closely, but not with such a degree of friction
as to compel it to bind upon the rod, is a cleft compressing and packing ring S.
A second wear plate 7, is now slipped upon the rod 6 and pushed up against or
nearly against the outer side of the packing ring 8, and against the outer face of
this second wear-plate rests a separating plate 9, having rings or lugs 10, which lie
parallel with the axis of the rod, or substantially so, and have their ends abutting
against the washer 2, outside the edge of the inner wear-plate 7. These rings or
lugs are of such length that while they hold the separating plate in place, they
also prevent it from being crowded against the second wear-plate in such a manner
as to drive said wear-plate against the packing ring 8 with such force as to
prevent the play of said packing rings with the piston rod.
From the outer face of the separating plate 9 extend in an opposite direction
similar lugs or rings 10 having the same length, and a third wear-plate 7 being
slipped on the rod and pushed up against the outer face of said separating plate
a second packing-ring 8 is placed on the rod and pushed up against the outer face
of this wear-plate, while an outer and similar wear-plate lies against the outer
face of the packing ring. The packing may be built up in this manner to any
extent, according to the length of the stuffing-box the winged separating plates
being provided with peripheral notches 12 for the passage of the steam, while
their edges between these notches meet the inner face of the stuffing box, or
substantially so. The construction of these separating plates is shown in detail in
Figure 2, from which it will be seen that instead of the lugs or wings 10, we may
use a continuous circular flange.
Referring again to Figure 1, if it is desired to insert one packing-ring only in
addition to the two described, we place upon the rod a separating plate 13, having
wings, or lugs 14, similar to the wings 10 already described. These wings 14
project outwardly and a packing ring 8, enclosed between two wear-plates 7 in the
manner already.described, is placed upon the rod 6, and an outer washer 15 is then
slipped on the rod until its inner face rests against the ends of the wings 14.
It is now necessary to close the mouth of the stuffing box in such a manner that it
shall be steam-tight and to accomplish this, we have devised the following means.
The reference numeral 16, denotes a gland of any ordinary construction save
that its inner end or face is not necessarily concaved to draw the stuffing against
the rod, as in former constructions, but may be perfectly flat. Closely surrounding
"

page_text: this gland, which is throughout of somewhat less diameter than the interior of
the stuffing-box, is placed a sleeve or annulus 17, of copper, or other suitable
material, which closely fits, but is movable upon the gland. The other face of this
ring is of a very gradual taper, or increasing thickness, from its inner towards its
outer edge which is provided with a strong collar 18, into which are tapped
bolts 19 having their heads resting against the inner face of the flange 20 upon
the gland. By turning these bolts in one direction the tapered annulus 17 may be
driven into the mouth of the stuffing-box with great force, forming a perfectly
tight steam joint, which will be free from leakage and being supported by the
gland it will not collapse under any degree of pressure. If desired, the inner
edge of the stuffing-box may be very slightly enlarged, flared or bevelled, to
prevent the sharp angle from scraping the metal of the annulus, and to secure a
closer fit, over a more extended surface. When the packing is sufficiently built
up, and the washer 15 in place, the gland is inserted until its inner end rests
against the said washer; the usual fastening bolts are connected to the ends, and
the bolts are turned to drive the annulus inward between the stuffing-box and the
gland, until the joint is perfect.
A. modification of this construction is shown in Figure 3, wherein the inner
washer 2, is similar to that shown in Figure 1, save that steam openings 21, are
drilled in its body, near the edge and communicating with the steam-chamber 3.
In this construction also, the washer 2 is provided with a flange 22 upon its outer
face, running entirely around the same, at a little distance within the edge, or
periphery, for a purpose presently to be explained.
A wear-plate 23 lies against the outer face of the washer 2, and between the said
wear-plate and an outer and similar one, the packing ring is enclosed in the manier
already set forth. Against this outer packing plate rests a separating plate or
ring 24, having a central opening large enough to permit some play to the rod, the
edge of said ring or plate being extended to the inner wall of the stuffing-box. Upon
each face of said ring is formed a circular flange 25, set back from the edge of a
distance equal to that of the flange 22 on the washer 2. A solid collar 26 rests
upon these flanges 22 and 25, the outer diameter of said collar being substantially
equal to the inner diameter of the stuffing-box, and by means of this collar the
separating ring 24 is prevented from crowding against the packing-ring.
Upon the opposite or outer face of the separating plate, a similar solid ring, or
collar, rests upon the outer flange 25, and the packing may be built up to any
extent in this manner, by simply inserting a separating plate 24, with its double
flange 25, between the second and third packing-rings, and so as far as desired.
When the series is completed, a washer 27, similar to the washer 15, in Figure 1,
is slipped upon the rod and pushed up against the outer edge of the last, or outer
solid ring, or collar 26, and the gland 16 is then inserted and pushed up against the
washer, being fastened in the usual manner. When the collars or rings 26 lie upon
the outer faces of the collars or flanges 25, the steam flowing through the drilled
openings 21 will pass also through similar openings 28, in the separating ring, or
plate, formed within the collars, or flanges 25, thus being thrown against the backs,
or outer edges of the packing-rings.
The solid collars, or rings 26, may be arranged inside the flanges 22 and 25, as
shown in Figure 4 and in this case we may drill steam-openings 29 in the cylinder
head, at the point where the inner face of the stuffing-box unites with the same.
With this construction, the periphery of the washer 30 lying against the cylinder
head, will be provided with transverse notches 31, with which radial channels 32
communicate. The said collars, or rings, in this arrangement, are provided with
steam openings 33, drilled or punched in about a central line, at suitable intervals
apart, by which the steam is admitted to the ring chambers and acts upon the
packing-rings.
In cases where we may desire to employ all the interior space possible, we may
use the arrangement of separating rings and solid rings shown in Figure 3, in
connection with the stuffing-box shown in Figure 4, wherein the steam openings 29

page_text: head.
are formed at the angle between the inner face of the stuffing-box and the cylinder
In this case, inasmuch as the outer faces of the solid rings 26 lic against the
wall of the stuffing-box, they will be provided with transverse channels, on their
outer faces, and the edge of the separating ring 24, will be provided with notches 12,
as shown in Figure 4 to allow the passage of the steam.
Referring now to Figure 5, it should be noted that where the size of the
stuffing-box permits, we may dress off the outer face of the exterior box, to give it
a tapering form, the box with this construction resembling a frustum of a cone, the
scalene angle being very small. In this tapered face a circular cushion 42 of soft
metal is inserted, part thereof having a diameter in excess, and part being of less
diameter than the interior of the stuffing-box. When the closed end of the hox 9
is inserted in the stuffing-box, the soft metal cushion will engage the edge of the
open mouth of said box and as it is forced therein the gradually expanding face of
the cushion will be driven more and more closely and forcibly against the edge and
inner face of the box 9 until a perfectly tight joint is formed. The steam housing
and packing used inside the box may be of any suitable form.
The box 9 is driven into the stuffing-box and the scaling-ring 39 is also pressed
into its open end by means of nuts 43, turned upon the threaded ends of bolts 44
rigidly connected to the cylinder head. These bolts pass through the lugs 12 of
the outer box and through the lugs 45 of the gland. This gland may be turned
end for end, and in either position the nuts 43 will be turned up against the lugs of
the gland to the required point.
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. In a rod packing, one or more ring-chambers, each consisting of two
wear-plates enclosing the packing ring, and moving with the play of the rod, and
two separating rings, or plates, one behind each wear-plate, said rings or plates
fitting the interior of the stuffing-box, and having central openings of a suitable
diameter, substantially as described.
Second. In a rod packing, the combination with a stuffing-box of a washer
resting against the cylinder-head, a wear-plate resting against the same, a cleft
packing-ring resting against the wear-plate, and enclosed on the other side by a
similar wear-plate a separator, plate or ring, having wings or circular flanges
projecting from its opposite faces at, or near its edge which meets the wall of the
stuffing-box, said wings or flanges meeting the washer on one side, and a similar
separating plate on the other, the latter having wings, or a flange upon its outer
face only, and a washer meeting the edge of said rings or flange, wear-plates being
placed against the washer and the plate or ring to enclose a cleft packing ring,
substantially as described.
Third. In a rod packing, a series of ring-chambers composed of separating plates
or rings meeting the wall of the stuffing-box and having passages for steam, each
plate or ring having on opposite faces circular flanges, solid rings engaging said
Hanges and guaging the width of the chamber, and a series of cleft packing-rings
arranged in said chambers, and enclosed by wear-plates mounted on and moving with
the cylinder, substantially as described.
Fourth. In a rod packing, the combination with a series of ring chambers,
separated by rings or plates, and containing cleft packing rings, of washers at each
end of the series, a gland of slightly less diameter than the stuffing-box, and having
a slight or gradual taper and an outwardly tapered ring, movable upon the gland
and adjusted by bolts, substantially as described.
Fifth. In a rod packing, a ring, or circular plate, having a central opening for
the rod, and provided upon its opposite surfaces with wings, or circular flanges,
adapted to engage solid rings which guage the width of the ring chamber, sub-
stantially as described.
Sixth. In a rod packing, the combination with the stuffing-box and piston, of a

page_text: steam cylinder, of an exterior box, containing the steam housing and its contained
packing, said exterior box having a soft metal cushion which slightly enters
the mouth of the stuffing-box and forms a tight joint, substantially as
described.
Seventh. In a rod packing, the combination with the stuffing box and piston rod
of a steam cylinder, of an exterior box having a tapered cylindrical face, and
provided with a soft metal cushion set in said face and adapted to partly enter the
mouth of the stuffing box, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of March 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.