IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM PACKING
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Ward Johns of the city county and state of
New York in the United States of America for an Invention of IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM PACKING
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Ward Johns at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1882.
HENRY WARD JOHNS of the City County and State of New York in the United
States of America. IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PACKING
My invention relates to certain improvements in packing for steam joints.
Prior to my invention, among other desirable materials suggested for the purpose,
asbestos in the form of a rope has fulfilled the object sought, with considerable
success, its use however has been attended with the objection that in order to
prevent the strands composing the rope from being rubbed away or disintegrated
by handling, it has been necessary to confine them by a cloth covering or woven
netting
This feature of the covering renders the structure expensive and laborious to
produce and the covering does not serve any purpose as a packing but on the
contrary being of a comparatively inflammable nature soon becoines charred by the
heat of the parts in which it is used as packing
Asbestos has also been braided but this is not only expensive but fails of the
object attained by my invention because the strands cannot be readily separated
when desired.
The object of my invention is to provide a rope composed of asbestos, which
shall be free from the objections named and highly desirable as a steam packing;
and with these ends in view the first part of my invention consists of a steam
packing composed of a series of strands of asbestos twisted or "layed" into the
form of a rope and having the ordinarily projecting fibres laid flat in the direction
of the length of the rope, and also having the interstices between the several strands
of which the rope is composed filled or built up practically even with the outside
surfaces of the strands by a paste or sizing composed preferably in part of asbestos
as will be hereinafter explained.

page_text: My invention also consists in the process by which the interstices between the
several strands of which the rope is composed, are filled or built up and the strands
bridged or tied as will be hereinafter explained. My invention further consists in
the details, hereinafter specifically claimed
Another part of my invention consists in forming a rope of asbestos by laying or
twisting the the strands in the usual manner and then subjecting it to circumferential
pressure whereby the several strands are associated and condensed, the interstices
closed and the whole structure rendered more solid and smooth.
In order that those skilled. in the art to which my invention appertains may
fully understand the same, I will proceed to describe in detail the peculiar
characteristics of the rope and the process by which I am enabled to close the
interstices between the strands, and in order that the differences between an
ordinary rope and that forming the subject of my invention may be illustrated
in the accompanying drawings I have shown at Fig 1 a cross section of an
ordinary rope and that is devoid of the jacket or covering hereinbefore referred
to. Fig 2 illustrates a similar section of a rope embodying my invention,
Fig 3 a plan view of the same, to more fully illustrate the tying or bridging
in the interstices, and Fig 4 a cross-section of a rope subjected to the circum-
ferential pressure to condense and solidify the same. At Fig 1 it will be
observed that short spurs or fibres a project from the rope and that the strands, b
composing the rope, are, when twisted into forin, separated by V shaped or similar
interstices, while by reference to Fig 2 it will be seen that the interstices are
built up or filled to about level with the outside surface of the rope as illustrated
by the blackened spaces marked e. At fig 3 I intend by the short straight
lines marked, d to illustrate how the ordinary spurs and fibres, a. Fig 1 are laid
The fine lines
across or bridge the helical spaces marked by the curved lines, e.
branching off from the linee, d are intended to represent the felting or locking
which takes place as hereinafter referred to after the interstices have been filled or
made even in the manner herein before described (ie by "forming" compression
or manipulation).
The process of manufacture which I have adopted to accomplish the closing of
the interstices fill the interstices and bridge or tie the fibres is, to first form a rope
of the desired size, and of any suitable number of strands of asbestos fibre, in any
well known manner, but preferably by the use of double strands twisted together
around a strong central twisted strand which may be of hemp or other material,
though I prefer asbestos. This I find enables me to retain the "spring" of the twist
which can be accomplished in no other way so successfully when using asbestos.
It is then laid in such way that the exposed or outside surface of the several strands
shall be slightly flattened to approach in their cross-section curvature as near as
possible to a circle surrounding the whole number and in this way to a considerable
degree lessen the proportions of the interstices which naturally occur between the
"lay" of the strands. After the rope has been thus formed, I then apply water or
moisture in small quantities and in any suitable manner to the outside of the
surface of the rope and subject the same to rapid longitudinal manipulation. This
manipulation removes small particles of asbestos and the water serves as a vehicle
to deposit the asbestos in the form of a paste or sizing upon the interstices of the
rope in an even or smooth condition. This paste or sizing being composed partly
of asbestos, will according to the character of the asbestos form a film or mem-
braneous coating of considerable strength when subjected to friction. The longer
fibres or spurs which are not removed or taken up by the water are laid across, or
bridged over the interstices and I have found that they are at the same time felted
or matted together as illustrated at Fig 3.
In manipulating the rope to accomplish these results I have found the human
hand best adapted; but of course I do not desire to confine myself in this particular
nor to the fact that I first apply the water or other moisture, as I may begin to
manipulate the rope a little while before applying the moisture; nor do I wish to

page_text: confine myself to the use of asbestos and water alone as the agents for filling the
interstices, as other ingredients may be used so long as they are not of a character
to be objectionable when placed within a steam joint I have found that a
successful paste or cement for the purpose may be made of asbestos-flour, water,
glue, and ordinary flour or any two or more of the above, a superior material being
the two flours combined with a little parafine and a small quantity of kerosene
I prefer that asbestos should always form one element of the paste.
In practicing my invention, according to the second part or branch thereof the
manipulation and rubbing of the rope, with moisture applied, and the filling of the
interstices by floating the disintegrated fibres therein etc is dispensed with and the
rope is solidified and hardened and its exterior surface rendered smooth by the
application of pressure externally to the rope, which I prefer to accomplish by
passing the rope between rollers having a circunferential channel for the reception
of the rope said rollers being capable of adjustment so that they may be caused to
press the rope with greater or less power as may be desired.
In passing the rope between the rollers and subjecting it to pressure the strands
are compressed or mashed into substantially the form shown at Fig 4 of the
drawings and at the same time the exterior surface is made practically continuous
and smooth and after these results are attained by compression, I preferably coat
the exterior surface with paraffine, wax, or any suitable paste to preserve its smooth
condition. In manufacturing the asbestos strands from which the rope is to be
made, I may if desirable mix with the asbestos any suitable or safe quantity of
cotton or other fibre or I may mix the cotton fibre only with that portion forming
the centre or core of the rope, but I prefer to use asbestos alone. A packing when
made according to my invention possesses one great advantage over any other that
I am familiar with, except hemp-packing, in that the strands of which it is
composed may be readily separated so as to form a packing for very small joints,
or they may be combined to make a rope or packing of any desired size or shape.
The manipulation of this form of asbestos rope with water or sizing reduces its
size and renders it more solid and compact than asbestos can be made by any
other process, which is a great desideratum for heavy engines. The central strand
may be saturated with a solution of india-rubber, which I find imparts a degree of
elasticity which does not interfere with the solidity of the packing.
What I claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent is :
1st As a new article of manufacture, a steam packing consisting of strands of
asbestos twisted or laid into the form of a rope with the interstices between the
strands filled or built up and coated with a suitable cement or size, substantially as
set forth.
2nd The asbestos rope packing for steam joints having the interstices filled or
built up as described and tied or bridged over by the longitudinally laid and felted
short fibres as hereinbefore set forth.
3rd The asbestos rope-packing for steam joints composed of a series of strands of
asbestos with a central core saturated with a solution of india rubber as hereinbefore
set forth.
4th A rope for steam packing or other purposes, composed partly of cotton or
other fibre and asbestos made in the manner described.
5th A rope for steam packing or other purposes composed wholly or in part of
Asbestos with a central strand of hemp or other suitable material and formed or
finished by compression as herein described.
6th A rope for steam-packing etc composed of strands of asbestos or asbestos and
other suitable material with or without a central strand of hemp, so laid and so
compressed or manipulated that when finished the surface is practically even, i.e.
without indentation or interstices as described.
7th The process of closing and building up the interstices of asbestos rope consisting
in longitudinal manipulation of the rope with sizing or water or by compression, or
both substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

page_text: 8th The method of producing a hard smooth finish or polish on the surface of
asbestos consisting in the application of water or other suitable material as
described and friction or both
9th As a sizing for application to the surface of the asbestos, consisting of the
asbestos compound composed of asbestos and oleaginous or glutinous material or
flour or water or other fluid as herein before set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Ward Johns have hereunto set my
hand and seal this nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One
Thousand Eight hundred and Eighty two
TIENDY WARD JOHNS (TS)
HENRY WARD JOHNS
(51)