Improvements in Packing Rings for Flange Joints.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
Improvements in Packing Rings for Flange Joints.
A communication from abroad by CARL SCHÖNLEBER & KNAUSS, of Stuttgart, in
the Empire of Germany, Metal Goods Manufacturers.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The packing rings that have hitherto been used for making the flange connections
of stem pipes, etcetera, have several drawbacks very deleterious to the utility of
the same. Packing rings composed of any soft and fibrous substances alone, such
as asbestos, pasteboard, indiarubber, etcetera, are easily bulged out; rings entirely
of metal, such as copper, lead or other soft metal, can only be successfully used
with well prepared smooth flange surfaces; as the metal does not possess the
compressibility and elasticity necessary, first of all, to sufficiently fill up the
uneven surfaces, even when the screw nuts are strongly screwed up, and, further, to
form a tight joint.
The packing rings also recently brought into use, consisting of a metal grip open
to the outside with soft interior, have the disadvantages of the metallic rings, as, in
spite of the soft core, the metal in this case also often adjusts itself very inadequately
to the unevennesses of the flanges, or only fills up the same with difficulty, and, in
this case, only when the screw nuts of the stay bolts are so tightly screwed up that
the latter very frequently get broken.
The present invention consists of a mode of constructing rings which, in every
way, meets all requirements, even the most wide reaching, and one in which both
a very easy and secure packing is effected without the flanges being strongly drawn
together, and also any tearing or bulging of the soft packing employed is rendered
impossible.
For this purpose, as shown on the annexed drawing, two rings de of asbestos,
pasteboard or similar suitable soft and elastic material are gripped by the overlapping
ends be of a thin metal plate a placed between the rings, and firmly connected to
form a whole.
By this arrangement, the double object is attained, that firstly, an easy and
secure packing results directly from the soft washers de resting on both flanges,
and not from the metal grips bc which are pressed into the upper or lower
ring respectively, and, secondly, any bulging of the soft washers is prevented by
means of the grips or edges of the metal plate a, because steam or other pressure
is prevented being exerted on the ring e by means of the edge b, whilst the edge c
encloses and retains, even under the strongest pressure, the ring d in such a way
that any bulging out of the same from the flanges is impossible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
A packing ring for the flange joints of steam pipes and the like consisting of two
separate rings de of asbestos, pasteboard or other suitable soft material, which are

page_text: gripped by the turned back edges
of a thin metal plate a lying between the rings,
are held together and are bound into a whole..
Dated this 31st day of March 1891.
7
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.