Actuated stuffing box for an artificial lift system

A stuffing box for an artificial lift system, comprising:

• a stuffing box housing having a passage extending through an entire longitudinal extent of the stuffing box housing, wherein the stuffing box housing has a shoulder disposed along the passage;
• a seal disposed within the passage of the stuffing box housing and engaged with the shoulder, wherein the seal is configured to engage a polish rod while the polish rod extends through the passage, and the seal is configured to expand radially in response to compression of the seal along a longitudinal axis of the stuffing box;
• and
• an actuator assembly comprising an actuator and an actuator housing, wherein the actuator housing is coupled to the stuffing box housing, and the actuator comprises:
• an engagement element configured to move along the longitudinal axis to compress the seal;
• and
• a gear assembly disposed within the actuator housing and configured to translate rotational motion of a shaft into linear movement of the engagement element along the longitudinal axis.

A stuffing box for an artificial lift system, comprising:

• a stuffing box housing having a passage extending through an entire longitudinal extent of the stuffing box housing, wherein the stuffing box housing has a shoulder disposed along the passage;
• a seal disposed within the passage of the stuffing box housing and engaged with the shoulder, wherein the seal is configured to engage a polish rod while the polish rod extends through the passage, and the seal is configured to expand radially in response to compression of the seal along a longitudinal axis of the stuffing box;
• and
• an actuator assembly comprising an actuator and an actuator housing, wherein the actuator housing is coupled to the stuffing box housing, and the actuator comprises:
• an engagement element configured to move along the longitudinal axis to compress the seal;
• and
• a piston configured to drive the engagement element to move along the longitudinal axis to compress the seal in response to receiving actuating fluid within a cavity formed by the piston and the actuator housing.