Modular stuffing box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12247662-B2
Application number	US-202218082191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2022
Priority date	Dec 15, 2022
Publication date	Mar 11, 2025
Grant date	Mar 11, 2025

Abstract

A modular stuffing box for a reciprocating pump, and in particular, an externally mounted modular stuffing box. The modular stuffing box includes three or more sections that can be disassembled in individual sections. Being able to disassemble the sections allows for only the damaged section or sections requiring repair or removal to be replaced, thereby eliminating the need to remove or replace all of the sections of the stuffing box. The overall expenses are reduced and the ease of repair in the field is increased, because the materials and sections of the stuffing box that are in good condition and do not require repair can be reused as part of the stuffing box.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular stuffing box configured to be coupled to a fluid end casing of a reciprocating pump, comprising:
a first section including a mounting portion engageable with an opening formed in the fluid end casing, the first section being a ring-shaped body and defining a bore therein, the first section having a first distal end and a second distal end opposite the first distal end;
a second section separate from the first section, the second section being a ring-shaped body with an inner surface defining a bore therein, the second section including one of an abrasion-resistant sleeve or an abrasion-resistant coating on the inner surface, the abrasion-resistant sleeve or coating having a higher wear resistance than the second section, the second section having a third distal end and a fourth distal end opposite the third distal end, the third distal end of the second section being placed adjacent to the second distal end of the first section;
a third section being a ring-shaped body and having an inner surface defining a bore therein, the third section having a fifth distal end and a sixth distal end opposite the fifth distal end, the fifth distal end of the third section being placed adjacent to the fourth distal end of the second section;
a fastener engageable with each of the first section, the second section, the third section, and the fluid end casing to secure the first section, the second section, and the third section to the fluid end casing such that the bores of the first section, the second section, and the third section are aligned; and
one or more packing seals located only in the bore of the second section, wherein each of the first section, the second section, and the third section is separate from and does not overlap with the others of the first section, the second section, and the third section.

2. The modular stuffing box of claim 1 , wherein when the fastener is removed, any one of the first section, the second section, and the third section can be removed and replaced with a different section having the same features as the removed section.

3. The modular stuffing box of claim 1 , wherein each of the first section, the second section, and the third section has a mounting hole that can receive the fastener.

4. The modular stuffing box of claim 1 , wherein the first section includes a first alignment mechanism, the second section includes a second alignment mechanism engageable with the first alignment mechanism to ensure that the first section and the second section are aligned when they are positioned proximate to each other.

5. The modular stuffing box of claim 4 , wherein the second section includes a third alignment mechanism, the third section includes a fourth alignment mechanism engageable with the third alignment mechanism to ensure that the second section and the third section are aligned when they are positioned proximate to each other.

6. The modular stuffing box of claim 1 , wherein the third section includes a first inner portion defining a first inner surface and a second inner portion defining a second inner surface, the third section including a wall between the first inner portion and the second inner portion, and the first inner surface defines a plurality of threads.

7. The modular stuffing box of claim 6 , further comprising:
a packing nut engageable with the third section, the packing nut having an outer surface defining a plurality of threads, the plurality of threads on the packing nut being engageable with the plurality of threads on the third section to couple the packing nut to the third section and thereby retain the one or more packing seals in the modular stuffing box.

8. The modular stuffing box of claim 7 , wherein the one or more packing seals are located inside the second section when the packing nut is coupled to the third section.

9. The modular stuffing box of claim 1 , wherein the one or more packing seals are aligned with the inner surface of the second section.

10. The modular stuffing box of claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion of the first section is located on the first distal end, and the mounting portion includes a circumferential seal.

11. The modular stuffing box of claim 1 , wherein the second distal end includes a groove formed therein, and the first section includes a sealing member located in the groove.

12. A fluid end component that is mountable to a fluid end casing, the fluid end component comprising:
a first ring-shaped component having an inner surface defining a first central bore, the first ring-shaped component having a first distal end and a second distal end opposite the first distal end;
a second ring-shaped component having an inner surface defining a second central bore, the second ring-shaped component including one of an abrasion-resistant sleeve or an abrasion-resistant coating on the inner surface of the second ring-shaped component, the abrasion-resistant sleeve or coating having a higher wear resistance than the second ring-shaped component, the second ring-shaped component having a third distal end and a fourth distal end opposite the third distal end, the third distal end of the second ring-shaped component being placed adjacent to the second distal end of the first ring-shaped component;
a third ring-shaped component having an inner surface defining a third central bore, each of the first ring-shaped component, the second ring-shaped component, and the third ring-shaped component being independent from each other, the third ring-shaped component having a fifth distal end and a sixth distal end opposite the fifth distal end, the fifth distal end of the third ring-shaped component being placed adjacent to the fourth distal end of the second ring-shaped component;
a plurality of fasteners engageable with each of the first ring-shaped component, the second ring-shaped component, and the third ring-shaped component to mount the first ring-shaped component, the second ring-shaped component, and the third ring-shaped component to the fluid end casing; and
one or more packing seals retainable in the fluid end component and located only in the second central bore of the second ring-shaped component, wherein each of the first ring-shaped component, the second ring-shaped component, and the third ring-shaped component is separate from and does not overlap with the others of the first ring-shaped component, the second ring-shaped component, and the third ring-shaped component.

13. The fluid end component of claim 12 , wherein the inner surface of the third ring-shaped component includes a plurality of threads, and the fluid end component further comprises:
a packing nut with a plurality of threads engageable with the plurality of threads on the third ring-shaped component to mount the packing nut to the third ring-shaped component and retain the one or more packing seals in the fluid end component.

14. The fluid end component of claim 12 , wherein the first ring-shaped component and the second ring-shaped component include a first set of cooperating alignment mechanisms that engage each other when the first ring-shaped component and the second ring-shaped component are proximate each other, and the second ring-shaped component and the third ring-shaped component include a second set of cooperating alignment mechanisms that engage each other when the second ring-shaped component and the third ring-shaped component are proximate each other.

15. The fluid end component of claim 12 , wherein the first central bore has a first diameter, the second central bore has a second diameter, and a portion of the third central bore ha

Assignees

• Gd Energy Products Llc

Inventors

• Avey Adam Bradley

Classifications

• F04B53/16

  Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections · CPC title

• F16J15/183

  using a lantern ring · CPC title

• F16J15/184

  Tightening mechanisms · CPC title

• F04B53/164

  Stoffing boxes · CPC title

• F16J15/18 Primary

  with stuffing-boxes for elastic or plastic packings · CPC title