Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 4th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Mar., 1887.
1, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the packing ordinarily used in the stuffing boxes of Steam
Engines, Gas Engines, or other Engines of the like kind.
The improved packing consists essentially of fine brass wire, plaited or twisted in
the form of cords, oval, circular, square or flat, in section; of any desired thickness
and dimensions, for use in the stuffing boxes for the piston rods, valve spindles, or other
parts of steam Engines of all kinds, and of gas Engines, compressed air Engines,
and other Engines of the like kind.
The packing ordinarily heretofore used for such purposes, such for instance as
hemp, cotton, india-rubber, or asbestos, has the disadvantage that it is liable to groove
or cut the piston or other rod round which it is fitted, by reason of the force with
which it is necessary to press it down in the stuffing box, great friction and loss of
power being also thus caused.
In the improved packing which forms the subject of the present invention, the fine
brass wires which form the metallic packing possess a softness and flexibility without
any loss of the qualities necessary for a tight and efficient packing.
To attain this result, in the centre of the strands of fine brass wire described, is
arranged a central core or foundation round which are plaited or twisted the brass
wires against which the piston or other rod works. This central core forms a kind of

page_text: itself
cushion, supporting the external part which has to sustain the friction, and it may
be made of fine brass wire, galvanized iron or steel wire, or in the form of a rope of
hemp, cotton, asbestos, india rubber, lead, or other suitable material.
The external part of the packing, plaited or twisted in any desired form, such as
square, flat, or circular, in section, is always made of fine brass wire, which furnishes
sufficient resistance, bears friction well, and does not oxidise.
The improved packing is used in an ordinary stuffing box, consisting of a recess
containing the packing which is compressed by a gland forced down by two or more
bolts or screws.
By the use of the improved packing, the working of the piston or other rods
very smooth and easy, wear is considerably reduced, and grooving or cutting of the
rod is prevented.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: A communication to me from abroad by ARMAND PAUL DUVAL, of Boulevard St.
Germain, Paris, in the Republic of France.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers
of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, 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 (and accompanying drawing) that is to say :---
This invention relates to the packing ordinarily used in the stuffing boxes of steam
Engines, gas Engines, or other Engines of the like kind.
The improved packing consists essentially of fine brass wire, plaited or twisted in
the form of cords, oval, circular, square or flat, in section; of any desired thickness
and dimensions, for use in the stuffing boxes for the piston rods, valve spindles, or
other parts of steam Engines of all kinds, and of gas Engines, compressed air Engines,
and other Engines of the like kind.
The packing ordinarily heretofore used for such purposes, such for instance as
hemp, cotton, india rubber, or asbestos, has the disadvantage that it is liable to groove
or cut the piston or other rod round which it is fitted, by reason of the force with
which it is necessary to press it down in the stuffing box, great friction and loss of
power being also thus caused.
In the improved packing which forms the subject of the present invention, the fine
brass wires which form the metallic packing possess a softness and flexibility without
any loss of the qualities necessary for a tight and efficient packing.
To attain this result, in the centre of the strands of fine brass wire described, is
preferably arranged a central core or foundation round which are plaited or twisted
the brass wires against which the piston or other rod works. This central core forms
a kind of cushion, supporting the external part which has to sustain the friction, and
it may itself be made of fine brass wire, galvanized iron or steel wire wire, or in
the form of a rope of hemp, cotton, asbestos, india rubber, lead, or other suitable
material.
The external part of the packing, plaited or twisted in any desired form, such as
square, flat, or circular, in section, is always made of fine brass wire, which furnishes
sufficient resistance, bears friction well, and does not oxidise.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of the invention, figure 1
represents a vertical section through an ordinary stuffing box, A being the piston rod,
B the cylinder cover, C the gland, D tightening bolts, and E the improved packing.

page_text: Figure 2 shews the packing of fine brass wires plated.
Figure 3 similar packing twisted.
Figure 4 similar packing square in section and plaited or braided. Figure 5 shews
the wire packing plaited round a central core.
The improved packing is used in an ordinary stuffing box, consisting of a recess
containing the packing which is compressed by a gland forced down by two or more
bolts or screws, as shown in figure 1.
By the use of the improved packing, the working of the piston or other rods is very
smooth and easy, wear is considerably reduced, and grooving or cutting of the rod is
prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
The method of applying fine brass wires for the purpose of packing stuffing boxes,
substantially as described and shewn in the drawing.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Inventor.