IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING FOR THE PISTON RODS OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1876

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 PACKING FOR THE PISTON RODS OF STEAM AND OTHER
ENGINES." A communication from abroad by John Tolbert Wright, Engi-
noer, and Martin Schnéble, Machinist, both of Dayton, Ohio, United States
of America.
caled the 30th Juno 1876, and dated the 13th May 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th May 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING FOR THE PISTON
RODS OF STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES." A communication from abroad by John
Tolbert Wright, Engineer, and Martin Schnéble, Machinist, both of Dayton, Ohio,
United States of America.
This Invention has relation to piston rod packings, and comprises a packing box,
having an aperture entirely through it for the passage of the piston rod, the said
aperture being conically enlarged on the steam side for the reception of a series of
cleft packing rings, having the form of conical frustums, and the said box having at
its outer end a spherically curved or rocking bearing, and at its inner end an elastic
bearing designed to yield to any movement of the box; also the construction and
arrangement of bearings for the rocking box, and the combination with such a box
surrounding a piston rod of cleft rings of soft metal designed to be compressed by
the force of the steam and wedging action of the conical cavity of said box to
form a solid mass and bind both rod and box closely, as will be herein-after fully

page_text: bolts a.
C designates the packing box, having an aperture entirely through it for
the passage of the piston rod. The outer end of this box is ground to a spherically
curved surface to fit a socket ring E, which is provided with a corresponding con-
cave spherically curved surface. This ring is located within the hollow of the
stuffing box A, provided with an end wall b, against which it bears.
B represents the piston rod which passes centrally through the ring E, packing
hox C, and stuffing box A, the apertures being slightly larger than the diameter of
the rod, for the purpose of allowing it a degree of lateral play. The ring E being
of the saine or nearly the same diameter as the bore of the stufling box A, is de-
signed to hold its position when there is any vibration of the packing box in
adjusting itself to any deviation of the piston rod from the true line. The aperture
through the ring is designed to be larger than that through the packing box at the
smaller end of the conical cavity, so that the thickness of the ring will be com-
paratively small, and the frictional bearing surface proportionately diminished.
The interior of the box C shows its aperture expanded towards the steam side, in
conical form, providing around the rod, when in position, an annular conical cavity,
for the reception of the packing rings F, G, H. These rings are arranged in series,
adjacent to each other, respectively by their circular faces, which are ground plane
and true. Their apertures or inner surfaces are cylindrical, and their outer surfaces
conical, the inclination being made according to that of the conical wall of the cavity
in the packing box, which is variable in different boxes, being made to correspond
to the steam pressure or power of the engine within certain limits. The said rings
are made of soft metal, and are cleft at one point, as shown in the Drawing, suitable
pins and mortise holes being provided to dowel them together and permit their
rotating one upon another and bringing the clefts into line with each other.
S designates an elastic bearing or spring designed to bear at one end upon the
cylinder head or floor of the stuffing box, and at the other against the larger
packing ring, a plate ring I, which is not cleft, being interposed as a bearing and to
keep the ends of said packing ring up to their work. When the engine is at rest
this spring serves to keep the packing rings in place, the steam pressure serving for
this purpose when the engine is in operation. At the same time the steam pressure
serves to press the rings into the box C with sufficient force to compress the soft
metal of which they are composed, clamping them solidly together, and serving to
prevent their rotating even without the use of dowel pins, which may therefore
often be dispensed with. The pressure of the steam also serves to close the rings
upon the rod and against the conical surface of the box C, securing a steam-tight
joint.
The collar or plate ring I serves also to equalize and distribute the reactive force
of the spring S over the whole of the surface of the packing ring against which it
bears. And when the box C is tilted or thrown out of truth by any fault in the rod
or other defect, its movement upon its socket bearing at the outer end of the box A
will be counteracted by the yielding of the spring and its plate I. It is advisable
to regulate the proportion between the altitude and base of the conical chamber in
the box C to correspond with the power of the engine, in order to avoid, on the
one hand, unduly wedging the packing rings upon the rod, and on the other too
light a pressure upon the rings, which would not then be kept up to their work.
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 under-
stood that I claim,―
First. The packing box C, having through it a passage for the piston rod, which
passage is enlarged towards the steam side in conical form, and provided on the
outer end with a spherical or rocking bearing surface, as above specified.
Second. The combination with a packing box C, having a spherically curved end
surface, and an aperture enlarged on the steam side in conical form of an outer box
A, socket ring E, annular soft metal packing rings, plate ring I, and spring S, ns
above specified.
Third. The combination with a packing box, having a conical cavity on the steam

page_text: side around the piston rod, and a spherical bearing at its outer end of the soft metal
packing rings within said cavity, the collar or plate ring 1, and a yielding bearing
on the steam side of said ring, as above specified.
Fourth. The piston packing, consisting of the outer box A, rocking packing box
C, having a conical aperture for the rod conical packing rings F, G, H, in said
aperture around the rod plate ring I, socket ring E, and spring S, as above
specified.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert, Lake, have hereunto Bet my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
Witness,
HENRY JAMES NOONE
W. ROBT. LAKE. (LS.)