Improvements in Metallic Packings for Stuffing Boxes and the like, said Improvements being also applicable to Journal and other Bearings.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Packings for Stuffing Boxes and the like,
said Improvements being also applicable to Journal and other
Bearings.
I, ALEXANDER FRANCIS GARDEN BROWN of Swindridge Muir, Dalry,
Ayrshire, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to metallic packings for piston pump and other recipro-
cating rods and the like and as constructed under the invention such packing
consists of a cylinder composed of two or four segments each of which is the full
length of the cylinder. When made in two parts the meeting edges of the segments
are radial but when in four two parts opposite to each other are conical or wedge
shaped the wider ends being next to the piston rod and the edges of the other parts
meeting them are so shaped as to butt against these conical or wedge shaped surfaces.
Under one arrangement the ends of the segments are made conical or inclined and
over them at each extremity of the packing a collar or cup is placed the hollow of
which is also conical and bears against the conical ends of the packing whilst the
circumference of the collar or cup is such as to fill the space at the interior of the
stuffing box or gland within which the packing is situated. At one or both ends
the packing segments have a cylindrical neck extending from the conical part into
a like shaped recess in the cup or cups and against the extremity of this neck a
loose flat collar or washer bears being held up to its place by a helical or other
spring or springs bearing against it and also against the end of the recess in
the cup.
Under a modification the ends of the segments of the cylinder are made flat
and against the outer extremity a separate conical shaped piece is fitted the said
piece having a cylindrical neck which passes through the outer end or cover of the
stuffing box.
The segments of the packing are forced against the said piece by a loose washer
bearing against their other ends and between which and the inner end of the stuffing
box spiral or like springs are placed. With this arrangement the segments of the
cylinder are encased within two semi-circular sheaths having vertical flanges at
their meeting edges. On these flanges helical springs contained in recesses in the
walls of the stuffing box bear so as to hold the segments steam tight against the
reciprocating rod.
With the first modification the cover of the stuffing box is held in position by
bolts or equivalent means and between it and the end of the outer or upper collar
or cup a helical or other spring or springs is placed, the effect being that by
screwing up the cover the packing pieces are caused to bear steam tight against
the reciprocating rod.
With the second modification the outer end or cover may be cast in one piece
with the box.
The invention under either modification is applicable to the plummer blocks or
journal bearings of rotating shafts wear on the bushing or packing segments being
by its employment for that purpose compensated for.
Dated this Twenty-third day of May 1890.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Packings for Stuffing Boxes and the like,
said Improvements being also applicable to Journal and other
Bearings.
I, ALEXANDER FRANCIS GARDEN BROWN of Swindridge Muir, Dalry,
Ayrshire, Gentleman, 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 metallic packings for piston pump and other recipro-
cating rods and the like and as constructed under one modification of the invention
illustrated in vertical section at Figure 1 and in transverse section at Figure 2 of
the drawings, such packing consists of a cylinder composed of four segments A, A'
each of which is the full length of the cylinder. The two parts A opposite to each
other are wedge shaped the wider ends being next to the piston or other rod B
and the edges of the other parts A¹ meeting the parts A, are so bevelled or shaped
as to butt against the surfaces of the wedge shaped pieces, so that as the parts A'
are pressed towards the centre, they cause the parts A, to move towards the centre
also with the result that all the surfaces of the segments next the rod will wear
equally. The ends of the segments A, A' are made conical or bevelled and over
them at each extremity of the packing a collar or cup C, is placed the hollow of
which is correspondingly shaped and bears against the ends of the segments whilst
the circumference of the collars or cups is such as to fill the space at the interior
of the stuffing box or gland D within which the packing is situated. At the inner
ends of the segments A, A' a cylindrical neck a extending from the base of the
conical part into a like shaped recess b in the cup C, is formed and against the
lower extremity of this neck a loose flat collar or washer E bears, being held up to
its place by helical or other springs F, or by the pressure of the steam in cylinder,
bearing against it and also against the bottom of the recess in the cup. Like
springs G are inserted between the higher surface of the upper cup C and cover H
of the stuffing box which is held in its position by screws or bolts I, the effect being
that by screwing up the cover H the packing segments A. A', are because of the
bevelling of their ends forced inwards and caused to bear steam tight against the
reciprocating rod B.
Under another modification illustrated in vertical section at Figure 3 the springs
in conjunction with the upper cup C, may be dispensed with and the said cup may
have a neck or sleeve surrounding the rod B, and passing through the cover or
gland H of the stuffing box whose lower end rests upon the part c of the cup so that
when the cover is screwed down the packing pieces A, A are forced inwards steam
tight against the rod B.
Under a further modification illustrated in vertical section at Figure 4, in side
elevation at Figure 5 and in horizontal section at Figure 6 of the drawings the
packing segments A A' instead of being each of one length may be made in two
or more lengths their ends being made flat instead of conical or inclined as before
set forth the inner extremity of the packing resting against a loose flat ring or
washer E, situated either in a cup C as before described or in a recess J made on
the end K of the cylinder the washer being held up against the packing by springs F.
The upper ends of the packing segments A, A' with this arrangement bear against
the under side of a gland L, which passes through the stuffing box and has its lower
part d made conical or bevelled as shewn. Between the loose washer E and the
gland L, the packing segments are enclosed within a sheath or casing composed of
two semi-circular segments M having flanges M' at their meeting edges. On these
flanges helical or other springs N contained in recesses in the walls of the stuffing
box D bear, pressure being put on these springs so as to force the segments of the
packing steam tight against the reciprocating rod B, by screwed studs O which are
tapped through the stuffing box as shewn. In this case the stuffing box instead of

page_text: being as usual cast on the cylinder end may be made separate and bolted in position
and its outer extremity may be close ended instead of having a separate cover or
gland to close it.
Figure 7 illustrates in vertical section and Figure 8 in horizontal section another
arrangement wherein the features of the modifications Figures 3 to 6 are combined,
that is to say, flat ended packing segments A, A' next to the reciprocating rod are
used these being encased within a sheath composed of two semi-circular segments M
which are conical or bevelled at their upper and lower edges the lower edges resting
on a correspondingly shaped cup or ring C and their upper edges against the like
shaped under edge of an upper cup C which has a sleeve surrounding the rod B
and against which a gland or cover H, is held by bolts I, so that by screwing the
gland downwards the sheath M, is pushed inwards to force the packing segments
steam tight against the rod B.
With any of the foregoing modifications instead of using four packing segments
the conical or bevelled packing segments A. may be dispensed with in which case
the meeting edges of the segments A' in lieu of being bevelled or inclined are flat
or radial from the centre of the rod B.
The invention under any of its arrangements is applicable as a bushing to journal
bearings or plummer blocks for rotating shafts and Figure 9 illustrates in vertical
section and Figure 10 in end elevation one adaptation of the invention to that
purpose, the packing segments surrounding the shaft B having their ends bevelled
and bearing on similarly shaped surfaces formed in cups C. Through one or both
ends of the bearing, screws R are tapped these at their inner ends bearing on one
or both cups C, and by screwing them inwards the bushing or packing segments
are forced tightly against the shaft B; or instead of screws the gib and cotter.
arrangement shewn by Figures 11 and 12 may be employed the gibs S being passed
through slots in the bearing block and having their upper ends tapped or threaded.
The cotter pin T which bears against one cup C has an arm with an eye through
which the screwed part of the gib passes nuts U being threaded on to the screw
above and below the said eye. By screwing the nuts downwards the cup C is
pushed inwards and forces the bushing or packing segments tightly against the
shaft B, wear of the bush being thereby compensated for, and the shaft kept always
running truly. Any suitable form of lubricator V may be used with this improved
form of bushing for journal bearings.
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 several arrangements of improved metallic packings for piston pump and
other reciprocating rods hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
2. In a metallic packing four packing segments surrounding the rod to be packed,
two of said segments opposite each other being wedge shaped and having their
wider ends next the rod, the other two segments being bevelled to butt against the
wedge shaped segments and when pressure is applied to cause them to move towards
the centre substantially as described with reference to the drawings appended.
3. In a metallic packing the combination of two or more packing segments
inclined or bevelled at their ends and surrounding the reciprocating rod, cups or
rings having correspondingly shaped surfaces bearing on said bevelled or inclined
parts, a loose washer or collar held up against one end of the segments by a spring
or springs and an adjustable gland or cover either resting directly on one of the
cups or having a spring or springs interposed substantially as described, with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a metallic packing the combination of two or more packing segments
surrounding the rod to be packed, a bisected sheath enclosing said segments, springs
causing said sheath to force the segments against the rod, a loose washer or collar
forced against one end of the segments by a spring or springs or by steam pressure

page_text: and a gland bearing on the other end of the segments and of the sheath substantially
as described with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the appended drawings.
5. In a metallic packing two or more packing segments surrounding the rod to
be packed, a bisected sheath enclosing said segments the ends of said sheath being
bevelled or inclined, cups or rings having correspondingly shaped surfaces bearing
on said bevelled or inclined parts of the sheath and one of them also bearing on one
end of the packing segments a loose collar or washer contained within the other
cup or ring and held against the other end of the said segments by a spring or
springs or steam pressure and an adjustable gland or cover resting on the first
mentioned ring or cup substantially as described with reference to Figures 7 and 8
of the annexed drawings.
6. In a journal bearing for a rotating shaft two or more bushing segments
surrounding the shaft within the bearing said segments being bevelled or inclined
at their ends and having cups or rings with correspondingly shaped surfaces bearing
on said inclined parts one or both of the said cups or rings being adjustable to
compensate for wear in the bushing segments, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twelfth day of February 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.