Improved Metallic Packing for. Rods and Plungers of Steam Engines, Pumps, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification .Left, 21st Aug., 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Metallic Packing for. Rods and Plungers of Steam Engines,
Pumps, and the like.
DAVID THOMAS, Mechanical Engineer, The Cottage, Dinas, near Pontypridd,
Glamorganshire. I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to obe as
follows:-
The improvement is, a conical shaped spiral, bored out truly to 'fit piston rod, or
plunger, the external diameter truly turned to fit stuffing box, the spiral is tapered
to each end an inch, making it similar in shape, to that of a barrel, on each end
of the spiral, a washer is fitted, truly bored to piston rod, or plunger, add also the
conical shape spiral, and truly turned to match stuffing box, a space is left between
washer face and the ends of the spiral for allowing the washers to.contract the
spiral to the piston rod, or plungers, the whole is now put in the stuffing box, and
the stuffing box gland, in the usual way placed, to keep the packing in position,
when the steam escapes from the cylinder to the stuffing box, the innermust washer
acts as a piston, moves on the conical spiral which contracts to the piston rod, or
plunger; thus preventing steam from escaping, and reducing the friction to a very
low point indeed.
Dated this 6th of February 1895
XAZOLE ELE SI LETATION.
Improved Metallic Packing' for Rods and Plungers of Steam Engines,
Pumps, and the like.
I, DAVID THOMAS of The Cottage, Dinas, near Pontypridd, in the County of
Glamorgan, Engineer, 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 metallic packings for rods and plungers of steam engines,
pumps, and the like; and is applicable generally for packing all rods and plungers
to their stuffing boxes or analogous parts, against the resilience of any elastic fluid
under pressure.
It consists in the combination of a spiral spring having a major diameter the
centre tapering to a minor one at each end and a similarly shaped cup adapted to.
embrace each half spring from the small end up to nearly the centre of the spring.
This combination is inserted in the stuffing box between the two ends of it and the
rod to be packed.
Referring to the accompanying figure which is a sectional longitudinal elevation
illustrative of the construction of my invention :-
A is the stuffing box; B, its gland; C, the neck bush; and D, the rod to be
packed. All these parts are of the same construction as heretofore.
E is the spiral spring. In side elevation it is of a larger diameter in the middle
than at any other point. It decreases in diameter from the centre towards both
ends, gradually and equally, thereby acquiring the appearance of two equal cones
placed base to base.

page_text: This spring is bored out longitudinally to fit the periphery of the rod D truly,
and turned on its own periphery to fit the inside of the cups next described.
F, F are the two cups. They are both of the same size. The bottom of each
is bored to fit the periphery of the rod D, and its periphery turned to fit the stuffing
box truly. The inside of each cup is turned out to the same taper as the respective
half spring. The length of a cup from bottom to edge, is less than half the depth
of the stuffing box, for the purpose of providing a clear space G into which the
cups can be made to approach each other. Further, there is a clear space H
provided between the bottom of each cup and the respective end of the spring,
which clear space is adapted to receive the said end as it is forced away from the
said centre under the approximation of the two cups.
I, are packings of loose material interposed between the outer ends or bottoms
of the cups, F, F, and the respective neck bushes. J is packing of loose material
between the turns of the spiral spring E.
The action of the invention is as follows. As the gland B is screwed up, the
cup F is forced up to the cup F¹, and the spring tightened up to the periphery of
the rod. Pressure from the cylinder or whatever it may be, between the neck
bush C and the rod D, comes upon the outer end or bottom of the cup F¹ and
pushes it up over the respective end of the spring, thereby forcing it into closer
contact with the periphery of the rod D.
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 combination of cups and doubly conical spring, as set forth.
2. The combination of stuffing box, gland, cups and doubly conical spring, as
set forth.
Dated this 21st day or August 1895.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.