Improvements in Packing for use in Engines and other Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Packing for use in Engines and other Machines.
We, JOHN ELLIOT, of the Firs, Belvedere, Surgeon, and AMOS CREED, of 6 Rose
Cottages, Belvedere, Engine-driver's Assistant, both in the County of Kent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to packing for use in engines and other machines.
Hemp, India-rubber, asbestos, metallic and other packings hitherto usually employed,
require constant attention and the application of a considerable amount of oil or
other lubricant, in order to insure satisfactory results. They are moreover liable in a
greater or lesser degree to cause excessive wear of, and to groove, the piston-rod,
valve-spindle or other reciprocating or rotating part round which they are employed
to form a tight joint. The said packings are also open to various other objections.
The object of our invention is to provide an improved packing for use in engines.
and other machines that will require little or no lubrication, will be extremely durable,
and which will reduce the amount of friction, and consequently the wear of the parts
to a minimum.
Our improved packing moreover can also be very advantageously applied for packing
pistons instead of the metallic rings hitherto employed, and for valve seatings.
In carrying our said invention into practice we provide rings, strips, segments
or any other suitably shaped pieces of cork of the requisite dimensions to fit into the
stuffing box which it is intended to pack. The said piece or pieces of cork are placed
in the said stuffing box, and the gland is placed in position and screwed up in the
usual manner.
In some instances we cut the cork into segments or pieces of similar shape to that
employed in any well known metallic packing.
We employ moreover rings or segments of cork as a substitute for the metal piston
rings now in use. In this case springs formed of steel or other suitable material
may be employed to cause the said rings to expand and bear against the surface of
the cylinder, or the natural elasticity of the cork may be utilized for this purpose.
We also employ cork for valve-seatings in marine, locomotive or stationary engines
or other machines.
A much smaller amount of lubrication is necessary with cork than with other
packing, and moreover the amount of wear is inappreciable. Cork therefore forms an
exceedingly advantageous material for steam, hydraulic or other packing, in any case
where a tight joint has to be made round a reciprocating or rotating part of a
machine.
Dated thin and do T1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Packing for use in Engines and other Machines.
We, JOHN ELLIOT, of the Firs, Belvedere, Surgeon, and AMOS CREED, of 6 Rose
Cottages, Belvedere, Engine-driver's Assistant, both in the County of Kent, 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 packing for use in steam-engines and other machines.
The packing hitherto usually employed is composed of substances such as hemp, India
rubber, asbestos or different kinds of metal, and requires constant, or very frequent
attention and the application of a considerable amount of oil or other lubricant in
:-

page_text: order to ensure satisfactory results. Moreover some of the kinds of packing heretofore
used are more or less liable to cause excessive wear of the piston-rods, valve-spindles,
shafts and other reciprocating or rotating parts around which they are employed to
form steam or water-tight joints, and are, in some instances, liable to form grooves in
the said rods or spindles; they are also open to other objections.
The main object of our invention is to provide an improved packing for use in
steam and other engines and in hydraulic and other machines, which will not require,
or will require but little lubrication, and which will, nevertheless, be very durable,
and will reduce the amount of friction and consequently the wear of the parts to a
minimum.
We have discovered that cork possesses properties which render it very useful for
the
purpose of our invention.
In carrying our said invention into practice, therefore, we provide rings, strips,
segments or other suitably shaped pieces of cork of the requisite dimensions to fit into
the stuffing-box'in which the packing is to be used. We find it advantageous to combine,
with the pieces of cork, wire-gauze or the like, which is either placed upon the said
pieces of cork and united therewith by pressure, or is interwoven with the cork.
We thus strengthen or stiffen the rings or seginents of cork and increase their
durability. These rings or other pieces of cork are placed in the stuffing-box so that
they fit closely around the rod, spindle or shaft; and the gland is inserted and screwed
up in the usual manner.
In some instances, we cut the cork into segments and arrange these segments in
layers so that those of one layer form break-joints with those of the adjacent layer or
layers, in the manner usually adopted with metallic packing. Or we employ the
cork in the form of fine fibre, flakes, chippings, meal or powder enclosed in a canvas
or other suitable casing. In this form it may be coiled in the stuffing-box around the
rod or spindle to be packed; and the gland can then be inserted and screwed up in
the usual manner.
A much smaller amount of lubrication is necessary with cork than with other
packing; moreover the amount of wear is inappreciable. Cork therefore forms an
exceedingly advantageous material for steam, hydraulic or other packing in any case,
where a tight joint has to be made around a reciprocating or rotating part of a
machine.
Our improved packing can be very advantageously applied for packing pistons
instead of, or in conjunction with the metallic rings or springs hitherto employed.
We also employ cork for ensuring tight joints between valves and their seatings in
marine, locomotive or stationary steam-engines or in hydraulic or other machines. In
this case we attach a layer or ring of cork either to the valve or to its seat in any
convenient manner; for instance by means of adhesive material or by fitting the said
ring in an undercut groove or recess, or by means of screws the heads of which are
countersunk in the said ring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it understood that
we claim
First. The improved packing composed wholly or partially of cork substantially as
hereinbefore described for the purposes specified.
Second. A ring or segment of cork strengthened or stiffened by means of wire-
gauze, substantially as herein before described for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination, with a valve, of a layer or ring of cork attached either to
the said valve or to its seat, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 14th day of March 1890.
Dated this 14th day of March 1890.
JOHN ELLIOT.
AMOS CREED.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.