Year: 1888

page_text: I, JOHN HAYTHORN, of Commercial Bank House, Dumbarton, in the County of
Dunbarton, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to improve the construction of metallic packings
for piston rods, plungers, and the like, so as to render them more satisfactory in use
with the high pressures now employed in steam engines than the packings hitherto
employed.
In carrying out my Invention I have an annular chamber or box formed around the
path of the piston rod or plunger the inner end of the box being made as truly flat
and at right angles to the axis of the rod or plunger as possible; and I have a cover
for the box made with its inner surface as truly parallel as possible to the inner end of
the hox. Between the end and cover of the box 1 place at least two thicknesses of
packing pieces, which have their surfaces that are at right angles to the axis shaped
as truly as possible and so as to fit fluid-tight upon each other and upon the surfaces
of the end and cover of the box. Each thickness of packing pieces consists of two or
more inner or bearing segments shaped to bear on the piston rod or plunger, and
having parts of their outer surfaces on opposite sides of the radial planes bisecting
them made flat and reversely inclined to tangential planes at right angles to the
bisecting radial planes. Outer segments are shaped to bear and fit fluid-tight on the
inclined outer surfaces of the inner segments, such outer segments being the same in
number as the inner segments, and being placed so that each covers the radial
joint between two inner segments and bears on their contiguous inclined surfaces.
Means are provided for contracting or tending to contract the spaces between the
outer segments, and the outer segments in contracting have a wedging action on the
inner segments tending to move them inwards so as to bear on the piston rod or
plunger. When the packing is new the joints between the inner segments are left a
the
little open to allow the segments to move inwards as their bearing surfaces wear;

page_text: open joints being covered by placing those of one thickness of packing pieces opposite
the middles of the segments of the other thickness, tongue pieces being also employed
if thought desirable. In some cases the outer segments of one thickness of packing
pieces may be fixed or formed on outer middle parts of the inner segments of the other
thickness.
In one
Various devices may be employed to make the outer segments contract.
modification each segment is connected to its neighbors by adjustable springs. In a
second modification the outer segments of each thickness of packing pieces is encircled
by one or more bands or chains, provided with one or more adjustable springs tending
to tighten it or them or adjustable tightening screws may be applied separately from
the springs. In a third modification radial screws tapped through an outer rigid
ring are arranged to bear directly or through springs upon the outer segments.
In none of the arrangements are the packing pieces made to fit closely to the sides
of the box but the whole packing can move between the. inner end and the cover
of the box so as to accommodate itself to the piston rod or plunger. In some cases
however springs may be applied between the sides of the box and the packing pieces,
and springs may also be applied in the radial joints of the inner segments with the
view of equalising the spaces at the several joints.
The bearing segments may be made of any suitable metal or combination of inetals.
I propose to have them made of castiron with their hearing surfaces faced or lined
with white metal.
Dated this Eighteenth day of Anril 1888
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Metallic Packings for Piston Rods, Plungers,
and the like.
I, JOHN HAYTHORN, of Commercial Bank House, Dumbarton, in the County of
Dumbarton, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare tlie 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to improve the construction of metallic packings
for piston rods, plungers and the like, so as to render them more satisfactory in use
with the high pressures now employed in steam engines than the packings hitherto
employed.
In carrying out my Invention I have an annular chamber or box formed around the
path of the piston rod or plunger, the inner end of the chamber being made as truly
flat and at right angles to the axis of the rod or plunger as possible; and I have a
cover for the box with its inner surface as truly parallel as possible to the inner end
of the box, or there may be at the inside of the cover an annular plate with its inner
surface forming the outer end of the annular chamber parallel to the inner end of that
chamber. Within the annular chamber I, in some modifications, place two or more
thicknesses or annular sets of packing pieces, which have their surfaces that are at
right angles to the axis shaped as truly as possible, and so as to fit fluid-tight upon
each other and upon the surfaces of the ends of the chamber. In some cases a single
thickness or set of the main packing pieces may be used if tongues are provided for
covering the joints between the pieces. When two thicknesses or sets are used, each
thickness of packing pieces consists of two or more inner or hearing segments shaped
to bear on the piston rod or plunger, and having parts of their outer surfaces on
opposite sides of the radial planes bisecting them made flat and reversely inclined to
those radial planes. Outer segments are shaped to bear and fit fluid-tight on the
inclined outer surfaces of the inner segments, such outer segments being the same in
number as the inner segments, and being placed so that each covers the radial joint
between two inner segments and bears on the contiguous inclined surfaces. Means
are provided for contracting or tending to contract the spaces between the outer
segments, and the outer segments in contracting have a wedging action on the inner
segments tending to move them inwards so as to bear on the piston rod or plunger.
When the packing is new the radial joints between the inner segments are left a little
open to allow the segments to move inwards as their bearing surfaces wear; the open
joints being covered by placing those of one thickness of packing pieces opposite the
middles of the segments of the other thickness, tongue pieces being also employed
if thought desirable or when only one thickness of the packing pieces is used. In some
cases the outer segments of one thickness of packing pieces may be fixed or formed
on outer middle parts of the inner segments of the other thickness.

page_text: Various devices may be employed to make the outer segments contract; and springs
may be applied in various ways and for various purposes. The bearing segments may
be made of any suitable metal or combination of metals. In some cases they may be
made of castiron with their bearing surfaces faced or lined with white metal.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing various modifications as examples of my
improved packings.
Figures, 1, and 2, on sheet, 1, of the drawings are vertical and horizontal sections
showing one modification of my improved packings as applied to the piston rod of an
inverted steam-engine cylinder. Figures, 3, and 4, are similar sections of a second
modification. Figures, 5, and, 6, are a plan and vertical section of a third modifica-
tion of the packings shown without the chamber or box. Figures, 7, and 8, are a plan
and vertical section of a fourth modification of the packings. Figures, 9, and 10,
on sheet, 2, show a fifth modification and figures, 11, and 12, show a sixth modifica-
tion. Figures, 13, and 14, show modes of applying springs. In these drawings
the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
Each
In the first modification shown in figures, 1, and 2, my improved packings are
shown as fitted within a box, A, which is made in halves to be bolted together and so that
it can be applied to a cylinder already having an ordinary stuffing box, B. The ordinary
gland is removed and the stud bolts for securing the ordinary gland are replaced with
longer ones if necessary, these bolts passing through holes forined in the sides of the
new box, A, and through the cover, C, of the latter, this cover being also made in
halves to be bolted together. In the case of new cylinders the box or chamber for my
improved packings can of course be formed in the same piece with the cylinder end
or cover, as shown in figure, 9. The packings consist of two thicknesses, each in this
example, comprising three inner segments, D, and three outer segments, E. The inner
segments, D, are made with concave inner surfaces to bear on the piston rod, F, and
with outer symmetrical reversely inclined flat surfaces on which bear counterpart
surfaces on the inner sides of the outer segments, E. The joints between the inner
segments, D, are radial and a little open when the packings are new so as to allow the
segments to move towards the centre as the concave bearing surfaces wear.
outer segment, E, covers the joint between two inner segments, D, so as to prevent
the passage of steam radially and the two thicknesses of packings are placed so as to
cover each the other's radial joints at the contact surfaces of the two thicknesses so as
to prevent the passage of steam parallel to the piston rod, F. The thicknesses of
packings are carefully made with surfaces truly flat and at right angles to the axis ;
and the inner end of the chamber or interior of the box, A, and the inner surface of
the cover, C, are also made truly flat and at right angles to the axis. In order to make
the inner segments, D, bear on the piston rod, F, any suitable device may be used to
give the outer segments, E, a tendency to contract or move inwards, and in thus
moving to close in the inner segments, D. In the example shown in figures, 1, and 2,
the contractile device consists of helical springs, 15, applied so as to draw the outer
segments, E, together. Each spring, 15, is in a tube, 16, fixed to one segment, E,
and is compressed between a contraction at the outer end of the tube and a nut
on a pin, 17, held by its head in the other segment, E, the nut being prevented
from turning and the action of the spring being adjusted by screwing the pin.
In the second modification, shown in figures, 3, and 4, each thickness of packing
pieces comprises four inner segments, D, and four outer segments, E; and the latter
are drawn together by metal bands, 18, made in halves which are connected by
adjusting screw couplings, 19, at one side, and by spring couplings, 20, at the other
side. Helical springs, 21, are inserted, in sockets, between the inner segments, D,
with the view of equalising the spaces between the sockets. In this example, the
improved packings are shown as applied to an inverted cylinder without removing
the ordinary gland.

page_text: In the third modification, shown in figures, 5, and 6, parts constituting the onter
segments, E, of one thickness are formed or fixed on the outer parts of the main
or inner segments, D, of which there are four in each thickness, in this example.
The parts have a tendency. to close in imparted to them by a spring metal band, 22,
which is made with corrugations and has to be stretched to get it over the packing
pieces when they are new. The tension of the bands, 22, can be increased or
adjusted by means of pins, 23, screwed through cross bars fixed to or placed within
them and bearing on some of the packing pieces.
The fourth modification, shown in figures, 7, and 8, is like the third, excepting
that there are three instead of four inner segments, D, in each thickness of packing
pieces; and that the contractile tendency is imparted through helical springs in sockets
formed in the outer parts of the pieces and compressed by pins, 24, screwed through
a rigid external ring, 25. Or the screw pins, 24, may bear on the packing pieces
without the intervention of springs.
In the fifth modification, shown in figures, 9, and 10, sheet, 2, the segmental
packing pieces, D, E, are arranged as in the first modification, but the contractile
tendency is applied to each thickness by an encircling chain, 26, the ends of which
are connected by an adjustable spring coupling, 27.
In the sixth modification shown in figures, 11, and 12, there is; a single thick-
ness or annular set of the contractible segmental packing pieces, D, E, and instead
of a second thickness or set, tongues, T, fixed to the outer pieces, E, are made to
cover both ends of the radial joints between the inner pieces, D. The contractile
tendency is applied by means of metal bands, 18, connected by adjustable screw and spring
couplings. Figure, 13, shows a form of bent blade spring, 28, which may be inserted
in the radial joints between the inner- segments, D, this spring being held in a notch
in a pin, 29, fixed by a screw nut in the outer piece, E, as seen in figures, 11, and 12.
In this sixth modification or example which is suitable for application between two
cylinders arranged tandem there is also shown an annular plate, 30, arranged to have
its inner surface, which is made as truly flat and at right angles to the axis as possible,
in contact with the packing pieces, D, E, which are between it and the other end of
the chamber or box, A. This annular plate, 30, is made with a groove in its outer face
and in this groove there is an annular undulating spring, 31, (indicated by dotted
lines in figure, 13) which tends to press the plate inwards, and insures proper contact
of the packing pieces, D, E, with the plate, 30, and the end of the chamber, and at
the same time can yield and prevent excessive tightness which might be caused by
unequal expansion of the parts by heat. Any other convenient arrangement of spring
may be applied to the annular plate, 30.
In any of the modifications, instead of a band, 18, chain, 26, or other contracting
device, there may be used a sufficiently strong helical spring acting tensionally and
such spring may have its tension adjusted by the device shown in figure, 14. This
device consists of a pin with a hexagonal or other suitable part; 32, for a turning
instruments at its middle and with its ends helically grooved to screw into the
ends, 33, 34, of the helical spring. One end, 35, is made with its groove of a
larger pitch than that of the groove of the other end, 36, in consequence of which
a differential action is produced when the pin is turned. If the pin is turned in
one direction or the other the tension will be increased or diminished accordingly.
In none of the arrangements do the packing pieces, D, E, fit closely to the sides of
the chamber or box, A, but the whole packing can move between the inner end and
the cover of the box so as to accommodate itself to the piston rod or plunger, F. In
some cases, however, springs may be applied between the sides of the box and
the packing pieces, D, or E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is:-
The improved combinations of parts forming metallic packings for pistons rods,
plungers, and the like, in any of which inner bearing seginents or pieces are pressed

page_text: inwards by outer segments or pieces the latter having their middles at and covering
the outer ends of the radial joints of the inner segments or pieces, whilst the
passage of steam parallel to the axis through the said radial joints is prevented
either by tongues or by the suitable combination of two or more thicknesses or annular
sets of the inner and outer segments or pieces, each thickness or set being formed
with surfaces at right angles to the axis and being fitted between the like surfaces
constituting the ends of their chamberor box, all substantially as hereinbefore described
and as exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Seventeenth day of January 1889.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.