IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC SPRING PACKINGS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC SPRING PACKINGS."-A communication
from abroad by Henry Bertrand, Civil Engineer, and Franço
Velut, Machinist, both of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 26th February 1869, and dated the 9th September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 9th September 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC SPRING PACKINGS," to be.
as follows:-
The improved metallic spring packing is represented in the accom-
panying Drawing as applied to a steam engine of two horse power as
a substitute for the hemp packing usually employed, a perfectly tight

page_text: joint being obtained, preventing any escape of steam around the piston
rod while working.
Figure 1 shows a front view of the improved packing; Figure 2, a
central vertical section of same; Figure 3 shows an inside vace view
of the gland with inclined surfaces K and spaces S; Figure 4 is a
central horizontal section of the arrangement; Figure 5, a transverse
section of the socket made in two parts b, b', also showing space g for
receiving packings a, a¹; Figure 6 is a transverse section on line A, B,
Figure 2, taken through the fixing screws T of packings a, a', also
showing sockets b, b; lastly Figure 7 shows a transverse section of
the packing gland and sockets b, b'. The metallic spring packing is
composed of two packing segments a, a', two half sockets b, b', and a
spring c, to the construction and arrangement of which parts the present
improvements relate, the packing u and gland d being but accessories
employed in all hemp packings. When the steam acts on piston P so
as to advance it in the direction of the arrow it also seeks an escapc
at the annular passage between the piston rod X and packing ring 14
caused by the wear resulting from the friction of the parts. The steam
however will be prevented from further escaping by the joint e formed
by the ends of the sockets and packing segments abutting against the
packing ring before mentioned. If the joint should however prove
defective the steam would find a fresh impediment to its progress at
the joint between the packing segments and the sockets. The joint
between the packing ring u and the stuffing box is rendered perfect
by interposing a vulcanized india-rubber washer V. When the packing
is new the segments a, a', bear throughout their external diameter
against the sides of the recess g in the sockets in which they are in-
serted; but as through the wear caused by the friction of the piston
rod the sockets b, b¹, require to be brought together in a horizontal
direction by means of the gland d and spring c, the packing segments
a, a³, acted on by the sockets partake in the same movement but in
a vertical direction, the angles I being always in contact with the
interior of the recess g; the joints e and f still however remain the
same as the segments are not subject to any wear in the direction of
their length. In order to effect the adjustment of the sockets and
consequently of the packing segments the packing gland is provided
with an inclined surface K, which as the gland is moved forward by
the pressure of the spring bears against a similar inclined surface K'

page_text: formed on the sockets, thus bringing the latter closer together. The
inclined surface of the gland is removed on the two sides S in order
to allow for the difference of diameter between the gland orifice which
always retains its circular form and the sockets, whose exterior through
wear forms intersections of two arcs of circles, the centres of which
gradually recede from one another. The force with which the gland
should bear on the sockets is regulated by the spring c.
This spring
not only serves to prevent excessive pressure in tightening nuts R
when acting directly on the gland by their means, but its chief purpose
is to constantly act on the gland and so adjust the position of the sockets
as they wear away. The socket for this reason is made in two parts
as shown, leaving a space m between them which is gradually reduced
although necessary for their proper action, and when through the wear
of the parts the two halves of the socket are brought in contact the
space must be renewed. In order to prevent the spring from touching
the piston rod the ends of the half sockets are made to project beyond
the gland, the spring being mounted on a shoulder o, as shown. This
improved metallic packing is applicable to all kinds of engines, as no
alteration is required in the covers of the cylinders, while the only
modification in the gland consists in providing it with the inclined
surface shown in order to produce the desired action on the socket and
packing segments.
It will be understood that the form and dimensions of the various
mon ho roxied without donating from the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-

page_text: second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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
terin 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 METALLIC SPRING PACKINGS," a communication to me from abroad by
Henry Bertrand, Civil Engineer, and François Velut, Machinist, both
of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 'my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed and to the letters and figures markod thereon (that
is to say)-
The improved metallic spring packing is represented in the accom-
panying Drawing as applied to the piston rod of a steam engine of two
horse power as a substitute for the hemp packing usually employed, a
perfectly tight joint being obtained proventing any escape of steam
around the piston rod while working.
Figure 1 shows a front view of the improved packing, and Figure 2 a
vertical section of same; Figure 3 shows an inside face view of the
gland with inclined surfaces K and spaces S; Figure 4 is a central
horizontal section of the arrangement; Figure 5, a transverse section of
the socket made in two parts 6, 6', also showing space g for receiving
packings a, a; Figure 6 is a transverse section on line A, B, Figure 2,
taken through the fixing screws r of packings a, a', also showing sockets
b, b'; lastly, Figure 7 shows a transverse section of the packing gland

page_text: and sockets b, b'. The metallic spring packing is composed of two
packing segments a, a', two half sockets b, b', and a spring c, to the
construction and arrangement of which parts the present improvements
relate, the packing ring u and gland d being but accessories employed
in all hemp packings. When the steam acts on the piston P so as to
advance it in the direction of the arrow it also seeks an escape at the
annular passage between the piston rod X and packing ring ų caused
by the wear resulting from the friction of the parts. The steam how-
ever will be prevented from further escaping by the joint e formed by
the ends of the sockets and packing segments abutting against the
packing ring before mentioned. If the joint should however prove
defective the steam would find a fresh impediment to its progress at
the joint between the packing segments and the sockets.. The joint
between the packing ring u and the stuffing box is rendered perfect by
interposing a vulcanized india-rubber washer V. When the packing
is new the segments a, a', bear throughout their external diameter
against the sides of the recess g in the sockets in which they are in-
serted; but as through the wear caused by the friction of the piston
rod the sockets 6, 6', require to be brought together in a horizontal
direction by means of the gland d and spring c the packing segments
a, a', acted on by the sockets partake in the same movement but in a
vertical direction, the angles I being always in contact with the interior
of the recess g; the joints e and f still however remain' the same as
the segments are not subject to any wear in the direction of their
length. In order to effect the adjustment of the sockets and conse-
quently of the packing segments the packing gland is provided with
an inclined surface K, which as the gland is moved forward by the
pressure of the spring bears against a similar inclined surface K¹ formed
on the sockets, thus bringing the latter closer together. The inclined
surface of the gland is removed on the two sides S in order to allow
for the difference of diameter between the gland orifice which always
retains its circular form and the sockets, whose exterior through wear
forms intersections of two arcs of circles, the centres of which gradually
recede from one another. The force with which the gland should bear
5 on the sockets is regulated by the spring c. This spring not only serves
to prevent excessive pressure in tightening nuts R when acting directly
on the gland by their means, but its chief purpose is to constantly act
on the gland and so adjust the position of the sockets as they wear
The socket for this reason is made in two parts, as shown,
away.

page_text: leaving á space m between them which is gradually reduced although
necessary for their proper action, and when through the wear of the
parts the two halves of the socket are brought in contact the space
must be renewed as before. In order to prevent the spring from
touching the piston rod the ends of the half sockets are made to project
beyond the gland, the spring being mounted on a shoulder o, as shown.
This improved metallic packing is applicable to all kinds of engines, as
no alteration is required in the covers of the cylinders, while the only
modification in the gland consists in providing it with the inclined'
surface shown in order to produce the desired action on the socket and
packing segments.
It will be understood that the form and dimensions of the various
parts may be varied without departing from the principle of the
Invention.
i
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
segments a, a, sockets 6, 6', and spring c combined and arranged
so as to form a metallic spring packing to be used in stuffing boxes
in lieu of hemp, substantially in the manner shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and sixty-
nine.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)