Method of making an improved spirally-formed seal for shafts and valve stems
OwnerJames W. Suggs, Jr., Steven M. Suggs +2inventors
InventorsJames W. Suggs, Jr., Steven M. Suggs, Reid M. Meyer, Jim B. Cohen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packing material for formation of a seal for a rotary or reciprocating shaft is disclosed wherein a core element is enveloped by a sheet of expanded graphite material. The core element is preferably formed of a wire mesh and solid graphite. The enveloping process is accomplished in such a manner as to wrap the core element with a self-lubricating surface material. The packing material of the present invention provides the advantages of graphite packings and metallic core packings.
Claims9
A method of making a packing material and subsequently forming a seal for a reciprocating or rotary shaft, comprising:
- preparing an ambient solution comprising a binder and a solvent;
- dipping a skeletal element in the ambient solution to form a flexible core, the skeletal element being of a substantially rectangular cross-section;
- wrapping an outer skin of a self-lubricating sheet material longitudinally about the core to form a linear strand of packing material;
- and
- converting the linear strand into a coil of packing material having a first diameter,
- whereby subsequently the packing material, being cut to length, opened, and closed to a second diameter of a stuffing box, is inserted into the stuffing box to seal a reciprocating or rotary shaft.
A method of making a packing material and subsequently forming a seal for a reciprocating or rotary shaft, comprising:
- preparing an ambient solution comprising a binder and a solvent;
- dipping a skeletal element in the ambient solution to form a core of flexible material and binder, the skeletal element being of a substantially rectangular cross-section;
- enveloping a skin element of expanded graphite longitudinally about the core to form a linear strand of packing material;
- turning the linear strand on a screw against a wheel to compress the linear strand to a predetermined cross-section and to convert said linear strand into a coil of packing material having a first diameter,
- whereby subsequently a length of the packing material cut from the coil to fit a second diameter different from said first diameter of an article to be sealed, the length of coiled packing material, being opened and closed to said second diameter, is inserted into a stuffing box to seal a reciprocating or rotary shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.