IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PACKING FOR THE PISTON AND VALVE RODS OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PACKING FOR THE PISTON
AND VALVE RODS OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES."-A communication
from abroad by George M. Cruickshank and William R. Smith,
both of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.
ealed the 19th April 1872, and dated the 30th October 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lako
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th October 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PACKING FOR
THE PISTON AND VALVE RODS OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES," a communication,
to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that class of metallic packing which is
formed of segmental blocks of metal fitted to encircle the rod and

page_text: The guide blocks need not be made of the same kind of metal as that
used for the segments, as they will never come in frictional contact
with the piston rod.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th April 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licenco
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my exccutors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, usc, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ircland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METALLIC PACKING FOR THE PISTON AND VALVE RODS OF STEAM AND OTHER
ENGINES," a communication to me from abroad by George M. Cruick-
shank and William R. Smith, both of Providence, Rhode Island, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification.
My Invention relates to that class of metallic packing which is
formed of segmental blocks of metal fitted to encircle the rod, and
actuated by springs into a close contact therewith. The said Invention
consists in the novel construction and arrangement of these segments
by means of which their wearing may not only be continuously com-
pensated, but by the introduction of space blocks the entire packing
max ho utilized

page_text: packing segments overlapping their joints. These guide blocks are
provided with springs d, e, h, and i, which by bearing against the
interior of the case A cause the blocks to bear firmly against the
segments and hold them in position. The guide blocks D and H are
also provided with fixed dowels m, which enter corresponding slots in
the edge of the case A and the recess in the cylinder head in which it
is placed
packing segments overlapping their joints. These guide blocks are
provided with springs d, e, h, and i, which by bearing against the
interior of the case A cause the blocks to bear firmly against the
segments and hold them in position. The guide blocks D and H are
also provided with fixed dowels m, which enter corresponding slots in
the edge of the case A and the recess in the cylinder head in which it
is placed
Instead of having two segments of packing with side guide blocks,
threo segments L as shewn in Figure 7 may be employed accompanied
with the semi-triangular guide blocks M, which are interposed between
the segments.
A spring washer K placed in the packing box with its springs so. set
as to continually force it outward against the inner faces of the first set
of segments, serves to hold them in proper position and prevent any.
movement of the packing within the box.
It will be observed that the segmental packing as it wears away is
compensated by the action of the springs.
The blocks being slightly less in width than the diameter of the rod,
it is evident that no contact between the two can ever occur, and by the
introduction of space blocks of a cheaper metal between the springs and
the outer ends of the segments, the expensive metallic packing may be
fully economized. .
The guide blocks need not be made of the same kind of metal as that
used for the segments, as they will never come in frictional contact with
the piston rod.
I am aware that a variety of segmental metallic packings actuated
by springs have been proposed.
I am not aware that any have heretofore been made in which the
segments were so formed that, while the wear was being continuously
compensated, it was impossible for them to come in contact and prevent
proper relation with the piston rod.
Neither am I aware that prior to my Invention guide blocks were
used to hold the several segments in proper relation to the valve or
niston rod.

page_text: In seginent packings composed of semi-triangular blocks having their
points of contact with the rod at their inner or smaller ends to con-
tinuously compensate for their wear, broad spaces must be left between
them; if narrower spaces be employed, the edges would soon come
together and prevent proper contact with the rod.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The improvement in metallic packing for piston and other
similar rods, consisting of the several packing segments corresponding in
form and having parallel sides, and a width sufficiently less than the
diameter of the rod with which they are to be used, to prevent their
contact with each other while compensating for their continuous wear
and at the same time to cause them to practically surround the rod,
substantially as shown and described.
Second. The several packing segments in combination with their
respective guide blocks, all of which are provided with springs and
arranged to operate substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-ninth day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
tivo
Witness,
EDWARD C. JACKSON.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)