Expansible chamber devices – With guide or seal on cylinder end portion for piston or... – Non-metallic seal means between piston or member and end...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-08-21
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Expansible chamber devices
With guide or seal on cylinder end portion for piston or...
Non-metallic seal means between piston or member and end...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276259
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to plunger pumps or like pumps for fluid and mixed fluid and semi-solid pumping systems, and more particularly to a seal and stabilizing arrangement by which a packing gland assembly limits leakage from the pump. The packing gland assembly also adds rigidity to the pumping element being sealed by a packing. An eccentric bearing liner made of a low wear and lubricated material decreases maintenance and wear, and is also an environmentally friendly alternative. Together, the packing gland assembly and eccentric bearing liner provide for a cleaner operating pump, approaching “leak-free” status, which requires less maintenance and care than existing assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of “packing” in pumps and other apparatus having reciprocating, slidable or rotatable members for moving fluids or mixed fluids and semi-solids is well known. Packings are typically made up of a resilient or at least compressible material which serves a sealing purpose through its compression and retention of a lubricant, most often an oil or graphite. Rough adjustment of the degree of compression is possible and often necessary on a periodic basis, the adjustment being made typically through the tightening of the member (referred to as a packing gland in a plunger pump) which holds the packing in compression. (Reoiling is sometimes necessary on a periodic basis, the oiling usually applied manually).
Generally, it has been accepted that the packing wears during the operation of pumps and other apparatus utilizing packing in such fluid pumping systems. Thus, leakage occurs around the packing which causes a loss in volumetric capacity of the systems. Moreover, the fluids, often containing undesirable and potentially hazardous components, spill into the vicinity of the pump and overall fluid-moving apparatus. In a plunger pump, the packing gland is made of cast metal and is held to the cast iron plunger housing by bolts. In order to hold and compress the packing in the stuffing box, the gland is tightened down by the bolts to further compress the packing in the stuffing box. Eventually, the packing is no longer effective and must be replaced. To prolong the life of the packing, and avoid the time-consuming replacement of it, a lubricant is often freely applied.
The assembly of the packing gland typically leaves wide tolerances, particularly since the packing gland is cast and the housing and plunger are cast. Therefore, as the plunger moves up and down in a plunger pump, or the pumping element moves otherwise in other pumps, there is often a continuous horizontal shifting of the plunger. This leads to increased wear, sometimes creating an “hour-glass” shape instead of a cylindrical shape, and increased leakage.
Another area of the plunger pump or like pump which requires maintenance and care is the bearing for the eccentric, which is the expedient that allows for pump stroke and capacity variations. In a plunger pump, the eccentric is housed above the plunger and carries the plunger, via a connecting rod, through a particular pump stroke. The bearing used between the eccentric and the connecting rod has been for many years a Babbit bearing which contains lead. The bearings are recognized as a wear item, and are oiled by associated and messy mechanical oilers. Eventually, the liner must be replaced, and this must be done at the expense of operation time. Also, lead poses a disposal hazard, as does the oil from the mechanical oiler which must be used to care for the lead bearing. The use of oil also risks possible contamination of the fluid that is being pumped, and can thus cause an environmental hazard.
In general, the industry has accepted the leakage and maintenance problems associated with plunger pumps and the like pumps. Great effort has not been made to alleviate the shortcomings which have simply been tolerated over the years. The silence of advances in this area must be broken.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates more specifically to a pump with a housing and a pumping element disposed for movement within the housing so that liquid can be moved through the pump. A packing is associated with the pump housing and the pumping element for sealing the pump from the loss of liquid. A packing retention element retains the packing in position for its sealing function. A stabilizing element on the side of the packing remote from the interior of the pump housing. The stabilizing element bears against the pumping element during movement of the pumping element and facilitates stabilization of the same.
Preferably, a second stabilizing element can be provided on the side of the packing which is adjacent to the interior of the pump housing, in order to provide for further stabilization of the pumping element.
In a preferred embodiment, the stabilizing element and the packing retention element are integral with one another. The integral stabilizing/retention element is preferably made at least partially of nylon, and more preferably nylon which is lubricant filled.
In the embodiment having a second stabilizing element, such second stabilizing element is preferably made at least partially of UHMW polyethylene, and more preferably a UHMW polyethylene which is lubricant filled.
The pump in one embodiment is a plunger-type pump wherein the pumping element is a plunger which reciprocates within the pump housing. The packing retention element is a packing gland which is connected to the pump housing.
Preferably, at least one adjustment stud is provided with respect to the packing retention element and the pump housing. The adjustment stud provides for the adjustment of the force supplied to the packing by the packing retention element to thereby increase the sealing efficacy of the packing. The adjustment stud preferably includes a stabilizing section associated with the packing retention element, the stabilizing section permitting movement of the packing retention element in a first direction, often vertical, and to limit movement of the packing retention element in a second direction, often horizontal. Preferably, the adjustment stud also includes an adjustment section which provides for the adjustment of the packing retention element in the first direction.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the pump housing includes an area for receiving the packing retention element and a threaded opening therein. The adjustment stud has a first threaded portion which threadedly engages a threaded opening in the receiving area. The adjustment stud preferably includes a shoulder between the first threaded portion and the stabilizing section. The shoulder being provided to engage a stop surface in the receiving area, whereby the adjustment stud is rigidly attached to the housing. Preferably, a plurality of adjustment studs are provided and the packing retention element includes a plurality of stud openings through which such plurality of adjustment studs can be provided. Also, it is preferable that the stabilizing sections of the studs be smooth.
Preferably, the adjustment sections of the adjustment studs include a second threaded portion and a sleeve portion bearing on the packing retention element. The second threaded portion is remote from the first threaded portion. An adjustment nut is provided on the second threaded portion for adjustably forcing the sleeve portion onto the packing retention element in order to facilitate the sealing function of the packing.
Preferably, a dry film lubricant is provided on the packing to facilitate the sealing effect of said packing and permit smooth operation of the pumping element.
In addition to the stabilizing element, the pump can be a plunger-type pump operated by an eccentric connected to the plunger by a connecting arm, and further including an eccentric liner which is highly resistant to wear.
The present invention also relates to a pump for pumping liquid, the pump having a housing with an interior, a pumping element for movement within the housing, a packing associated with the pump housi
Leotti, Jr. Frank
Lichon Edward S.
Pecca Jeffrey
Trebilcock Benjamin E.
Komline-Sanderson Engineering Corp.
Lazo Thomas E.
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Look Edward K.
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