IMPROVEMENTS IN' VALVES, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING FOR USE WITH THE SAME AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co Patent Agents Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN' VALVES, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PACKING FOR
USE WITH THE SAME AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" Communicated to him
from abroad by Freeborn Fairfield Raymond, of Nowton, Massachusetts,
United States of America,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF PACKING FOR USE WITH THE SAME AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES [A
communication to him from abroad by Freeborn Fairfield Raymond, of Newton,
Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This invention relates to improvements in packing for the joints of steam
engines, pumps, tubes, valve-seats, and the like, hereinafter described; and to
various specific forms thereof in which the packing may be used, which forms of
construction are new and useful. The said Invention further relates to certain
improvements in valves to which this packing may be advantageously applied.
The packing may be made in either of the following ways, and used in the
manner specified.
The first method of manufacture consists in constructing the packing of refrac-
tory earths, or earthy and stony matters mingled with india-rubber and such other
materials as are necessary to vulcanize the rubber in such quantity that the earthy
or stony matter, and the sulphur or other vulcanizing agent shall be more than */1
of the entire compound.
It will be seen from the following formulas that a leading feature of the com-
position is that it contains large quantities of earthy material such as French
chalk or talcose matter, a very refractory material; Paris white, a substanco which
is decomposed only at a very high temperature, or in the presence of hot air, or
gases of combustion, or of strong acids, with steam and is not easily fused; and

page_text: litharge, which assists in vulcanizing and does not tend to decompose the other
ingredients at temperatures to which the composition is exposed. In selecting
earthy and stony matter the choice would be governed by facility of pulverization
and insusceptibility to heating influence. Soapstone is indicated as an ingredient
by the use of French chalk. Paris white indicates the use of other earthy
carbonates.
With the following ingredients the best proportions would be in the neighbour-
hood of the following limits.
Pure India rubber from 20 to 25 per cent.
Pure gum shellac from 10 to 20 per cent.⚫
Pure Paris white from 20 to 30 per cent.
Pure litharge from 11 to 18 per cent.
Puro lamp black from to 3 per cent.
Pure French chalk from 15 to 25 per cent.
Pure sulphur from 1 to 3 per cent.
I increase the rubber when the fluid to be resisted is less penetrating, and
increase the quantity of Paris white, French chalk, litharge, shellac, and sulphur
when it is more penetrating.
The following table of proportions with coal-oil, steam and hot water respec-
tively has given favorable rosults
20 to 55 per cent of diatomous silicate or infusorial earth.
35 to 50 per cent India rubber.
5 to 25 per cent of sulphur
1 consider that gutta percha, for the purposes of this invention, in all the
formulas, is an equivalent for india rubber, and may be substituted for it in whole
or in part.
4
With the last formula for pump valves and other like uses, I prefer to use a 4
larger quantity of rubber or gutta percha, and a smaller quantity of silicate and
sulphur; and the following formula is the one I think best for this purpose.
20 to 30 per cent of diatomous silicate or infusorial oarth.
60 to 75 per cent of soft rubber.
10 ont at oulsham

page_text: to be finely powdered and intimately mixed together; they are then to be spread
on the surface of the rubber or gutta percha or both, and preferably rolled with it
between heated rolls until they are thoroughly incorporated with the substance
thereof. The packing thus prepared may be made into valve-seats, discs, washers,
and the like, in a vulcanized form, or may be used in packing the joints of steam
engines, pipes, tubes and the like and vulcanized in place by the heat of steam or
hot water. When vulcanized before use I prefer to mould the packing in iron
moulds of proper shape and subject it to vulcanizing heat, which varies according
to the article moulded, or to the use to which it is to be put. For practically
indestructible packings a vulcanizable heat due to steam pressure of 60 or 75 pounds
or even more, from 3 to 5 hours should be employed. For pump-valves a
vulcanizing heat due to steam pressure of 40 to 75 pounds, 15 minutes to 3 hours
may be used.
When the second way of using the packing is employed it is inserted in the
packing space under enough pressure to cause it to hug well the joint, and the
action of the steam, air, or other heating medium upon the metal surface of the joint,
and upon the packing, will effect the hardening or vulcanization.
Another method of manufacture is to take sheets of rubber, paper, cloth or other
suitable material, cover the surface with India rubber cement, glue, paste, or
other adhesive substance, and then lay filings or dust of brass, iron, or other metal
thereon and subject the sheets thus prepared to pressure by calendar rolls, or other
suitable means.
When desired the sheets may be vulcanized by heat by adding sulphur to the
cement used for holding the facing, if vulcanizable stock has not been employed
as a base. This form of packing may be used in either of the two ways above
named.
The use of silicate has an advantage over other refractory matter for filling, in
that from its porous nature it readily mixes with the rubber or gutta percha, and
makes, when vulcanized a homogeneous material which is very light, very compact,
and which will stand a very high degree of heat.
When packing is used for a piston, or valve steam packing, I prefer to form it
in strips, either round or rectangular of the necessary sizes, and to surface it upon
its wearing side certainly, and preferably upon all sides, with soft metal, wood,
wire, fibrous or other suitable material, to prevent the attrition of the packing;
for instance the packing may be surfaced with a soft metal plate, having projec-
tions extending partly about the packing, or a metal facing having projections
which extend directly into the packing may be used, or I may employ a facing of
wood fastened to the packing by nails, pegs, or in any other desirable way, or the
packing may be enveloped by a metallic facing having arms which embrace the
packing. The packing may have mixed with, or incorporated upon, its wearing
surface, soft metal or wood filings, dust, or small pieces.
One method of preventing the too rapid attrition of the packing consists in
covering it with vulcanizable material, braided or wound around it; and wire gauze
may be used if desired.
A composition which I esteem of considerable value, and which will answer the
purpose of the body of the packing as well as those I have already referred to,
consists in a compound containing india rubber, gutta percha, or either, 7 to 20
parts; sulphur from 3 to 25 parts, and talc, asbestos, or plumbago or other
material of a lubricating nature from 30 to 90 parts. This last named element of
the composition may be all talc, all plumbago, or a mixture of talc, asbestos or
plumbago, or a compound that shall contain at least 50 per cent. of talc, asbestos
or plumbago, separately, or as a mixture of one or more of them.
Packing protected in either of the abovo named ways may be applied to the
piston rod, or valve stem in the shape of rings, or it may be wound spirally, or it
may be secured in place in any other desirable manner, and, preferably, is packed
in place before vulcanization and vulcanized in use.
I provide a valvo having a scrow-stem a shell, a bonnet, a water-way, a metal

page_text: scat, an abutment, and a gate. The gate is a composito structure composed of a
casing-piece, on the valve stem side of which is a swivel attaching it to the valve-
stem. Inside the casing piece is placed the ring or disc of packing, and inside of
that a binding-piece. Behind the packing is a metallic packing-piece, back of
which is an incline to correspond with the abutment, the parts of the gate being 5
fitted together and attached to the stem and placed in position.
Upon moving the gate to close the water-way, the incline back of the packing-
piece coming in contact with the abutment compresses the packing on the seat, and
brings the metal binding-piece, or diaphragm, directly across the passage or water-
way. By forming a chamber or extension of the cross passage or way in which 1
the gate slides, the packing may be used until it is very nearly worn out, the parts
of the gate automatically adjusting themselves so that the packing is always forced
against the metal seat when the valve is scated; the valve packing does not come to
its seat until the packing-piece comes in contact with the abutment, and in opening
the valvo the packing, with the gate, at once swings free from the seat, and at no 1
time does it grind thereon:
1 may provide also for a double packing, or one on each side of the gate and I
provide a globe valve which has its packing secured in a disc-holder in such a
manner that the metal portion of the disc-holder, as the packing wears, can shut by
the raised metal seat of the valve.
2
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st December 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND IN THE MANU-
"
FACTURE OF PACKING FOR USE WITH THE SAME AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Λ
communication to me from abroad by Freeborn Fairfield Raymond of Newton
Massachusetts United States of America
This Invention relates to the manufacture of packing for the joints of steam-
engines, pumps or tubes or for use in valves, or for similar purposes; the said
Invention also relates to various specific forms in which the said packing may be
used, and to certain improvements in valves. The packing may be made according
to either of the following methods or processes and used in the manner specified for
any purpose to which it may be advantageously applied.
In the accompanying Drawing:-
Figures 1 to 4 illustrate the construction of valves according to this Invention,
and,
Figures 5 to 17 illustrate various forms of packing.
According to one method, I manufacture the packing from refractory earths or
earthy and stony matters mingled with india-rubber and such other materials as
are necessary to vulcanize the rubber in such quantity that the earthy or stony
inatter, and the sulphur or other vulcanizing agent, shall be more than two fifths
of the entire compound.
It will be seen from the following formula that the composition contains large

page_text: quantities of earthy material such as French chalk or talcose matter which are very
refractory; Paris white, a substance which is decomposed only at a very high
temperature or in the presence of hot air or gases of combustion, or of strong acids
with steam and is not easily furred; and litharge, which assists in vulcanizing, and
does not tend to decompose, the other ingredients at temperatures to which the
composition is exposed. In selecting earthy and stony matter the choice should
be governed by facility of pulverization and insusceptibility to heating influence-
Soapstone is indicated as an ingredient by the use of French chalk, Paris-white
indicates the use of other earthy carbonates.
5 to 25 per cent of sulphur.
I consider that gutta-percha, for the purposes of this Invention, is an equivalent
for india-rubber in all the formulas and may be substituted for it, in whole or in
part.
With the last formula, for pump-valves and other like uses I prefer to use a
larger quantity of india-rubber or gutta-percha and a smaller quantity of silicate
and sulphur; and the following formula is the one I consider best for this

page_text: The ingredients of these formula, other than the india-rubber and gutta-percha,
are to be finely powdered and intimately mixed together, they are then to be spread
on the surface of the india-rubber or gutta-percha or both, and preferably rolled
with it between heated rolls until they are thoroughly incorporated with the
substance of the said india-rubber or gutta-percha. The packing thus prepared
may be made into valve-seats, discs, washers, and the like in a vulcanized form, or
may be used in packing the joints of steam-engines, pipes, tubes, and the like, and
vulcanized in place by the heat of steam or hot water. When vulcanized before
use, I prefer to mould the packing in iron moulds of proper shape and subject it to
vulcanizing heat which varies according to the article moulded, or to the use to
which it is to be put. For practically indestructible packings a vulcanizable heat
due to steam pressure of from 60 to 75 pounds, or even more, for from 3 to 5 hours
should be employed. For pump-valves a vulcanizing heat due to steam pressure
of from 40 to 75 pounds for from 15 minutes to 3 hours may be used.
According to another method of using the packing it is inserted in the packing
space under enough pressure to cause it to bed itself well to the joint, and the action
of the steam, air, or other heating medium upon the metal surface of the joint, and
upon the packing, will effect the hardening or vulcanization.
Another method of manufacture is to take sheets of india-rubber, paper, cloth or
other suitable material, cover the surface thereof with india-rubber, cement, glue,
paste or other adhesive substance, and then lay filings or dust of brass, iron, or
other metal thereon, and subject the sheets thus prepared to pressure by calendar
rolls, or other suitable means.
When desired, the sheets may be vulcanized by heat by adding sulphur to the
cement used for holding the facing if vulcanizable material has not been employed
as a base. This form of packing may be used in either of the two methods
herein before described.
The use of silicate has an advantage over other refractory matter for filling in
that from its porous nature it readily mixes with the india-rubber or gutta-percha,
and makes when vulcanized, a homogeneous material which is very light, very
compact, and which will stand a very high degree of heat.
When the packing is used for a steam piston or valve, I prefer to form it in
strips either round or rectangular of the necessary sizes, and to surface it upon its
wearing side and preferably upon all sides with soft metal, wood, wire, fibrous or
other suitable material to prevent wear. In the drawing Figures 5 to 15 represent
various forms of piston packing. In the form shewn in Figure 5 the packing may
be surfaced with a soft metal plate having projections extending into it-Figure 6
shows a inetal facing having projections which extend directly into the packing.
Figure 7 shows a facing of wood fastened to the packing by nails pegs or in any
other desirable manner. Figures 8, 9, 11, 12 and 15 show a metallic facing having
arms which embrace the packing-Figure 10 represents a portion of a piston rod
and the packing about it with the surfacing or facing in contact with the rod.
Figures 13 and 14 represent the packing having mixed or incorporated with
its wearing surface soft metal or wood in the form of filings, dust or sinall
pieces
One method of proventing the too rapid wear of the packing consists in covering
it with vulcanizable material braided or wound around it; or wire gauze may be
used if desired. A suitable composition for this purpose and one which will
answer for the body of the packing as well as those I have already referred to
consists of from 7 to 20 parts of india-rubber and gutta-percha or of either of them
from 3 to 25 parts of sulphur, and from 30 to 90 parts of talc asbestos or plumbago
or similar material of a lubricating nature-If desired a mixture of talc, asbestos
and plumbago inay be used.
Packing protected by either of the above described methods may be applied to
a piston rod or valve stem in the shape of rings or it may be wound spirally or be
secured in any other desirable manner preferably it is packed in place before
vulcanization and vulcanized during use.

page_text: Figures 16 and 17 shew moulded vulcanized rings or discs of the packing before
described for valve seats.
"
Referring to the construction of the valve in Figures 1, 2 and 3 I show a valve
known as a "straightway" valve in which moulded packing is used, and in
Figure 4 I shew the adaptation of packing to what is known as the "Globe"
valves. The valve shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has a screw stem A a shell Ba
cap Ca water-way D a metal seat c and abutment f and a gate G. The said
gate is composed of a casing piece h on the valve stem side of which is a swivel i
attaching it to the valve-stem. Inside the casing piece h is placed the ring or disc
of packing m and inside the said ring is placed the binding piece. Behind the
packing m is the metallic packing piece at the back of which is an incline to
correspond with the abutment f, the parts of the gate G being fitted together are
attached to the stem A and placed in position.
Upon moving this gate G to close the water-way D the inclined back of the
packing-piece coming into contact with the abutment f compresses the packing m
on the seat e and brings the metal binding-piece or diaphragm directly across the
passage or water way. By forming a chamber or extension of the cross passage or
way in which the gate slides the packing may be used until it is very nearly worn
out, the parts of the gate automatically adjusting themselves so that the packing
is always forced against the metal seate when the valve is closed. It will be
seen that the valve packing does not come to its seat until the packing piece comes
in contact with the abutment, and in opening the valve the packing with the gate
at once swings free from the seat and at no time grinds thereon.
Figure 3 illustrates the arrangement for a packing ring on each side of the gate.
In the valve shown in Figure 4 the packing is secured in a disc-holder in such a
manner that the metal portion of the said disc-holder as the packing wears can
close the valve by coming against a raised metal seat.
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 understood
that I Claim
First: An elastic packing composed of finely pulverized refractory, earthy, or
stony material intimately mingled with, and held together by, india-rubber or
gutta-percha, or a mixture of these substances, prepared for vulcanizing, and then
vulcanized, as, and for the purposes, described.
Second-The composition consisting of the above named ingredients combined
in, or about in, the proportions stated, substantially as, and for the purposes,
described.
Third-The employment of French chalk or an equivalent talcose mineral
substance, substantially in the manner, and for the purposes, described.
Fourth-The method herein described of manufacturing packing, which method
consists in combining india-rubber or other vulcanizable gum with sulphur and
other solid materials such as those above named, and vulcanizing the compound in
the place where it is packed, substantially as specified.
Fifth-The compound herein described, suitable for steam and other packing,
and made by mixing, in proper proportions, india-rubber or other vulcanizable gum
with sulphur and other solid materials such as those above named so as to form
non-vulcanized, but vulcanizable, compounds for use as described.
Sixth-The herein described compound consisting of diatomous silicate or
infusorial earth, india-rubber and gutta-percha (or either of these substances) and
sulphur united by vulcanization, substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Seventh-The employment of diatomous silicate or infusorial earth, sub-
stantially in the manner, and for the purposes, specified.
Eighth The herein described process of manufacturing metal-faced sheet-
packing, which process consists in attaching inetal filings to the face of any
suitable fabric by means of indin-rubber cement, or other suitable adhesive material,
and subjecting the sheet so formed to pressure, as above specified.
Ninth :—The sheet packing provided with a metallic facing, as described.

page_text: Tenth-The sheet packing provided with a metallic facing, and vulcanizable or
vulcanized, as set forth.
Eleventh-A piston-rod or valve-stem packing of vulcanized or vulcanizable
material, containing heat-resisting or refractory material covered, lined, or surfaced
upon one or more sides with a facing of soft metal, wood, or fibrous or other
material to prevent the attrition or wear of the packing, substantially as, and for
the purposes, described.
Twelfth
The packing herein described for steam engines, pumps, pipes, tubes,
or valves and adapted for use as specified.
Thirteenth-A straight-way valve adapted to receive rings or discs of compound
packing, substantially as described.
Fourteenth-The combination, in the gate of a straight-way valve, of the casing-
piece h, packing m, packing-piece and binding-piece, all arranged and operating
substantially as described.
Fifteenth-The combination of the inclined abutment f, the valve-seat c, the
packing m and packing-piece / adapted to be operated by the valve-stem A,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and scal this twenty first day of December in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two: