Improvements in Metallic Packings for Piston and Pump Rods, Plungers, Air Pumps, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 24th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Packings for Piston and Pump Rods,
Plungers, Air Pumps, and the like.
I, ALEXANDER MAXWELL GRANT of 24 Witch Road, Kilmarnock in the County
of Ayr, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object to substitute for ordinary hemp, cotton, asbestos
and other packings, an improved metallic packing with which if desired fibrous
packing may be combined and the improved packing constituting the Invention
consists of a ring which is formed of two parts of similar shape, one being super-
posed on the other, the said ring being made of brass, gun metal, phosphor bronze or
other alloy. The interior surface of each section of the ring next the rod or plunger to
be packed is recessed with horizontal or spiral grooves or with pockets or chambers
arranged diagonally or otherwise, the grooves, pockets or chambers being filled with
a soft alloy such as Babbits metal or with hemp, cotton, asbestos, mica or other
substance which will have at once a lubricating and soft contact with the rod or
plunger to be packed.
Two packing rings each composed of two sections are preferably used in the
stuffing box, the top surface of the upper one and the bottom surface of the lower
one where they bear on the upper and lower packing glands of the box being made
in the arc of a circle and grooved or recessed to receive soft metal or alloy The
higher extremity of the upper segment and the lower extremity of the under segment
of each ring is flanged whilst around the meeting extremities of the two segments
there is placed a ring of metal which may be formed either in one or two pieces.
Both surfaces of this ring (upper and lower) are bevelled as is also the under
surface of the upper flange and the upper surface of the lower flange of each segment
the bevels being in opposite directions. Into the spaces so formed outer circular
rings made of brass or steel are introduced these rings being each made in halves
or split the two ends not meeting by a distance sufficient to allow strong spiral
springs to be when in full tension fastened to them the said springs when so
fastened drawing the rings inwards with such strain as to force them into contact
with the bevelled surfaces thus causing the lower section of the upper ring to bear
tightly upon the upper section of the lower ring and the higher and under section
of the upper and lower rings to bear tightly against the glands of the stuffing box
when the upper gland is screwed down whilst at the same time all sections of the
rings are made to bear tight against the piston or plunger.
Under a modification the ring surrounding the meeting surfaces of the upper and
lower segments of the packing ring may be dispensed with and in lieu of employing
circular outer rings, outer spring rings having flat sides with their upper and lower
ends rounded may be used. These oblong rings may be made in halves or split the
parts being connected together by right and left hand screws so that the tension may
be regulated as desired.
Dated this Twenty-second day of January 1890.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Packings for Piston and Pump Rods,
Plungers, Air Pumps, and the like.
I, ALEXANDER MAXWELL GRANT of 24 Witch Road, Kilmarnock, in the County
of Ayr, 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 :-
This Invention has for its object to substitute for ordinary hemp, cotton, asbestos,
and other packings, an improved metallic packing with which if desired fibrous
packing may be combined and as shewn by the vertical sections figures 1 and 2 of the
annexed drawings the improved packing consists of a ring A, which is formed of two
split parts or sections of similar shape, one being superposed on the other. The said
ring is made of brass, gun metal, phosphor bronze or other alloy and the interior
surface of each section next the rod or plunger B, to be packed is recessed with a
pocket or chamber C, which is filled with a soft alloy such as Babbits metal or with
hemp, cotton, asbestos, mica or other substance which will have at once a lubricating
and soft contact with the rod or plunger B.
Two packing rings each composed of two sections are preferably used in the stuffing
box, but as many more as may be found convenient or is desired may be employed
the top surface of the upper section and the bottom surface of the lower one where
they bear on the upper and lower packing glands D, of the box being bevilled or
inclined or made in the arc of a circle the bearing surfaces of the glands D, being
similarly formed. The higher extremity of the upper segment and the lower extremity
of the under segment of each ring is flanged as at E, whilst around the meeting
extremities F, of the two segments there is under one modification placed a ring G,
of metal which may be formed either in one or two pieces. Both surfaces of the
ring G, (upper and lower) are bevilled as is also the under surface of the upper and
the upper surface of the lower flange E, of each ring the bevils being in opposite
directions. Into the spaces so formed rings H, figure 3, composed of strong spiral
springs of brass or steel are inserted the opposite ends of each spring when in full
tension being fastened together. When so fastened the contractive energy of the
springs acts on the bevilled rings G, and on the flanges E, with such stress as to cause
the lower section of the upper ring Á, to bear tightly upon the upper section of the
lower ring and the higher and under section of the upper and lower rings to bear
tightly against the glands D of the stuffing box when the upper gland is screwed down
whilst at the same time all sections of the rings are made to bear tight against the
piston or plunger B.
Under the modification shewn by figures 2 and 4 the rings G, are dispensed with
and a band J, substituted therefor. The edges of the band bear on the upper and
lower flanges E, of each ring A, and its ends are connected by a strong spiral spring K,
when in full tension and whose action is by drawing the ends of the band closer
together to force the lower section of the upper ring A, against the upper section of
the under one and the higher and lower section of the upper and lower rings to bear
tightly on the packing glands D, when the upper gland is screwed down. The bands J,
instead of being solid may be hollow and have their ends connected as set forth or
they may be made in halves or split the ends being connected together by right and
left hand screws so that the tension may be regulated as desired.
In some cases the packing may consist of one ring A, only whose upper and lower
ections are forced as described against the stuffing glands D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is -
1. A metallic packing constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. A metallic packing constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to figures 2 and 4 of the annexed drawings.
3. A metallic packing consisting of a packing ring composed of two segnients
forced apart but caused to bear tightly upon stuffing glands and upon the moving
rod substantially as herein before described.
Dated this Twenty-second day of April 1890.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.