Improvements in Packings for Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1891-Accepted, 25th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Packings for Engines.
I, HARRY GORDON SMALL of Cable Mills Glasshouse Street Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, 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 :—
This invention relates to engine packings such as are described in the Specifi-
cation of Letters Patent granted to me No. 13090 dated the 11th September 1888.
According to my former invention I surrounded the packing with an envelope
of intersected wires whereby I was enabled to obtain a packing of great strength
and durability especially applicable for high-pressure steam. This packing is
highly serviceable, but owing to the nature of its construction, the cuvelope is
more porous or open in its texture than is desired in some cases and particularly
with lubricated packings.
The objects of my present improvements is to obviate the defect just alluded to
and at the same time to secure greater flexibility and efficiency.
In carrying out my invention I braid or otherwise lay upon the packing, one or
more surroundings of fibrous yarn and of wire in such a manner that each layer
consists of wire in one direction and yarn in the other direction, and is equivalent
o a layer of cloth having a wire warp and a yarn weft. Any desired lubricant
may be incorporated into the packing during the process of manufacture.
I will more particularly describe my present invention with reference to the
accompanying drawing which represents in perspective a short length of packing
constructed according to these improvements, in which there are three layers of the
braided intersected wire and yarn, parts of the successive layers being shewn as
removed so as to shew the inner layers and the core respectively.
I prefer to employ as a core, four cords consisting of stranded lead wires filled
out or packed with any suitable fibrous material. Around the core I lay a
surrounding of intersected wire and yarn preferably by means of a braiding
machine. This may be effected by filling the bobbins in the braiding machine
which travel in one direction with wire, and those which travel in the other
direction with yarn. As many of the surroundings as may be desired may be laid
upon the packing but for ordinary work I prefer to employ three, as indicated in
the drawing, where A is the core, B the first layer, C the second layer, and D the
third layer. In each of the layers W indicates the wire, and Y the yarn.
The direction of the wires may be changed in successive layers but I have
found no advantage from this, and prefer to lay them all in the same
direction.
A similar but inferior result might be obtained by weaving a cloth having
a wire warp and a yarn weft and securing layers of this cloth upon the packing,
but I prefer in all cases to proceed with the manufacture as hereinbefore
described.
It will be understood that the circular packings may be compressed into square
or other desired shapes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is,―
1. An engine packing constructed substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 2. In an engine packing, one or more layers each consisting of intersected wire
and yarn constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 19th day of June A.D. 1891.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.