US2712951A

US2712951A - Well stuffing box

Info

Publication number: US2712951A
Application number: US283412A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elzie E Legate
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-04-21
Filing date: 1952-04-21
Publication date: 1955-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1972-07-12

Description

July 12, 1955 E. E. LEGATE WELL STUFFING BOX 4 15 fiix 2 Sh c Sh b l .d ja

Filed April 21, 1952 lbi United States Patent 9 WELL STUFFING BOX Elsie E. Legato, Les Angeies, Calif.

Application Aprii 21, 1952, Serial No. 283,412

1 Claim. (Cl. 286-16) This invention relates generally to the class of wells and is directed particularly to improvements in stufiing boxes for use on the well heads of pumping wells.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an improved stuffing box for use on the well head of a pumping well having a novel packing means which can be continuously adjusted as wear takes place whereby the packing will be maintained effective over a materially longer period of time than packings of the character wherein the packing material is compressed to a fixed degree and left under the original compression until it is worn to the point where it has to be replaced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel stuifing box having a head provided with a plurality of compressing wedges which are mounted in a downwardly tapering conical recess or pocket to maintain under compression around a pumping or polish rod, a compressible packing cylinder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a structure of the above described character with means connected with the head of the packing box for applying downward pressure to the wedges whereby, as the compressed packing sleeve around the pumping or polish rod wears, the wedges can be forced down to repack the material around the rod.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an improved stufiing box wherein the compressible packing material which is maintained under compression around the pumping or polish rod, is supporteo in the center or the head of the packing box or body, by an inserted annular member through which lubricant is fed to the polish rod below the packing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a stufiing box associated with a pumping or polish rod, a means of lubricating the rod by tapping off a portion of the oil from the well, from the gathering line and running it back into the stufling box for lubricating the polish rod below the packing in the manner above stated.

I er objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a smiling box constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the adjusting cap in the final turned down position on the stufiing box head in which position the maximum pressure has been applied to the packing by the cap and wedges.

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Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the central part of the stufling box showing the initial position of the wedges after the insertion of a new packing sleeve and before the packing sleeve has been given an initial compression around the polish rod.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the outer side of one of the compressing wedges.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the top follower.

Figure 7 is a view illustrating diagrammatically the manner of taking oft" lubricating oil from the gathering line to return it to the stuffing box for lubricating the polish rod.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the numeral 1e generally designates the stufiing box body while the numeral 12 designates a portion of the Well head to which the stutfing box is fixed.

As shown the stufiing box comprises a top or head portion 14 of circular cross section and a lower tubular portion 16 which is formed in one piece with the head and through which is formed the passage 18.

Within the head 14 is a downwardly tapering or conical pocket 26 which opens into the enlarged cylindrical upper portion 22 or" the passage 18. At the plane of joinder between the passage 18 and the enlar ed upper end portion 22 thereof there is formed the shoulder 24 upon which rests the annular follower 26 which has an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the part 22 of the passage and which has a central opening 23 through which passes the well polish or piston rod 30.

Formed in the wall of the enlarged portion 22 of the passage through the stufiing box, just above the follower supporting shoulder 24, is the annular oil channel 31 and leading into this channel radially through the head is the inlet passage 32 to which is connected the oil supply pipe 33 which leads from the flow line 34 through which the oil passes from the well head to the gathering line 35 which carries the oil to the receiving tanks, not shown.

As shown in Figure 3 the follower ring or annulus 26 is provided with several radial passages 36 through which the oil is led from the inlet passage 32 in against the polish rod 39 to lubricate the same.

As is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4 the conical pocket 2% which opens downwardly into the enlarged portion 22 of the passage passing through the stuifing box, opens at its top through the flat top surface 14a of the stufiing box body head and the sloping face of the pocket 20 has formed integral therewith a number of keys 37, here shown as four.

Adapted to position within the conical pocket 20 are the tapered wedges 38 which are also shown as four in number, corresponding to the number of keys 37 and each of these tapered wedges has formed longitudinally of the outer tapering face or side 38a, the key slot 39 which, when the wedge is placed in the pocket 20, receives a key 37. Such key slot, as shown in Figure 5, is positioned centrally between the tapering side edges of the wedge. The inner faces of the wedges are transversely arcuate as indicated at it? and parallel the polish rod, when the several wedges are assembled in the pocket 26 and form a circular passage around and spaced from the polish rod.

Adapted to position in the passage formed by the Wedges around the polish rod, is the packing sleeve or cylinder 41 which is made of a suitable packing material such as synthetic oil resisting rubber of the nature of neoprene or Hycar OR. This packing cylinder or sleeve 41 rests upon the annular follower 26 at the bottom of the conical pocket 20 and the wedges 38 when initially placed in position against a new packing sleeve 41 stand up above the top' surface 14a of the stufiiing box head, as shown in Figure 4. However, the length of these wedges 38 is approximately equal to the distance between the top 14a of the stufling box head and the top surface of thebottomfollower 26 so that when the 1 wedges have been forced down as far as they are intended to go the tops thereof will be flush with the top of the stufiing box head as shown in Figure l.

The stufling box head 14 is externally screw threaded in the top part thereof as indicated at 42 and there is adapted to be positioned over the top of the head, the

cap which is generally designated 43 and which com 2'- prises a centrally apertured top plate 44 and the 'encircling side flange 45. The side flange 4-5 of the cap is internally threaded to engage the threads 42 as shown 7 in Figure 1.

Resting upon, the tops of the wedges 38 is the annular top follower 46 which has a collar 46a whichiextends up through the opening 44a of the top plate portion of the adjusting cap. This collar also rests upon the top end of the packing sleeve as shown.

Surroundingthe top follower 46 and also resting upon the tops of the wedges, is a flat loose 'washer 47 upon which the cap 43 bears in addition to bearing upon the top'follower as shown.

It will be readily understood from the description thus far given that for the purpose of forcing the wedges 38 downwardly and compressing the packing sleeve 41 against the polish rod, the adjusting cap 43 is rotated and while any suitable means may be employed for turning the cap, there are shown secured to the top of the cap as by welding or in any other suitable manner, a pair of handles or levers 48 which are positioned at opposite sides of the polish rod to extend radially outwardly across the top of the cap. These handles or levers may be made of any suitable tubular material, or any other suitable hand hold means may be mounted upon the adjusting cap as may be desired.

As previously stated when a new packing sleeve is placed in the stufling box it will project, together with the wedges, a substantial distance above the stop of the stufling box head 14 and a slight initial down turning t of the adjusting cap will force the wedges downwardly to compress the packing against the stuffing rod. VAs

the stuifing rod wears the packing can be maintained 'ti'ght thereagainst by intermittentlyr turning down the adjusting cap until a finalrposition is reached as shown in Figure 1 where the wedges cannot be forced down any farther. After this stage has been reached and the packing becomes sufficiently Worn it will be necessary to replace the same with a new packing sleeve.

During the period that the stuffing box is in use, while iii? 4 1 the well is being pumped, lubricating oil will be run in from the flow line by way of the pipe 33 and discharged through the radial passages 36 into the center of the bottom follower 26 around the polish or piston rod.

By the provision of the guide. keys 37 working in the slots 39 in the wedges, the wedges will be prevented from turning around and twisting the packing'mate'rial as downward pressure is applied to them by the ad justing cap. 7

While the keys 37 have been illustrated as being integral with the wall of the pocket 20 formed in the stufiing box head 14, withthe key channels formed in the wedges, it is tobe understood that this arrangement may be reversed if desired by forming the channels in the wall of the pocket 20 and having the keys integral 7 with the outer faces of the wedges.

I claim: 7 a a V in a weli stuffing box, a body having a cylindrical top portion having a tapered socket in its top surface, said socket opening into a cylindrical axial bore at its lower end, a tubular extension of a lesser diameter than V the diameter of said top portion depending from the lower end of the top portion and having its bore opening into said cylindrical bore and of a lesser diameter than that of the latter bore so that an annular shoulder is provided at the lower end of the cylindrical bore, an

annular follower having a plurality of radial ducts open-s ing through its inner and outer edges seated on said shoulder and encircling a polishing rod depending through said top portion and the tubular extension, a packing sleeve encircling the polishing rod within said socket and seated on said follower, a wedging element seated in said socket to forcibly hold said packing sleeve in contact with the polishing rod, an annular washer en-' circling the polishing rod and seated on the top surface of said body and partially overlying the top end of said wedging element, a cap element having an annular flange in threaded engagement with the top end of said body to retain said washer and the wedging element in place, and a passage opening through the side of said top portion in alignment with one of the ducts ofsaid' fol- 1 lower for the ingress of an oil to effect the lubrication of the polishing rod by way of said ducts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS