Self-aligning stuffing box
First Claim
1. A self-aligning stuffing box for a rod comprising:
- an upper tubular housing having a bore formed therethrough adapted for accepting the rod passing therethough along an axis, the bore having a first axis;
a lower tubular housing having a bore formed therethrough adapted for accepting the rod passing therethrough, the bore having a second axis;
a spherical joint between the upper tubular housing and the lower tubular housing havingan upwardly recessed, substantially concave circumferential groove, having an outer spherical surface, formed about a lower end of the upper tubular housing and defining a central, downwardly depending portion therein; and
an upwardly extending substantially convex spherical surface formed at an upper end of the lower tubular housing having a central recess formed therein for accepting the downwardly depending central portion of the upper tubular housing and permitting retained engagement of the concave and convex spherical surfaces for sealed universal movement therebetween for misaligning the first axis from the second axis and adapted for aligning the first axis relative to the rod axis; and
at least a first sealing means housed within the bore of the downwardly depending central portion of the upper tubular housing, comprising;
(i) a plurality of stacked circumferential seals adapted for sealing about the rod;
(ii) a first retainer positioned in the bore for retaining the stacked circumferential seals against a first shoulder; and
(iii) biasing means positioned in the bore for compressing the stacked seals between the first retainer and the first shoulder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-aligning stuffing box having a spherical joint between the upper and lower portions of the housing permits universal movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion to permit a rod to pass through the bore if the axis of the rod is misaligned relative to the axis of the bore in each of the upper and lower housing portions. An energized seal in the upper housing resides at or below the spherical joint due to a downwardly depending central portion of the upper housing which extends into a recess formed in the lower housing permitting the height of the stuffing box to be relatively short. A second seal is positioned above the first seal and may be spaced sufficiently above the first seal to permit a flapper valve to be installed between the seals. The flapper valve is mounted through a port in the upper housing which is accessible without disassembly of the stuffing box, the seals or the wellhead.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A self-aligning stuffing box for a rod comprising:
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an upper tubular housing having a bore formed therethrough adapted for accepting the rod passing therethough along an axis, the bore having a first axis; a lower tubular housing having a bore formed therethrough adapted for accepting the rod passing therethrough, the bore having a second axis; a spherical joint between the upper tubular housing and the lower tubular housing having an upwardly recessed, substantially concave circumferential groove, having an outer spherical surface, formed about a lower end of the upper tubular housing and defining a central, downwardly depending portion therein; and an upwardly extending substantially convex spherical surface formed at an upper end of the lower tubular housing having a central recess formed therein for accepting the downwardly depending central portion of the upper tubular housing and permitting retained engagement of the concave and convex spherical surfaces for sealed universal movement therebetween for misaligning the first axis from the second axis and adapted for aligning the first axis relative to the rod axis; and at least a first sealing means housed within the bore of the downwardly depending central portion of the upper tubular housing, comprising; (i) a plurality of stacked circumferential seals adapted for sealing about the rod; (ii) a first retainer positioned in the bore for retaining the stacked circumferential seals against a first shoulder; and (iii) biasing means positioned in the bore for compressing the stacked seals between the first retainer and the first shoulder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A self-aligning stuffing box for a rod comprising:
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an upper tubular housing having a bore formed therethrough adapted for accepting the rod passing therethough along an axis, the bore having a first axis; a lower tubular housing having a bore formed therethrough adapted for accepting the rod passing therethrough, the bore having a second axis; a spherical joint between the upper tubular housing and the lower tubular housing having a upwardly extending, substantially concave circumferential groove, having an outer spherical surface, formed about a lower end of the upper tubular housing and defining a central, downwardly depending portion therein; and an upwardly extending substantially convex spherical surface formed at an upper end of the lower tubular housing having a central recess formed therein for accepting the downwardly depending central portion of the upper tubular housing and permitting engagement of the concave and convex spherical surfaces for sealed universal movement therebetween for misaligning the first axis from the second axis and adapted for aligning the first axis relative to the rod axis; a first sealing means housed within the bore of the downwardly depending central portion of the upper tubular housing adapted for sealing about the rod; a second sealing means adapted for sealing about the rod housed within the bore of the upper tubular housing above the first sealing means; and a valve pivotally mounted in the bore of the upper tubular housing between the first and second sealing means the valve adapted in a first position to permit passage of the rod through the bore of the upper tubular housing and, in the absence of the rod, to pivot to a second position for sealing the bore of the upper tubular housing; a plate for pivotally mounting the valve thereon; a mounting port extending through the upper tubular housing for mounting the plate therein and positioning the valve in the upper tubular housing bore; and fasteners for retaining the plate in the mounting port. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification