Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A stuffing box, particularly for establishing a fluidtight seal between the housing and a movable member of a device wherein a portion of the movable member extends from the housing and the housing contains a highly pressurized, hot, solids-containing and/or toxic fluid medium, comprising a receptacle having an internal surface spacedly surrounding said portion of the movable member, said receptacle including an end portion sealingly secured to the housing; at least one deformable annular packing located in said receptacle and surrounding said portion of the movable member; stop means provided in said receptacle between said packing and the housing; an annular gland reciprocably received in said receptacle and adjacent to said packing opposite said stop means; an annular sealing element sealingly engaging said portion of the movable member and said receptacle, said element defining with said gland, with said receptacle and with said portion of the movable member a fluid-filled plenum chamber so that the fluid filling said chamber urges said gland into deforming engagement with said packing so that the packing bears against said internal surface and said portion of the movable member and the fluid in said plenum chamber contacts said portion of the movable member; a source of sealing fluid whose pressure exceeds the pressure of medium in the housing; and means for connecting said source with said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A stuffing box, particularly for establishing a fluidtight seal between the housing and a movable member of a device wherein a portion of the movable member extends from the housing and the housing contains a highly pressurized, hot, solids-containing and/or toxic fluid medium, comprising a receptacle having an internal surface spacedly surrounding said portion of the movable member, said receptacle including an end portion sealingly secured to the housing; at least one deformable annular packing located in said receptacle and surrounding said portion of the movable member; stop means provided in said receptacle between said packing and the housing; an annular gland reciprocably received in said receptacle and adjacent to said packing opposite said stop means; an annular sealing element sealingly engaging said portion of the movable member and said receptacle, said element defining with said gland, with said receptacle and with said portion of the movable member a fluid-filled plenum chamber so that the fluid filling said chamber urges said gland into deforming engagement with said packing so that the packing bears against said internal surface and said portion of the movable member and the fluid in said plenum chamber contacts said portion of the movable member; a source of sealing fluid whose pressure exceeds the pressure of medium in the housing; and means for connecting said source with said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A stuffing box as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing element has first and second end faces, said portion of the movable member being in sealing contact with one of said end faces and said receptacle having a portion in sealing contact with the other end face of said element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A stuffing box as defined in claim 1, wherein said gland is received in said receptacle with at least some clearance to permit some fluid to flow from said chamber into contact with said packing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A stuffing box as defined in claim 1, further comprising flow restrictor means disposed in said chamber between said sealing element and said gland.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A stuffing box as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop means includes a ring rigid with said end portion of said receptacle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A stuffing box as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle includes a cylindrical portion which defines said internal surface and a flange which is rigid with the housing and constitutes said end portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A stuffing box as defined in claim 1, wherein said device is a centrifugal pump and said member is a rotary shaft a protective sleeve of which is surrounded by said receptacle, by said stop means, by said packing, by said gland, by said chamber and by said sealing element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A stuffing box as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle comprises means for biasing said sealing element against said portion of the movable member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A stuffing box as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle comprises a plurality of separable portions.