A sealing device for a reciprocating pump of the type having a pump housing provided with a bore formed therein. The bore is provided at its one end with an opening through which it communicates with the exterior of the pump housing while the other end of the bore receives a reciprocating member such as a plunger. The sealing device includes a seal case received in the bore and having a bore through which the reciprocating member extends, a sealing member such as a packing held on the inner periphery of the seal case and having an inner peripheral surface adapted to be slidingly contacted by the outer peripheral surface of the reciprocating member, a closure separate from the pump housing and removably attached to the pump housing so as to close the opening on the one end of the bore, and a coiled compression spring loaded between the closure and either one of the seal case and the sealing member.
The invention is a sealing apparatus and method of providing a seal for polished rods in oil and gas well applications. The sealing apparatus has a fluid responsive gland which forms a seal between the inner surface of a unitized housing body and a polished rod to effect a seal of fluids within a well. The fluid responsive gland comprises packing rings of supple and rigid materials, in alternating configurations to achieve a seal. The sealing apparatus is self-aligning, and the packing rings reside in a continuous and uninterrupted zone. The packing rings may be replaced without removing the sealing apparatus from the polished rod. The sealing apparatus may be aligned without external alignment apparatus or adjustment.
A packing assembly for sealing a space between a pump plunger and a pump body of a reciprocating plunger pump with a plunger having a pumping end with an outer perimeter. At least one seal is disposed around the pumping end of the plunger and a securing member having a first end capable of attachment to the pumping end of the plunger. A second end having a flange with an outer perimeter greater than the outer perimeter of the pumping end of the plunger is also provided, such that when the first end of the securing member is attached to the pumping end of the plunger, the second end maintains the at least one seal disposed around the pumping end of the plunger.
