Improvements in Metallic Packing for Rendering Joints I Fluid Tight.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1892-Accepted, 16th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Packing for Rendering Joints
I
Fluid Tight.
I FRANK REDDAWAY of Cheltenham Street, Pendleton in the County of
Lancaster Manufacturer of Machine Belting do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to improved means for rendering joints fluid tight and
especially joints consisting of two flat contact surfaces as for instance in the jointing
of pipes, cylinder and steam chest covers and all joints which at present require to
be faced or packed with red lead or other packing substitute as is well understood.
My improvement consists in interposing between the contact surfaces before they
are screwed together a strip or ring or frame of metal softer than the metal of the
joint or surfaces to be packed. For instance I find that copper is a suitable metal
for my purpose. In packing circular joints I prefer to use a ring of a suitable
diameter.
"
The section of the ring presents a double "vee" on each side, the "vees
coming to a sharp edge. The consequence is that when placed between the
contact surfaces and screwed up the "vee" ridges are compressed and flattened by
the pressure, the comparatively soft metal of the ring ensuring fluid tight contact
on each side.
I consider that it is preferable to have two of the said "vee" ridges in the
section, but I might have one or more than two.
A metal sufficiently soft other than copper might be used.
For making
rectangular or other shaped joints the packing material might be applied in strips
or in frames or portions of configuration corresponding in shape to the joint.
Dated this 17th day of September 1891.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James' Square, Manchester, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Packing for Rendering Joints
Fluid Tight.
I FRANK REDDAWAY of Cheltenham Street, Pendleton, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer of Machine Belting, 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
drawings:-
:-
My said invention relates to improved means for rendering joints fluid-tight, and
especially joints consisting of two flat contact surfaces, as for instance in the
jointing of pipes, cylinder and steam chest covers and all joints which at present
require to be faced and packed, with red lead or other packing substitute, as is
well understood. My improvement consists in interposing between the contact
surfaces before they are screwed together, a strip or ring, or frame of metal, of
special formation softer than the metal of the joint or surfaces to be packed. For
instance, I find that copper, or lead alone, or in conjunction, are suitable metals for
my purpose. In packing circular joints, I use a ring of a suitable diameter having
vee" shaped ridges on each side. In some cases I fill the channel or channels
between the ridges with a softer metal. The consequence is, that when placed
between the contact surfaces, and screwed up the " vee" ridges are compressed and
66
[Price I

page_text: flattened by the pressure, the comparatively soft metal of the ring, ensuring fluid-
tight contact on each side. A metal sufficiently soft, other than copper or lead
might be used. For making rectangular or other shaped joints the packing
material might be applied in strips, or in frames, or portions of configuration
corresponding in shape to the joint.
To render my invention more clear, I have annexed hereto a sheet of illustrative
drawings, to which I will now refer.
Fig. 1 of the said drawings is a sectional view of a packing ring suitable for
packing a pipe joint for example.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same ring.
The portion a of the packing, constitutes a grooved or channeled ring of some
suitable metal, such for example as copper. A groove or channel exists on each
side of the ring, and is filled with a soft metal 6 such as lead, the lead being run
into the grooves, and shaped so as to present an annular "vee" edge or apex, on
each side, as clearly shown in the drawings.
The ring a of copper or other suitable metal, thus constitutes a foundation or
frame, to contain and support the softer metal .
When a ring of this description is placed between the contact surfaces of two
lengths of pipe, (as shown at Fig. 3) which it is desired to connect, with a fluid-
tight joint and screwed up by means of the usual bolts, the "vee" edges of the
ring are compressed and flattened at the apex the flattened edges of the ring
accommodating themselves to any slight inequalities of the contact surfaces, of the
two lengths of pipe and so ensuring a fluid tight joint all round. There might be
one two or more "vee" edges on the packing ring.
Fig. 4 represents a section of a packing having three ridges on each side. Such
a packing or a packing having two ridges on each side might be used without the
fillings b. The packing might either be in the form of a ring as shown, or it might
be in the form of a square, rectangular, or other shaped frame or it might be
applied in strips or portions of configurations corresponding in form, to the joint.
I have instanced copper and lead as suitable metals from which to form the packing
but it might be made of any other suitable metal or metals or alloys of the requisite
degree of softness, that is to say not so soft as to be wholly crushed between the
joint, nor so hard as to cut into the contact surfaces of the joint.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
As means for packing or rendering joints fluid-tight, the homogeneous or com-
pound rings, frames, or strips, having "vee" shaped edges or ridges and made of
suitably soft metal or metals or alloy, formed and applied substantially as described
and shown..
Dated this 3rd day of June 198
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.