Improvements in Stuffing Boxes for Steam Engine Piston Rods, Valve Rods, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stuffing Boxes for Steam Engine Piston Rods, Valve
Rods, and the like.
We, CHARLES BROOKE CRAWSHAW, of Ridings Colliery, Dewsbury, in the County
of York, Colliery Proprietor, and DAVID BANNISTER, of Shawcross, Dewsbury,
aforesaid, Colliery 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: —
Our invention relates to the stuffing boxes of steam engine piston rods, and
rods of other descriptions passing through stuffing boxes.
According to the present construction of stuffing boxes having vegetable or
mineral packing considerable friction is caused upon the piston rod, which of
necessity means a waste of power, and also fluting or scoring of the rods making
it practically impossible to keep them in anything like a steam tight condition.
The object of our invention is not so much to provide a new stuffing box as to
improve the existing one so that vegetable or mineral packing can be used with
the highest possible satisfactory results. Our improvements consist in making the
stuffing boxes of larger internal diameter and in inserting therein a perforated
metal bush of the same depth as the stuffing box. This bush leaves a cavity
between the piston rod and the bush, and between the bush and the internal side
of the stuffing box. One cavity forms an oil reservoir and the other cavity, that
s between the perforated bush and the rod, receives the vegetable or mineral
packing. Oil or other lubricant is supplied to the reservoir or well by suitable
pipe or lubricator, which oil percolates through the perforations of the metal bush,
and passes to the packing. Thus there will always be a film of oil between the
packing and the rod which will be freely and continuously lubricated whereby
scoring or fluting of the said rod will be absolutely avoided, consequently the
escape of steam which means waste, will not take place.
In the accompanying drawing illustrating our invention:
Fig. 1 is sectional elevation of a stuffing box having our improvements applied
thereto; and Fig. 2 is cross section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawings, letter represents the stuffing box which is made of
rather larger internal diameter than is usual. represents a metal bush preferably
of the same depth as the stuffing box, having perforations e spaced at suitable
distances apart all around the circumference thereof. The bush b as shewn
occupies a position intermediate of the rod and the inner side of the stuffing box,
and is provided on one side with enlargements at each end thereof, which, as
shewn abut against the inner side of the stuffing box a and form an annular
cavity or reservoir d between the perforated bush and said inner side of the stuffing
e represents the ordinary gland, and f the packing which may be either
vegetable or mineral.
Oil is supplied to the cavity or reservoir by pipe g, and the oil percolates
through the perforations c to the packing which is thus kept constantly saturated.
Consequently there is always a film of oil between the rod and the packing which
effectually prevents scoring or fluting of the rod. The bush b is shewn provided
box.

page_text: with a flange b through which the ordinary gland studs pass to hold said bushi
in position although said flange may be dispensed with and the bush made with
collars to fit the internal bore of the stuffing box and driven tightly into position
therein.
The number and size of the perforations c, and their disposition around the bush
may be varied to suit requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
The application to and combination with stuffing boxes of suitable internal
diameter, of a perforated metal bush preferably of the same depth as the stuffing
box, and occupying a position intermediate of the piston rod and the stuffing box,
so as to form or leave a cavity on one side for receiving and containing a supply
of oil, and on the opposite side or nearest the piston rod a second cavity adapted
to receive the packing, which is kept constantly charged with lubricant percolating
through the perforated bush from the oil cavity substantially as herein described
and for the purposes set forth.
4
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicants.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicants.