IMPROVEMENTS IN STUFFING-BOXES, AND THE PACKING THEREOF FOR THE PISTON RODS OF STEAM ENGINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STUFFING-BOXES, AND THE PACKING THEREOF FOR THE PISTON RODS OF STEAM
ENGINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."-A communication from abroad by
E. S. Renwick, of 335, Broadway, New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 22nd February 1861, and dated the 27th August 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tomlinson
Bousfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 27th August 1860.
. I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STUFFING-BOXES AND THE PACKING THEREOF FOR THE PISTON RODS OF
STEAM ENGINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The object of the Invention is to provide an efficient means of packing
piston rods and other members of machines requiring packing that will take
up but little space in the direction of the length of the rod, permit the packing
to be set up with more or less force at different parts thereof, according to the
exigencies that arise, and will also permit the ready renewal of the packing as it
is worn away. To this end part of the Invention consists in a stuffing-box, which
is a combination of a series of radiating sockets to receive the packing in dis-

page_text: connected parts, with a corresponding series of independent radiating com-
pressers, by whose action the part of the packing in each socket can be set up
with the requisite force independently of the remainder of the packing.
The Invention consists, further, in a compound packing brick composed of
a fibrous material (such as hemp), and of a lubricating material (such as
tallow), of the proper form for the sockets of the new stuffing-box. The
stuffing-box for a steam engine piston rod consists of several sockets; these
sockets radiate from the piston rod, and are each furnished with a compresser.
The compressers are fitted to slide loosely in their respective sockets in
directions radial. to the piston rod, and each compresser is acted upon by
preference by a screw, by means of which it can be forced towards the piston
rod. The screws pass through lugs cast upon the steam cylinder cover, and
have capstan heads, by means of which they can be readily turned. The
packing which is preferred to be used with this stuffing-box is composed of
hemp and tallow, and is formed by placing a mass of loose hemp saturated
with hot tallow in a mould of proper size, and submitting it to the action of a
press, by means of which the surplus tallow is pressed out, and the mass
caused to assume the form of a brick of a suitable size for the sockets of the
stuffing-box.
In using a stuffing-box constructed as above described, the screws are run
back from the compressers; the compressers are removed, and one of the
compound packing bricks is inserted in each socket; the compressers are then
replaced and set up by the screws, so as to force the ends of the packing
bricks against the piston rod with sufficient pressure to render the packing
tight. As the packing wears away at the surface of the piston rod it is readily
set up by means of the screws, and as the packing is composed of parts each
of which can be set up independently of the others, by moving its respective
_compresser; any difference in the wear of the packing at different parts of
the surface of the piston rod can be compensated by setting up furthest the
part most worn, without producing an undue strain upon the remainder of the
packing. When any division of the packing is worn away to such an extent
as to require renewal the compresser is withdrawn, and a new packing brick is
inserted behind the remnant of the old packing in the socket, after which the
compresser is set up again.
When the compound packing bricks are not at hand common packing yarn
or india-rubber packing may be inserted in the sockets of the packing box,
thus using the first part of the Invention without the second part thereof.
This Invention is applicable to various purposes, as, for example, the
packing of pump rods, pump plungers, the trunnions of oscillating engines,

page_text: and propeller shafts, and as many sockets and compressers may be used
as are found to be expedient for the purpose to which the Invention is
applied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th February 1861.
•
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD,. of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in, the twenty-fourth year
of Her, reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, Her special licence that
I,. the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, 'my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, 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, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STUFFING-
BOXES AND THE PACKING THEREOF FOR THE PISTON RODS OF STEAM ENGINES; AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES," a communication to me from abroad by E. S. Renwick,
of 335, Broadway, New York, United States of America, upon the condition;
(amongst others) that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, 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 George Tomlinson Bousfield, 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 by the,
following statement thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying Drawing,
in which Figure 1 represents a plan of an application of the Invention to the

page_text: piston rod of a steam cylinder; Figure 2, a transverse section of the same;
and Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a compound packing brick
suitable, for the stuffing box represented in Figures 1 and 2.
:
The object of the Invention is to provide an efficient means of packing
piston rods, and other members of machines requiring packing, that will take
up but little space in the direction of the length of the rod, permit the packing
to be set up with more or less force at different parts thereof, according to the
exigencies that arise, and will also, permit the ready renewal of the packing,
as it is worn away.
To this end the first part of the Invention consists in a stuffing-box which
is a combination of a series of radiating sockets to receive the packing; in
disconnected parts with a corresponding series of independent radiating com-
pressers, by whose action the part of the packing in each socket can be set
up with the requisite force independently of the remainder of the packing.
The Invention consists-further in a compound packing brick composed of a
fibrous material (such as hemp), and of a lubricating material (such as tallow},
of the proper form for the sockets-of-the-new-stuffing-box..
In the accompanying Drawing the Invention is represented as applied to
the piston rod of a steam engine where it passes through the head of the steam
cylinder, and the stuffing-box is secured to the head of the steam. cylinder.
The 'stuffing-box in this instance consists of six sockets formed by the cylinder
head A, the cap plate B, and the wedge-formed partitions shown in dotted
lines at c, c, Figure 1. These sockets radiate from the piston rod D, and are
each furnished with a compresser F. The compressers are fitted to slide
loosely in their respective sockets in directions radial to the piston rod, and
each compresser is acted upon by a screw 9, by means of which it can be
forced towards the piston rod. The screws 9 pass through lugs cast upon the
cylinder head, and have capstan heads e, by means of which they can be readily
turned. The packing which I prefer to use with this stuffing-box.is composed.
of hemp and tallow, and is formed by placing a mass of loose hemp saturated
with hot tallow in a mould of proper size, and submitting it to the action of a
press, by means of which the surplus tallow is pressed out, and the mass
caused to assume the form of a brick of a suitable size for the sockets of the
stuffing-box.
In using a stuffing box constructed as above described, the screws g are run
back from the compressers, the compressers are removed, and one of the
compound packing bricks is inserted in each socket; the compressers are then
replaced and set up by the screws, so as to force the ends of the packing
bricks against the piston rod with sufficient pressure to render the packing

page_text: tight. As the packing wears away at the surface of the piston rod, it is readily
set up by means of the screws, and as the packing is composed of parts, each
of which can be set up independently of the others, by moving its respective
compresser, any difference in the wear of the packing at different parts of the
surface of the piston rod, can be compensated by setting up furthest the part
most worn, without producing an undue strain upon the remainder of the
packing. When any division of the packing is worn away to such an extent
as to require renewal, the compresser is withdrawn, and a new packing brick
is inserted behind the remnant of the old packing in the socket, after which
the compresser is set up again.
When the compound packing bricks are not at hand, common packing yarn
or india-rubber packing may be inserted in the sockets of the packing-box,
thus using the first part of the Invention without the second part thereof.
This Invention is applicable to various purposes, as, for example, the packing
of pump rods, pump plungers, the trunnions of oscillating engines, and
propeller shafts, and as many sockets and compressers may be used as are
found to be expedient for the purpose to which the Invention is applied.
What I claim as the Invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,
a stuffing-box which is a combination of radiating sockets with independent
compressers, substantially as described.
I also claim a compound packing brick composed of a fibrous material and a
lubricating substance compressed into the proper shape to fit the sockets of the
stuffing box, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal this Eleventh day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
GEC. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.
(L.S.)