Year: 1896

page_text: I, CHRISTIAN ALBERT JENSEN of No. 77 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from abroad by the Aktiebolaget de Lavals Angturbin
of No. 3 Fabriksgrand, Stockholm, Sweden, Manufacturers,) to be as follows:-
In steam engines, air compressors and the like the leakage of steam, gas or air
is usually avoided by means of stuffing boxes of different constructions. The
present invention refers to an improvement for that same object but the means
for packing in this case is intended to be applied to flexible shafts, such as for
instance, those which are used in rapidly revolving steam turbines. Such an
appliance has not been possible with the constructions hitherto known.
The packing in question consists of a sleeve, mounted on a flexible shaft. Said
sleeve is provided with annular grooves, which have for object to establish a tight
joint between the sleeve and the shaft. The sleeve is mounted on the shaft in
such a manner that it can follow the movements sideways or vibrations of the
shaft, without following its rotation. Preferably the sleeve is made of a material
that offers but little friction such as coal or graphite for instance.
A casing surrounds the sleeve in a similar manner as the casing of an ordinary
stuffing box except that it is larger in diameter internally than usual. In this
casing are secured two discs in such a manner that a tight joint is established
between the casing and the discs. Against one of these discs the sleeve is intended
to rest. The discs are made of more or less elastic material such as for instance
india rubber, so that they may establish a yielding yet tight joint between the
sleeve and the casing. The sleeve may always be in contact with both of the discs
all according to the construction.
If desired there may be only one disc or washer connected to the sleeve and the
casing and it not essential that it should be made of india rubber for it may be made
of very thin metal as long as it possesses sufficient elasticity to allow of the lateral
movement of the shaft.
By this arrangement, leakage of steam or fluid under pressure is avoided
namely at the inner end of the sleeve by means of the annular grooves, and outside
the sleeve by means of one of the discs."
Full liberty is given to the shaft to yield sideways or to vibrate, in which case
the sleeve is carried with the shaft and the disc is correspondingly distorted.
Dated this Sixteenth day of September 1896
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.

page_text: I, CHRISTIAN ALBERT JENSEN of No. 77 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from abroad by the Aktiebolaget de Lavals Angturbin of
3 Fabriksgrand Stockholm, Sweden, Manufacturers, and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:--
In steam engines air compressors and the like the leakage of steam, gas or air
is usually avoided by means of stuffing boxes of different constructions. The
present invention refers to an improvement for that same object, but the means
for pucking in question is especially intended to be applied to flexible shafts,
such for instance, which are used in rapidly revolving steam turbines. Such an
appliance has not been possible with the constructions hitherto known.
In the accompanying drawing the invention is shown in three modifications.
Fig. 1 shews in vertical section part of a flexible shaft provided with the said
packing device, Fig. 2 shews even in vertical section a modification of the con-
struction in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shews the third modification.
A, Fig. 1, indicates a sleeve, mounted on the flexible shaft A. Said sleeve
is provided with annular grooves A³, which have for object to establish a tight joint
between the sleeve and the shaft. The sleeve is mounted on the shaft in such a
manner, that it can follow the movement sideways or vibrations of the shaft, without
following its rotation. Preferably the sleeve is made of a material that offers but
little friction such as for instance coal carbon or graphite.
F is a casing surrounding the sleeve in a similar manner as the casing of an
ordinary stuffing box except that it is generally larger internally than usual.
In this casing F are secured two discs B and C in such a manner that a tight joint
is established between the casing and the discs. Against one of these discs the
sleeve A is intended to rest, namely against C if the pressure in the casing of the
engine is greater than that in the surrounding medium, and against B, if said
pressure is lower than in the surrounding medium. The discs are made of a more
or less elastic material, such as for instance of india rubber, so that they may
establish a yielding yet tight joint between the sleeve A and the casing F. The
sleeve may also be always in contact with both of the discs if it be made sufficiently
long.
By this arrangement, leakage of steam or fluid under pressure is avoided, viz.,
at the inner of the sleeve A by means of the annular grooves A', and outside tho
sleeve by means of the disc B or C.
Full liberty is given to the shaft to yield sidewise or to vibrate, in which case
the sleeve is carried with the shaft and the disc B or C is correspondingly put out of
centre or distorted.
In the modification shewn in Fig. 2, the sleeve A is not wholly situated between 4
two elastic discs, but is provided with a flange D, which rests against the disc B¹
or against the disc C¹ according to circumstances.
In Fig. 3 the discs B and C or B and C are omitted, the sleeve being fixed to
the surrounding casing F by means of an elastic membrane E, which makes tight
joint against the casing and against the sleeve.
In the same manner several other means may be employed for establishing
joint outside the sleeve, the only condition being, that the sleeve shall be elastically
connected with the surrounding casing F, and it is not essential that the elastic
membrane should be made of india rubber, for it may be made of thin metal as

page_text: long as it possesses sufficient clasticity to allow of the lateral movement of the
shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination with a flexible shaft, of a sleeve, mounted on the shaft
and making a tight joint with the same, a casing surrounding the sleeve, and means
for establishing an elastic and tight joint between the sleeve and the casing,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2 The combination with a flexible shaft, of a sleeve mounted on the shaft and
provided with annular grooves for making a tight joint with the shaft, and a casing
surrounding the sleeve and provided with a disc of elastic material, resting against
the sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a flexible shaft, of a sleeve mounted on the shaft and
provided with annular grooves for making a tight joint with the shaft, a casing,
surrounding the sleeve and provided with a disc of elastic material, and a disc or
ring on the sleeve, resting against said elastic disc, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. The constructions of packing devices for revolving shafts, shewn on the
drawings.
Dated this Eleventa day of June 1897.
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.