Improvements in or connected with Packing.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1396
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Packing.
1, EDWIN HENRY LEWIS of 254, Battersea Park Road, London, S. W.,
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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in or connected with packing and consists
in the arrangement of a suitable, flexible packing, in such a manner that when
under the influence of the pressure of the steam, as in a stuffing box, of an engine,
or under the influence of the pressure of water in hydraulic machinery, or air, it
shall expand and he forced closely against the sides of the stuffing box and the
piston rod or the like.
The advantages I claim for my improved system of packing, are that it does
not require to be frequently renewed as it is far more durable than the ordinary
packing hitherto employed, that the piston rod or the like fitted or furnished with
my improved packing always presents a smooth surface no matter how rough
the piston rod or the like may be and even where the latter is considerably
out of alignment it always remains perfectly steam tight which is not the case
where ordinary packing is employed, while it reduces friction to a minimum.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will new proceed
to describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows an elevation partly in section of a portion or part of a packing
ring according to my invention as arranged ready for insertion, and Fig. 2 is a
similar view of the same packing showing the shape or position it assumes under
the influence of the pressure of steam, water or air, according to the purpose for
which it is employed.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a stuffing box showing a part of
the packing in position, and showing the shape or form it assumes under the action
of the pressure of steam or the like.
According to my invention I take a suitable length of any flexible material
which latter is bent over into the shape shown in Fig. 1 and then into the form
of a ring when it is inserted in the stuffing box or the like in such a manner that
it presents a concave surface upon the underside, which surface is presented to the
action of the steam which forces it out or causes it to assume the shape or form
shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in such a manner that the sides of each packing ring r are
forced closely against and into contact with the sides of the stuffing box b and the
piston rod or the like p, while the gland y instead of requiring to be tightly screwed
down so as to exert an external pressure upon the packing, merely requires to be
firmly held in position so as to act as a stop against which the first packing ring
bears, and to prevent the packing from blowing out.
The packing rings may be constructed of any suitable flexible material and may
be composed for instance of alternate layers of canvas and india-rubber or asbestos,
or any suitable fibrous material or the like may be employed in the construction of
the said rings.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the packing ring is built up of a series of layers 1,
but it is obvious that a suitable piece of material of sufficient thickness may be
employed for the purpose, although of course in constructing the rings in layers
allows them to be built up to any required size, while in some cases in order to
facilitate their insertion in the stuffing box or the like, they may be bound over
with a suitable thin string or twine, which quickly breaks or gives way when the

page_text: pressure of the steam or the like is exerted upon the packing ring, and which is
then quickly caused to assume the shape or form shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
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 improvements in or connected with packing comprising the application
of oval or semi-circular rings of flexible packing material in such a manner as to
present an under concave surface to the action of the steam, water air or the like,
substantially as herein described and shown and for the purposes specified.
2. The improvements in or connected with packing comprising the application
or use of flexible packing rings designed to tighten upon the rod, plunger or the
like by reason of the pressure of the steam, water, or air, substantially as herein
described and shown, and for the purposes specified.
3. The improvements in or connected with packing comprising the application
or use of packing rings designed to tighten upon the piston rod, plunger or
the like by reason of the pressure of steam, water or air, and which is
independent of any external or outside pressure such as generally exerted by the
gland upon the said packing, substantially as herein described and shown and for
the purposes specified.
4. The improvements in or connected with packing, arranged and operating
substantially as herein described and shown and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 19th dow of Ancust 1806
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.