Stuffing box

Abstract

A holder for receiving a moving rod and formed with a gland to surround the rod and housing a stack of metal rings, at least some having and inside diameter smaller than that of the rod.

1 . Stuffing box apparatus for fitting over a rod of a predetermined diameter to restrict flow of fluid from a first to a second end of the rod and comprising:
 a holder configured with first and second end walls formed with respective central bores for receipt of the rod and including first and second ring glands spaced toward the first and second ends;   a plurality of metal rings formed with inside diameters equal to or smaller than the predetermined diameter, housed in stacked relationship in the respective glands for receipt of, and sealing against the rod to restrict flow of the fluid there along.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 selected ones of the rings are formed with inside diameters sized to wipe against the surface of the rod with sufficient force allow for limited passage of the fluid while cooperating to block debris carried in the fluid from traveling toward the second end. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least some of the rings are constructed of multi-turn retainer rings. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the rings are constructed of spring metal and configured to be expanded and contacted and to be expanded to fit onto the rod and to cling to the rod with sufficient force to seal against flow of the fluid along the rod. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the rings include multi-turn spiral rings forming wiper rings constructed to cling to the rod to block the fluid from carrying debris along the rod and housing interposed between the wiper rings and formed with inside diameters larger than the predetermined diameters to provide clearance around the rod and, further formed with sufficiently large outside diameters to be received in close fit relationship with the wall of the gland to restrict flow of the fluid along the wall of the gland. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  that includes:
 pairs of the space the housing rings interposed between the wiper rings. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  that includes:
 expandable metal spring sealing rings stacked on the wiping rings and formed with relaxed inside diameters smaller than the predetermined diameter to cling to the rod. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein:
 the wiping and housing rings cooperate with the wall of the gland to form a labyrinth defining a restricted flow path for the fluid. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein:
 the sealing rings are constructed of 2 turn spiral rings. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  that includes:
 a C-shaped-in-cross section spring metal ring for sealing against the rod. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  that includes:
 a pair of jaws interposed between the holders and the spring metal spring and a compression device for selectively adjusting the jaws to compress the metal spring to adjust the force of the spring against the rod. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  that includes:
 a collet collar carried from the holder; 
 a collet carried adjustably from the holder for engaging the rod to be adjusted for adjusting the force by which the collet engages the rod. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  that includes:
 an adjustor on the holder for adjusting the axial compression on the stack of rings. 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the holder is formed with a plurality of glands; and 
 a plurality of the metal rings in the plurality of glands. 
 
     
     
         15 . Stuffing box apparatus for blocking fluid flow along a vertical rod of a predetermined diameter and comprising:
 a holder configured with a first and second glands;   a plurality of adjustable wiping rings stacked in a first gland and formed with inside and outside diameters, the inside diameters equal to or less than the predetermined diameter and housing rings interposed between the wiping rings and formed with outside diameters to cooperate with the wiping rings and wall of the first gland to form a restricted flow path for the fluid to flow there along to provide for heat exchange with the rings but limiting passage of debris in the fluid;   the second gland being configured with a lower bore of a first diameter and an upper bore of a second diameter larger than the first diameter to form an upwardly facing annular shoulder at the transition;   a plurality of the wiper rings stacked in the lower portion;   a plurality of housing rings in the lower portion, interposed between the upper rings;   a plurality of metal sealing rings stacked in the upper portion on the shoulder and formed with inside diameters smaller than the predetermined diameter to cling firmly to the rod and block passage of fluid there along;   and a plurality of the sealing rings stacked in the third gland for sealing against flow along the surface of the rod.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein:
 one of the glands is formed with a vertically extending wall having frustoconical shape defining a lower extremity smaller than the outside diameter of the respective rings; 
 and a compression device on the holder for compressing the rings downwardly in the selected gland to cause the rings in the lower extremity to be compressed radially inwardly. 
 
     
     
         17 . Stuffing box apparatus for limiting fluid flow along a rod of a predetermined diameter and comprising:
 a holder formed with first and second glands;   a plurality of wiper rings stacked in the first gland, the rings being in the form of multi-turn, compressible, metal rings formed with interior diameters to, in the relaxed position, be equal to or less than the predetermined diameter;   a plurality of sealing rings stacked in the second gland, the sealing rings being constructed of multi-turn, spiral, spring metal rings to be expandable and contractible and formed with relaxed interior diameters less than the predetermined diameters to cling to the rod and block flow of the fluid therepast.   
     
     
         18 . The stuffing box apparatus of  claim 17  that includes:
 a collet actuator carried by the holder and formed with a frustoconical cavity; 
 a collet holder; 
 a collet carried from the collet holder and constructed to be adjustable for expansion and contraction of the collet. 
 
     
     
         19 . The stuffing box apparatus of  claim 18  that includes:
 a C-shaped in cross section spring seal carried from the holder and opening toward the rod to sealingly engage the rod. 
 
     
     
         20 . The stuffing box apparatus of  claim 19  that includes:
 a pair of adjustable jaws on the holder and carrying the C-shaped in cross section spring seal. 
 
     
     
         21 . Stuffing box for blocking fluid flow along a vertical rod of a predetermined diameter and comprising:
 a holder configured with at least one gland;   a plurality of adjustable metal sealing rings stacked in the gland and formed with inside diameters smaller than the predetermined diameter to cling firmly to the rod and block passage of fluid there along.