Improvements in Metallic Packing for Steam Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Packing for Steam Engines.
I, WILLIAM WHYTE, of Lombard Street, in the City and County of Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My invention relates to certain improvements in the method of fitting metallic
packing in the stuffing boxes, by which greater elasticity and freedom for adjustment,
with adequate lubrication, are secured with double gland.
The packing rings are of the ordinary <section those next the rod being,
preferably, made of a special mixture of antifriction metal with a melting point
of 2000° Faht. but may be made of any suitable alloy such as ordinary white metal
the melting point of which is about 750° to suit requirements and those next the
stuffing box of gun metal. Between the inner packing ring and the neck ring I
insert a flat ring in which are cavities to receive steel springs which are compressed
between the packing and the neck ring by the gland when screwed up, thus giving an
elastic instead of a rigid adjustment and between the outer packing ring and the main
gland is another flat ring with a groove in which is fitted a spring packing ring, or
rings, preferably of Ramsbottom's construction, to prevent steam passing from
behind the metallic packing. Upon the stud bolts between the main gland and the
stuffing box flange are thimbles or washers to prevent the packing being too tightly
screwed up against the inner springs and thus destroying their elastic action.
Lubrication is supplied to soft packing in a stuffing box formed in the main gland
and closed by an auxiliary gland. When applied in the form of what is known as
" floating" metallic packing I enclose the packing rings in a case, preferably made in
halves, which fits loosely the stuffing box, the flat ring with cavities to receive steel
springs being also enclosed in the case the springs being compressed by a recessed
ring which bears against the neck ring of the stuffing box with a convex bearing to
give it free adjusting movement. The closed outer end of the case bears against the
inner end of the gland and has also a convex bearing surface and is further grooved
to receive a spring packing ring or rings preferably of Ramsbottom's construction
to prevent steam passing from behind the case.
In some cases as for horizontal engines I fit both ends of the case with such rings
and I may alternatively insert the case with its closed end next the neck ring the
springs being compressed between the closed end and the inner ring of the metallic
packing by a recessed ring next the gland. When these springs are compressed by
the screwing up of the gland, as the packing rings wear, their further and injurious
compression is prevented by the flat ring which contains them coming against the
recessed ring, or against the inside of the case, and no further screwing up of the
gland is possible till the packing has been adjusted and the springs allowed to recover
their elasticity. Lubrication is provided as before explained. The freedom of
movement of the case containing the metallic packing afforded by the space around
it in the stuffing box and its convex bearing against the neck ring and the gland
allows it to adjust itself to the working of the piston or other rod without straining
or undue friction and perfectly steam-tight.
Dated this 13th day of December 1880
T. J. DANSON,
Per L.W.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Packing for Steam Engines.
I, WILLIAM WHYTE of Lombard Street in the City and County of Newcastle-
upon-Tyne Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said 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 certain improvements in the method of fitting metallic
packing in the stuffing boxes by which greater elasticity and freedom for adjustment,
with adequate lubrication, are secured with double gland.
The packing rings are of the ordinary section those next the rod being
preferably made of a special mixture of antifriction metal with a melting point
of 2000° Fabt. but may be made of any suitable alloy such as ordinary white metal
the melting point of which is about 750° to suit requirements and those next the
stuffing box of gun metal. Between the inner packing ring and the neck ring I
insert a flat ring in which are cavities to receive steel springs which are compressed
between the packing and the neck ring by the gland when screwed up, thus giving
an elastic instead of a rigid adjustment and between the outer packing ring and the
main gland is another flat ring with a groove in which is fitted a spring packing
ring, or rings, preferably of Ramsbottom's construction, to prevent steam passing
from behind the metallic packing. Upon the stud bolts between the main gland
and the stuffing box flange are thimbles or washers to prevent the packing being too
tightly screwed up against the inner springs and thus destroying their clastic action.
Lubrication is supplied to soft packing in a stuffing box formed in the main gland
and closed by an auxiliary gland. When applied in the form of what is known as
floating" metallic packing I enclose the packing rings in a case, preferably made
in halves, which fits loosely the stuffing box, the flat ring with cavities to receive
steel springs being also enclosed in the case the springs being compressed by a
recessed ring which bears against the neck ring of the stuffing box with a convex
bearing to give it free adjusting movement. The closed outer end of the case bears
against the inner end of the gland and has also a convex bearing surface and is
further grooved to receive a spring packing ring or rings preferably of Ramsbottom's
construction to prevent steam passing from behind the case.
"
In some cases as for horizontal engines I fit both ends of the case with such rings
and I may alternatively insert the case with its closed end next the neck ring the
springs being compressed between the closed end and the inner ring of the metallic
packing by a recessed ring next the gland. When these springs are compressed by
the screwing up of the gland as the packing rings wear their further and injurious
compression is prevented by the flat ring which contains them coming against the
recessed ring, or against the inside of the case, and no further screwing up of the
gland is possible till the packing has been adjusted and the springs allowed to recover
their elasticity. Lubrication is provided as before explained. The freedom of
movement of the case containing the metallic packing afforded by the space around
it in the stuffing box and its convex bearing against the neck ring and the gland
allows it to adjust itself to the working of the piston or other rod without straining
or undue friction and perfectly steam tight.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings my invention is shewn in three different
forms of application.

page_text: The same letters of reference apply to similar parts on all the figs. where they
occur.
A is the stuffing box B the metallic packing outer gland C the auxiliary inner
gland by which packing D for lubrication is retained within the outer gland. The
packing rings E next the rod are preferably made of a special antifriction metal
and those FF next the stuffing box of gun metal. These rings will be preferably
fitted in segments as shewn on Fig. 4 in plan. G is a flat ring with cavities to hold
spiral springs H see plan Fig. 5. The ring J between the packing rings and the
outer gland is fitted with spring packing rings K in the manner of a piston. The
thimbles or washers I may be fitted to limit the extent to which the outer gland B
may be screwed up so as to preserve the elasticity of the packing.
In Fig. 2 the packing is enclosed in a case M which fits loosely into the stuffing
box and is closed at lower end when it is fitted with spring packing rings K like a
piston and has at its upper end a gland N which presses upon spiral springs H in the
cavities of a flat ring G and the outer surface of this ring as well as the lower end
of the case M is convex so that the case has self adjustment between the neck ring
and the outer gland. In Fig. 3 the upper end of the case M is closed and the lower
end fitted with the gland N and spring packing rings K are fitted at both ends.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner it is to be performed, although I do not restrict myself
to mere details of construction or arrangement of the various parts, nor do 1 claim
any one part as new in itself; I declare that what I claim is :-
-
The improvements in metallic packing comprising the application of a ring with
cavities holding spiral or other springs, to give elastic adjustment to the packing,
with a second ring fitted with spring packing rings, like a piston, to prevent steam
passing from behind the packing, in combination with a main outer gland to contain
soft packing for lubrication, fitted with an auxiliary gland to retain same, and the
improvements in "floating" metallic packing comprising a case containing the
packing rings fitted loosely in the stuffing box with convex ends for free adjustment
having at one end a ring holding in cavities spiral or other springs and fitted, at one
or both ends, with spring packing rings, like a piston, for the purposes before named
in combination with main and auxiliary glands."
Dated this 15th day of Sentember 1800.
T. J. DANSON, F.I.P.A.,
2, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Agent for Applicant.