Improvements in and Connected with Stuffing Boxes and Packing therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 4th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Feb., 1889
Improvements in and Connected with Stuffing Boxes and Packing
therefor.
I, EDWARD ADAMS SLADE of 18 Challoner Grove South Shields in the County of
Durham, Marine Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to he as
follows:-
These my improvements in packing & appliances thereto are applicable to all classes
of engines or inachinery where glands are used and my invention consists in a
flange-washer or ring-to be used in halves or segments where necessary- or left
complete when or where practicable-& this said flange-washer or ring fits against
the end face of neck bush-or end face of stuffing box or convenient surface there
situate so that pressure will not pass between these two faces in contact or pressed
together against each other. Next to such washers or rings I place half turns or
segments of metallic-iron-or steel packing-shaped so that the parts near their
ends forin parallels or shapes that allow the parts to move fowards their centres or to
close against the rod-ram-plunger or spindle & still it does not allow the pressure
around its outer surface to reach its inner circle or the rod etc. I leave a space
between the outer surface of the packing & the sides or walls of the stuffing box-
and a pressure let into that space keeps the packing to its work & bears the end
washers against the surfaces in contact with them. A ring for making the. packing
steamtight or pressure tight against its end turn-or bottom turn-completes the
make up of one glands packing-but to facilitate use of the packing & prevent
it from getting too far off the rod when pressure be off or at any time, I wrap a sheet
of wire gauze rubber insertion, or other pliable material around the packing &
fasten its meeting ends or edges with a slight screw clamp sewing-or other
convenient way or place springs up its sides that will merely prevent it from getting
out of place. Next after the packing is placed in the stuffing box, I make the
gland-spigot-or cover-steam or pressure tight by placing a clamp with turned
edge around the spigot-or by other convenient means that will allow adjustment or
tightening the face bearing of rings against each other. I give an inlet of

page_text: pressure to the stuffing box by a channel or pipe-& I fit that inlet or channel or pipe
with a cock-valve-or regulator or so at least until I can determine very
accurately what size of inlet is required for glands under various degrees of pressure.
I give an outlet of pressure or connection from stuffing box to a lesser pressure by a
channel or pipe & I fit that with a cock or valve or regulator-or so at least
until I can determine the amount of relief required.
Packing & appliances thereto, constructed according to this my invention possess
the following advantages.
Its relief from excessive pressure. Its non-liability to heat from excessive pressure
& friction by which other metallic packings fail. Long durability. Safety from
stoppage of marine engines or other machinery. Decrease of expenditure.
Dated this 12th day of November 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Stuffing Boxes and Packing
therefor.
I, EDWARD ADAMS SLADE of 18 Challoner Grove South Shields in the County of
Durham, Marine Engineer, 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 :—
These my improvements in and connected with stuffing boxes and packing
therefor, are applicable to ordinary steam engines of either class, also to the stuffing
boxes of hydraulic machinery and other pressure motors, and this my invention
consists in a metallic ring or series of metallic rings, each of them being made in
two main parts as shown in the accompanying drawing, or with other accessory parts
when so needed. The main parts of each ring are so shaped that the end surface of
each main part is a parallel to the end surfaces next and opposite to it, and these said
main parts are so fitted that each of them is allowed to close in towards the rod as
wear goes on. To facilitate placing the packing in the stuffing box, and to keep it
on its bearing against the rod when steam has been shut off, I fit a steel spring, or a
brass spring, part of the way around each ring of the metallic packing, or in some
instances I place a sheet of wire gauze around all the set of rings, but the springs and
wire gauze are not absolutely indispensible. At the end of a series of the aforesaid
metallic rings, I place a ring that has a radial or partly spherical surface on one face
of it, as shewn in section on the accompanying drawing, and the parts or segments
of this ring have to be fastened together so that each part is rigidly fixed to the other
part or parts, and I leave the said radial or partly spherical ring slack to the rod,
thereby allowing for oscillation or vibration of the rod. The construction of the said
rudius ring, or rings, as shewn in section on accompanying drawing, is different to
radius rings designed by other inventors, but for stuffing box ends of unusual shape,
different constructions may be needed. For stuffing boxes with flat ends, a disc with
a face to suit the stuffing box end would be needed, and such discs should be made
with one face bevelled to suit the radial or partly spherical ring, then placed between
the radius ring and stuffing box end. The whole number of rings or turns of
packing are made to have such proportional outside diameter that a space is left
between the packing and the walls of the stuffing box. A concentric pressure upon
the packing is obtained by an inlet of pressure to the said space between the packing
and the walls of the stuffing box, and a relief of pressure from the aforesaid space,
is obtained by an outlet from there to space containing a lesser pressure. In some
instances I can dispense with the means of outlet, and in some other instances the
pressure passing a radius ring is sufficient to supply the necessary concentric pressure
upon the packing, but the packing is not made in any such form that it can be
tightened against the rod by screwing the gland tight.
The extra flange shewn on accompanying drawing is adopted as a means for
preventing leakage between the stuffing box cover, gland, or spigot, and the edges of

page_text: the mouth of the stuffing box. To effect this stopping of leakage, a small angular
brass ring is forced against the edge of the stuffing box mouth, so that the brass ring
wedges in between the gland or spigot, and the edges of the stuffing box mouth. A
clamp fastened on the gland or spigot, and forced against the outer end of the
stuffing box, is also available for this purpose. The accompanying drawing is a
sectional view of an ordinary stuffing box, with the packing as herein described.
A Represents a radial or partly spherical ring.
B. B. B. B. Each represent a metallic ring.
C Represents a cock for the inlet of pressure.
D Represents a radial or partly spherical ring.
E Represents a cock for the outlet of pressure.
F Represents a metallic ring situate upon a horizontal rod.
G Represents the spring herein described.
H Represents the extra flange herein described.
I Represents the angular brass ring herein described.
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 :-
1. The construction of a metallic ring having two, (or more than two) main parts, with
parallel sliding parts, and having two flat faces parallel to each other, the said ring not
being dependent to springs, or a spring, nor to the tightening of the gland, nor to
conical construction, for its concentric pressure, or for making it steam tight against
the cylindrical surface which move within the circle of such said ring.
2. The application of expansive or hydraulic pressure to the outer surfaces of
metallic rings with flat faces, for imparting a pressure that gives to a series of
aforesaid rings, a concentric bearing towards the rod, or cylindrical surface that be
moved within their circle.
3. The regulation of pressure upon the packing and upon the rod where such rod
be in contact with the packing, by the means herein described, or without moving the
gland or in any way altering the springs.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1889.
EDWARD ADAMS SLADE.
Signed by the said Edward Adam Slade
in the presence of
ROBERT PURVIS,
A Commissioner to administer Oaths
in the Supreme Court of Judicature in England.