Packing seal assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12560156-B2
Application number	US-202519199806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2025
Priority date	Aug 14, 2021
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

Abstract

A fluid end assembly comprising a plurality of fluid end sections positioned in a side-by-side relationship. Each fluid end section comprises a housing having a bore formed therein for housing a reciprocating plunger. Fluid is prevented from leaking around the plunger by a packing seal assembly. The packing seal assembly comprises one and only one packing seal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A packing seal assembly configured to surround at least a portion of a reciprocating plunger, the packing seal assembly comprising:
a packing seal, comprising:
a body, comprising:
a front surface;
an opposed rear surface; and
an inner intermediate surface joining the front and rear surfaces, the inner intermediate surface configured to engage the portion of the reciprocating plunger;
in which the rear surface of the body is configured to engage an annular ring, the annular ring comprising a plurality of passages that are configured to receive a lubricant; and

an energizing component situated within a void formed in the front surface of the body; and
a support element, comprising:
a protrusion situated at least partially within the void; and
an annular base situated outside of the void;
in which the support element is configured to retain the energizing component within the void.

2 . The packing seal assembly of claim 1 , in which the packing seal is one and only one seal.

3 . The packing seal assembly of claim 1 , in which the body is formed from an elastomeric material.

4 . The packing seal assembly of claim 1 , in which the energizing component comprises a plurality of stacked pieces.

5 . The packing seal assembly of claim 4 , in which each of the plurality of stacked pieces has a V-shaped cross section.

6 . The packing seal assembly of claim 4 , in which each of the plurality of stacked pieces is metal.

7 . The packing seal assembly of claim 1 , in which the annular base comprises opposed front and rear base surfaces; in which the rear base surface abuts the front surface of the body.

8 . The packing seal assembly of claim 7 , in which the protrusion extrudes from the rear base surface.

9 . A packing seal assembly for use within a fluid end, the packing seal assembly comprising:
one and only one packing seal, comprising:
a front surface defining an opening;
a rear surface opposed to the front surface;
an inner intermediate surface interconnecting the front and rear surfaces, the inner intermediate surface comprising a plurality of inner lips; and
an outer intermediate surface interconnecting the front and rear surfaces, the outer intermediate surface comprising a plurality of outer lips;
in which the rear surface is configured to engage an annular ring, the annular ring having a plurality of passages formed therein, each of the plurality of passages configured to receive a lubricant.

10 . The packing seal assembly of claim 9 , in which the inner intermediate surface is configured to engage at least a portion of a reciprocating plunger.

11 . The packing seal assembly of claim 9 , in which the outer intermediate surface is configured to engage a wear ring installed within of a fluid end housing.

12 . The packing seal assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
an energizing component comprising a plurality of stacked pieces situated within the opening.

13 . The packing seal assembly of claim 12 , in which each stacked piece has a V-shaped cross-section.

14 . The packing seal assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a support element, comprising:
a base having a first surface configured to engage a wall formed in a fluid end housing; and
a protrusion, at least part of the protrusion situated in the opening.

15 . A fluid end, comprising:
a fluid end housing comprising a bore; wear ring installed within the bore; and the packing seal assembly of claim 9 situated inside the wear ring.

16 . The fluid end of claim 15 , further comprising:
a packing nut comprising front and rear surfaces, the front surface configured to engage the annular ring.

17 . The fluid end of claim 16 , in which the wear ring is formed of a different material than a material used to form the fluid end housing.

18 . A fluid end, comprising:
a fluid end housing having a bore formed therein, the bore comprising a counterbore; and the packing seal assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a support element situated at least partially within the counterbore, the support element comprising a protrusion extending at least partially into the opening.

19 . The fluid end of claim 18 , further comprising a wear ring situated within the bore, the wear ring surrounding at least a portion of the packing seal assembly.

20 . The fluid end of claim 19 , in which the wear ring is made of a first material and the housing is made of a second material; in which the first material is different than the second material.

Assignees

• Kerr Machine Co

Inventors

• Barnett Christopher Todd
• Thomas Micheal Cole
• Foster Kelcy Jake
• Son Nicholas
• Keith John

Classifications

• F16J15/56

  Other sealings for reciprocating rods · CPC title

• F16J15/3236 Primary

  with at least one lip for each surface, e.g. U-cup packings · CPC title

• F04B53/02

  Packing the free space between cylinders and pistons · CPC title

• F04B53/22

  Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly · CPC title

• F04B1/0538

  located side-by-side · CPC title