Improvements in or connected with Packings for Piston and other Analogous Working Rods.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 25th May. 1899-Accepted. 28th Oct. 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Packings for Piston and other
Analogous Working Rods.
I, GEORGE WALLACE, of 108, Garmoyle Road, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Marine Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to packings for making steam or fluid tight joints
between piston or analogous rods, and the parts through which they work, or
which work over them; and it has special reference to cases where the making
of the moving joint is difficult, without bringing undue friction upon the parts,
such as in the case of high pressure steam engine piston rods, and similar rods
of other fluid pressure engines or machines where similar difficulties exist.
For convenience the invention will be applied to the packing of high pressure
steam engine rods, it being understood at the same time, that it may be applied
to other engines and machines in connection with which it may be advantageously
used.
According to this invention, the packing employed is of flexible type, and
arranged spirally around the rod in the stuffing box. The outer end is secured
to a rotatable gland or carrier, supported in a cover or plate, fitted on and suitably
fastened, as by studs or bolts, to the end of the stuffing box and made a tight joint
therewith. The gland has a spiral rib or flange on its inner side to which one
end of the packing material is fastened and rests; and this rib or flange keeps
it off the rod at this part, while the other end of the packing is held by studs
on pins on the face of the neck bush, or by equivalent means. The outer end is
held to the revolving gland by a suitable fastening, say a pin, or pin and outside
plate, screwing or fitting into the gland, and passing through the fabric. The
outer part of the gland within the stuffing box, rests on an inner edge of the
holding plate, and makes a steam tight joint therewith, similar to the seat of a
valve.
Outside the cover or holding plate there is a toothed wheel fitted on the neck of
the gland; and through a pinion or worm wheel, as the case may be, the gland
is rotated. This gland wheel may be held in position by a ring or nut screwed
on to the end of the gland.
The gland may be worked through a small ordinary toothed pinion supported
on the cover, or by worm, as stated; or by any suitable means.
To drain the stuffing box, or to force lubricant into it, a cock, or screw plug,
or the like, is provided on the cover, by opening which water may be drained
away, or lubricant forced through into the stuffing box and to the packing.
In action, by turning the gland through means such as described, the spiral
packing material is wound or tightened up on to the surface of the rod; and as
the material also makes a joint with the gland, and the gland itself is steam
tight outside, no steam or water can escape.
In one form of packing material, this may consist of a number of compara-

page_text: tively thin strips of the material, of the full depth required, laid or doubled one
over the other from the leading end at which it is fastened; and the fastening pin
or device referred to, may be passed through the inner eye at the double end of the
layers, and so form a strong fastening or loop from which the material is wound
or tightened up.
This packing is essentially a "floating" packing; and does not become hard or
sodden; and will wear to the last, and hence waste, as usually happens, is
obviated; and it accommodates itself to lateral movement or even to a bent rod.
A new packing is easily introduced in a very short time.
In adjusting the gland, it is made steam tight. No further special tension is
required as the steam presses on the outside of the packing, and keeps it close
on the rod; and only at intervals is it required, that the slack, due to wear,
should be taken up.
Improvements in-or-connected-with-Packings-for-Piston and other_
Analogous Working Rods.
I, GEORGE WALLACE, of 108, Garmoyle Road, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Marine 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:-
1
This invention has reference to packings for making steam or fluid tight joints
between piston or analogous rods, and the parts through which they work, or
which work over them; and it has special reference to cases where the making
of the moving joint is difficult, without bringing undue friction upon the parts,
such as in the case of high pressure steam engine piston rods, and similar rods
of other fluid pressure engines or machines where similar difficulties exist.
For convenience the invention will be applied to the packing of high pressure
steam engine rods, it being understood at the same time, that it may be applied
to other engines and machines in connection with which it may be advantageously
used.
According to this invention, the packing employed is of flexible type, arranged
spirally around the rod in the stuffing box. The outer end is secured to a rotatable
gland, or a carrier, and by spiral tension applied to the packing through the
carrier, the spiral packing material is wound or tightened up on the surface
of the rod, and a steam tight joint is made. Two forms or modifications of the
flexible spiral packing material are illustrated in Sheets 1 and 2 respectively
of the drawings hereto annexed.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation shewing the arrange-
ment and construction of the packing and parts, in which the spiral flexible
packing is of the soft, or comparatively soft type; and Figure 2 is a detail view
of this packing material.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional elevation and cross section shewing a modified
mode of supporting the packing.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation illustrating the invention in the case in which
the flexible packing material is of the metallic type. Figure 6 shews a section
of the packing represented in Figure 5 about the point A A

page_text: Referring in the first instance to Figures 1 and 2, a represents the stuffing box
of the cylinder in connection with which the packing is used; b is the piston,
or valve rod, as the case may be; and c represents the coil of packing material
arranged spirally around the rod. The adjustable carrier, to which the outer
end of the packing c is secured, in this modification, is a rotatable gland d, which
is held in place, and held in the stuffing box a by a cover e.
The mode of sup-
porting this gland by the cover consists in providing the gland with a flange d
at its upper edge, and forming the cover e correspondingly to take this flange and
support it; the joint between the flange and cover constituting a seat, similar
to the seat of a valve, which in itself is steam tight. The gland has a spiral
rim don its inner face, forming a spiral seat and support on which the lower
edge of the packing rests, and by which it is kept off the rod at this part. The
packing starts on the gland flange from the commencement of this spiral rim
at d³, where it is fastened by an anchor stud f fitting into the metal of the gland
at its lower end, and fixed in and held by a hooked cleat f¹ which engages with
a notch in the upper surface of the flange d² of the gland. The upper end of
the packing is held by studs or pins h in the neck bush i of the stuffing box.
The neck of the gland d is carried out through the cover e as shewn; and is
provided outside with a toothed rack k, which is held in position by a ring
nut screwing onto the end of d. The nut 7 also keeps the outer flange d² of
the gland d down onto the seat ledge of the cover e on which it rests and works.
Engaging with the rack is a toothed pinion m, mounted on the pin n, supported
from the cover e; and by means of this pinion and rack, the gland d is rotated
when desired, and spiral tension is applied to the packing c, pulling it onto the
rod.
In use, as the packing wears, it is adjusted up to the rod without stopping the
engine, that is, while the engine is at full speed, by unlocking the nut n¹ on the
pin n, and turning the wheel m through its hexagonal shank m².
A cock o is provided on the cover e, o¹ being a passage communicating between
the interior of the gland and the cock. By means of this cock, the stuffing box
may be drained of water or fluid, or lubricant forced through it into the stuffing
box and the packing.
It will be seen that the packing material c, besides making a joint with the
surface of the rod, b, makes a joint with the gland d, and this gland itself being
steam tight outside, as described, no steam or water can escape.
One form of make of soft flexible packing is shewn in Figure 2. It consists
of laminae of suitable material, say woven asbestos strips, bent or doubled over
at the ends, and forming a loop, through the eye of which the holding pin f
passes when in use. These strips or ribbons may be rivetted, say by white metal
or similar rivets or plugs, or sewn together, or both.
This packing is essentially a floating packing, and it will practically wear to
the last, and hence waste, as usually happens, is obviated, and it accommodates
itself to lateral movement, and even a bent rod. Also, a new packing is easily
introduced in a very short time.
With regard to steam tightness, no great attention is required to keep the
packing and joint tight, as the steam presses on to the outside of the packing
and keeps it close onto the rod; and only at intervals is it required to take up
slack due to wear.
The modification shewn in Figures 3 and 4, illustrate the mode of utilizing the
existing gland of a stuffing box, as the seat for the gland d shewn in Figure 1.
This is effected by the employment of a ring p made in halves, and with dowel
pins p¹, as shewn in Figure 4, disposed between the inside of the flange of the
gland and the underside of the stuffing box.
In the modification shewn in Figures 5 and 6, the flexible metallic packing is
made up of lengths or sectors of a circle, disposed in a double threaded spiral, and
held together by bulb headed fastening studs c¹, fitting into correspondingly formed
sockets or slots in the ends of these sectors. A similar fastening is used to

page_text: connect the end of the packing with the gland d, and also with an upper holding
ring This ring is fastened to the neck bush i, as far as regards revolving
movement, by springs c³ upon it, the ends of which abut against the studs h.
These springs while preventing rotative movement of the ring 2, and the packing
as a whole, when being adjusted, allow of longitudinal extension of the packing,
which takes place when it is adjusted, that is, coiled up, to take up the wear.
Any suitable metal may be employed for this spiral metallic flexible packing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is to be stated that tho
invention is not restricted to the forms of parts more particularly set forth with
reference to and shewn in the drawings, but what is claimed in respect of the
herein described invention is:-
1. The herein described engine packing, namely, a packing in the form of a
spiral coil or coils round the rod in connection with which it works, and adapted
to be adjusted by tension applied to it; for the purposes described.
2. The engine packing comprising the combination of flexible spiral packing
material round the rod in connection with which it works, an adjusting gland or
neck-with-which-one-end-of-the-packing_is_secured (the-other-end being suitably
held) supported in the stuffing box; and means for rotating this gland or neck
from the outside of the packing; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The spiral flexible packing part (c), made and adapted to be employed
substantially as herein set forth.
4. An engine packing having a gland or neck projecting through the cover of,
or end of the stuffing box, and having means by which it is adapted to be rotated
in the stuffing box while the engine is in motion, and adapted to act on the
packing within the stuffing box, so as to adjust it; for the purposes specified.
5. In an engine packing, having packing material adapted to be adjusted from
a rotatable gland or neck as described, the construction by which the said gland
forms a steam tight joint with its support on or connected with the stuffing box;
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. The arrangement and construction, and parts of the packing, particularly
as set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 24th day of May 1899.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents,
15, Water Street, Liverpool.