Improvements in facking for securing rig JOINTS.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
Improvements in facking for securing rig JOINTS.
We, HENRY CHARLES PLATTS, and THOMAS LOWTHER, both of Hughesoffka,
Ekaterinoslaff Government, South Russia, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in packing for securing fluid tight
joints.
According thereto we construct our packing in layers that are arranged in close contact
with each other and are formed by doubling packing material inwardly or outwardly or
both inward and outwardly upon itself two or more times, adjacent layers being connected
at one end only by more or less curved portions that impart elasticity to the packing, the
arrangement being such that the said elasticity is increased when the said packing is
subjected to the action of the fluid in which it works, and enables the layer that is
subjected to wear to slide upon the adjacent layer when necessary to compensate for
wear, and also when subjected to pressure by the gland or other device of the
stuffing box in which the packing is placed, the pressure of the gland causing the
remaining layers to simultaneously slide upon the layers adjacent to them in order to fill
up the deficiency in packing caused by the wear of the layer next to the rod or other
body to which the packing is applied. Thus the various layers are always free to
slide upon each other in the direction of the layer that is for the time being
subjected to wear, so as to supply fresh packing material to that part of the stuffing
box in proportion to the wear and loss of packing material, at the same time securing
a perfectly fluid tight joint. Packing of such a construction we term compensating
packing. It may be made of sheets of the required width and thickness of any suitable
material doubled over outwardly or inwardly or both outwardly and inwardly upon itself
several times to form several layers and then pressed to shape. It may also be made
composite, that is, of two or more sheets of similar or diverse materials which may be
suitably secured to each other by any suitable means, such as by cementing with
elastic or india rubber cement, sewing or rivetting in order to form a composite sheet
of the desired thickness and width, which may then be doubled upon itself as described
to form several layers and pressed to shape to form the compensating packing.
Packing constructed in the inanner described is very resilient and lends itself very
readily, on being subjected to pressure by a gland or similar device in a stuffing box,
to the action described above in order to automatically compensate for wear. Springs
may be employed to assist the compensating action of the packing, such springs
being applied to any convenient part of the stuffing box. Any ordinary stuffing
box may be furnished with our compensating packing with or without springs.
convenient place, among others, for applying the springs is on the gland bolts or studs,
either between the nuts on the said bolts or studs, or the heads of the bolt, when
bolts are employed, and the flange or lugs of the stuffing box gland. In one
arrangement the compensating packing is composed of several layers doubled over upon
themselves inwardly and outwardly or around each other and pressed to shape to
form the compensating packing.
A
In another arrangement the compensating packing is composed of several layers
doubled upon themselves as in the last mentioned arrangement but the outer end is
brought or lapped over one edge of the packing.

page_text: In another arrangement, the compensating packing is composed of distinct channel
or U shaped parts that are reversely arranged so that one layer of each is between
the two layers of the other and formed by being doubled over upon themselves, the
adjacent surfaces of the two central layers being cemented, sewn or otherwise secured
together and the whole pressed to shape to form the compensating packing.
In another arrangement the packing material is doubled in opposite directions
upon itself so as to form three layers connected at opposite edges and pressed to
shape the ends of the inner and outer layers being brought over the edges of the
packing to protect the same and form a convenient seating for the adjacent layers of
packing.
In a further arrangement the packing material is doubled over outwardly and
inwardly, i.e. in opposite directions so as to be of approximately S shape in section
and pressed to shape as before.
The action of the compensating packing is as follows:-When the packing in the
stuffing box is subjected to the pressure exerted upon it by the gland, either alone or
aided by springs, its resilience is brought into play and a fluid tight joint is obtained.
The resilience of the packing when constructed of fibrous materials is increased by its
contact with and also by absorption of the fluid in which it works, and also by the
absorption of the lubricants employed. As the layer of packing next to the rod or
other body to be packed wears away, it slides upon the adjacent layer in order
to fill up the space occasioned by the wear to which it has been subjected; at the
same time all the remaining layers slide upon the layers adjacent to them, and thus
the packing is constantly kept up to its normal thickness and fills up the stuffing
box, making a fluid tight joint. As often as the packing becomes worn away, the
gland, or similar device, is again screwed down, when the compensating action for
wear already described, recommences. It must be understood that we make the
layers of which the compensating packing is composed, sufficiently elastic for the
purpose of effecting the compensation action described, by making the compensating
packing of suitable material, and by joining or uniting in some cases the sheets of
which the packing is made, by an elastic cement, and in other cases by sewing or by
rivetting, and also by saturating the sheets, both single and composite, with a suitable
elastic substance. The said compensating packing may also, if saturated with an
elastic substance, such as india rubber, be vulcanized. In order that the compensating
action of the packing may not be impaired, the several layers are usually no
cemented or secured to each other except in the case where the packing is composed
of channel or U shaped parts when the said parts may be secured at their inner
adjacent surfaces to prevent them from becoming detached from each other, the
remaining surfaces in contact with, or adjacent to each other being free to slide
one on the other in order that the compensating action for wear may not be
impaired.
Each of the above described compensating packings may be inserted into the
stuffing box with either side adjacent to the rod or other body to be packed; but as
a rule we prefer to manufacture the compensating packing in coils and hence such
packing would naturally be used as coiled.
Dated this 1st day of August 1896.
We, HENRY CHARLES PLATTS, and THOMAS LOWTHER, both of Hugheshoffka,
Ekaterinoslaff Government, South Russia, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of

page_text: this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
déscribed and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to improvements in packing for securing fluid tight
joints.
According thereto we construct our packing, which is usually employed in the
form of rings or coils, in layers that are arranged in close contact with each other and
are formed by doubling packing material inwardly or outwardly, that is to say either
in a right handed or left handed direction, or both inwardly and outwardly, upon itself
two or more times, adjacent layers being connected at one end only by more or less
curved portions that impart elasticity to the packing, the arrangement being such
that the said elasticity is increased when the said packing is subjected to the action
of the fluid which it confines, and assists the layer that is subjected to wear to slide
upon the adjacent layer when necessary in order to compensate for wear when
subjected to pressure by the gland or other equivalent device of the stuffing box in
which the packing is placed, the pressure of the gland causing the remaining layers
to simultaneously slide upon the layers adjacent to them in order to fill up the
deficiency in packing caused by the wear of the layer next to the rod or other body
to which the packing is applied. Thus the various layers are always free to slide
upon each other in the direction of the layer that is for the time being subjected to
wear, so as to supply fresh packing material to that part of the stuffing box in
proportion to the wear and loss of packing material, at the same time securing a
perfectly fluid tight joint. Packing of this construction we term compensating packing.
It may be made of sheets of the required width and thickness of any suitable packing
material doubled over outwardly or inwardly, or both outwardly and inwardly upon
itself several times to form several layers and then pressed to shape. Each sheet of
this packing-material may be composed of a single sheet of canvas, cotton, asbestos,
or other suitable substance folded over and over and having its folds secured
together in some suitable manner; it may also be made composite-i..e
of two or more single sheets of similar or diverse substances-it may be,
canvas, leather, and asbestos-secured together by any suitable means such
as cementing with india rubber or other suitable cement, or sewing or riveting.
When making the packing-material of a single sheet, the latter may be covered on
one side, with india rubber or other suitable cement, or be saturated with india rubber
cement, so that when the sheet is folded up its various folds will stick together after
the sheet has been formed into packing by doubling, it may be vulcanized; or the
sheet of packing-material may be sewn or riveted so as to secure the various folds
together; in the latter case the sheet may, before being folded, be covered with
india-rubber cement on one or both sides, or be saturated therewith, and be then
vulcanized. Packing constructed in the manner described is very resilient, and lends
itself very readily, on being subjected to pressure by a gland or similar device in a
stuffing box, to the action described above in order to automatically compensate for
wear. Springs may be employed to assist the compensating action of the packing,
such springs being applied to any convenient part of the stuffing box. Any ordinary
stuffing box may be furnished with our compensating packing with or without
springs. A convenient, place, among others, for applying the springs is on the gland
bolts or studs, either between the nuts on the said bolts or studs, or the heads of
the bolt, when bolts are employed, and the flange or lugs of the stuffing box
gland.
Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the accompanying drawings are vertical sections showing
various constructions of compensating packing according to this invention applied to
the stuffing boxes of rods such as piston rods.
In Fig. 1. the packing material is doubled over upon itself inwardly and
outwardly or around itself so as to form several parallel layers 1, each layer
being connected at one end only to another layer by a more or less curved
portion 1 and the whole being pressed to shape to form the compensating
packing.

page_text: In Fig. 2 the compensating packing is composed of several layers 1 doubled
upon themselves as in the last mentioned arrangement but the outer end portion 1b
is brought or lapped over one edge of the packing, as shown.
In Fig. 3 the compensating packing is composed of distinct channel or U
shaped parts 1, 1 that are reversely arranged so that one layer of each is'
between the two layers of the other, and the adjacent surfaces 1° of the
two central layers are cemented, sewn or otherwise secured together, the
whole being finally pressed to shape to form the compensating packing.
In Fig. 4 the packing material is doubled in opposite directions upon itself
80 as to form three layers 1 connected at opposite edges and pressed to shape,
the end portions 1 of the inner and outer layers of the ring into which the
packing is made, being brought over the edges of the packing to protect the
same and form a convenient seating for the adjacent layers of packing.
In Fig. 5 the packing material is doubled over in opposite directions so as to be of
approximately S shape in section and pressed to shape as before.
In Fig. 6 the packing material is doubled over inwardly at each end so as to form
two layers the inner of which consists of two parts 1d and 1° that meet together.
Fig. 7 is a section of a piece of compensating packing similar to that shown in Fig. 6
but provided with a core 1 of fibrous or elastic material, such as india-rubber,
which may be inserted when the sheets are folded over and over to form the
packing-material as herein described. This core has the advantages of rendering the
packing more elastic and of producing a protuberance 18 which causes the edge parts
1d and 1 to approach the rod or other body 3 to be packed.
In order that the compensating action of the packing hereinbefore described may
not be impaired, the several layers 1 thereof are usually not cemented or secured to
each other except in the case where the packing is composed of channel or U shaped
parts (Fig. 3) when the said parts may be secured at their inner adjacent surfaces 1º,
as stated, to prevent them from becoming detached from each other, the remaining
surfaces in contact with, or adjacent to each other being free to slide one
on the other that the compensating action for wear may not be impaired.
Compensating packing according to this invention, is usually manufactured in long
lengths that are coiled for convenience in storing and from which pieces can be cut to
form coils, or it may be rings or the like having butt or other suitable joints
and diameters to suit the rods, pistons or other bodies to be packed.
The packing
may however be made in short pieces of the required length to form the rings, with
butt or other joints, without cutting.
Each of the above described compensating packings may be inserted into the
stuffing box 2 with either side adjacent to the rod 3 or other body to be packed; but
as a rule we prefer to manufacture the compensating packing in coils as stated and
hence such packing would naturally be used as coiled.
The action of the compensating packing is as follows:-When the packing in the
stuffing box 2 (Fig. 1) is subjected to the pressure exerted upon it by the gland 4,
either alone or aided by springs 5, its resilience is brought into play and a fluid tight
joint is obtained. The resilience of the packing when constructed of fibrous
materials such as mentioned is increased by its contact with and also by absorption of
the fluid which it confines, and also by the absorption of the lubricants employed.
As the layer of packing next to the rod or other body to be packed wears away, it
slides upon the adjacent layer in order to fill up the space occasioned by the wear to
which it has been subjected, at the same time all the remaining layers slide upon the
layers adjacent to them, and thus the packing is constantly kept up to its normal
thickness and fills up the stuffing box, making a fluid tight joint. As often as the
packing becomes worn away, the gland, or similar device, is again screwed down,
when the compensating action for wear already described, recommences.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-

page_text: The improved compensating packing for making fluid tight joints, constructed as
hereinabove described with reference to the several examples illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6
of the drawings, whether or not the packing, when constructed according to Fig. 6,
be provided with à core according to Fig. 7.
of June 16.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent: For the Applicant.