IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING FOR Terrace, in the of. STEAM ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINERY
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Ambrose Brydges at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1881. A com-
munication by Wilhelm Wolff, senior, of the City of Berlin and Empire
of Germany.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES, of the Firm of Brydges & Co., Engineers, of
73, Koeinggraetzer Strasse, Berlin, in the German Empire, and 6, St. Leonard's
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING FOR
Terrace, Upton, in the County of Middlesex.
STEAM ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINERY." A communication by Wilhelm Wolff,
Senior, of the City of Berlin and Empire of Germany, aforesaid.
This Invention relates to improvements in packing for steam engines and other
machinery, and consists in the production of a thoroughly durable packing, whereby
all the disadvantages and inconveniences experienced with the existing packings
are, entirely avoided.
The packing. hitherto manufactured for rendering stuffing boxes and the like
stean, gas, or air tight, possesses the disadvantages that the fibrous material of
which said packing is chiefly made is easily injured or destroyed, such as, for
instance, hemp, cotton, asbestos, and other packing.
The irst named kind of packing (hemp) suffers considerably when subjected to
great heat or high temperature, whereas the latter (asbestos) is in a short time
rendered inefficient by the friction of the rod in the stuffing box. Both of these
aforenamed circumstances cause a more or less rapid destruction of the texture, so
that the packing no longer holds together, and becomes loose in the stuffing box, so
that the joint is no longer tight.
Portions of the packing can be readily driven out by the rod or shaft, and
especially when the same is not perfectly smooth, or is in the least degree indented,
split, or cracked. The box can in such cases not be held tight, even by screwing
up the cover, so that a stoppage of the machine is occasioned. If the fibrous
matter is employed with lubricating material, such as talc, graphite, etc., the same
disadvantages arise, the outer covering of the packing core is damaged by heat or
friction, and as soon as the said packing is no longer able to hold properly
together, the pulverized portions of the filling or of the packing are easily carried
away or forced out by the steam, etc. The packing is consequently no longer
steam tight, so that the operation of the machine is disturbed, and further, the

page_text: tale, graphite, or other material employed, is frequently carried into the canals of
the machine, so that the same are partially choked.
I overcome these disadvantages and obtain a durable semi metallic packing by
braiding a wire or wires of suitable metal or metallic alloy with and into the
outer or other layer of fibrous or other material, and thus a more durable packing
is produced.
These said metallic threads or wires hold the various parts of the packing together,
and produce not only a metallic packing, but also give when employed in connection
with hemp, flax, cotton, asbestos, or other similar material, a durable packing which
will hold together until used up. When the fibrous material or materials are
employed in connection with lubricating matter, such as talc, graphite, caoutchouc, etc.,
the packing retains its valuable properties correctly up to the last, as the same is
protected and held together by the metallic threads or wires, and thus remains in
perfect working condition. This latter advantage shows itself especially when the
improved packing with its metallic threads or wires has been subjected to con-
siderable wear from one side only, as is the case with piston rod packing, as the
said improved packing continues to hold firmly together by means of the three
sides which remain intact, so that the materials can be employed as before, and still
preserve a tight joint. It is thus evident that besides its great durability, an
enormous saving in packing, time, and labour is achieved.
In order to protect the fibrous material employed, such as hemp, cotton, etc.,
where a high temperature is attained, and where the packing is not subjected to
great friction, I also employ a packing whereby the outer surface is protected by a
cover or layer of braided or twisted asbestos. It is thus evident that I employ
besides my packing, as first described, two modifications of the same, that is, in all
three kinds of packing, i.e.,-
(1.) Cotton with tale greased with tallow or other suitable lubricant, and braided
with metallic threads or wires.
(2.) Cotton with tale and asbestos covering or outer layer, braided with metallic
threads or wires.
(3.) Cotton or its equivalent with talc and asbestos, braided without the employ-
ment of metallic threads or wires.